How to Save Energy in Your Home

Replace incandescent bulbs. Incandescent light bulbs create lots of heat as well as light, and this makes them very inefficient. Replacing old incandescent bulbs in your house with compact fluorescent or LED ones will reduce the amount of energy you use on lighting by up to 75 percent.Lighting needs account for roughly 10 percent of your energy use

Turn down your water heater. Older tank-style water heaters use a lot of energy keeping the water in the tank hot. In fact, your water heater may account for up to a quarter of your energy use. To reduce the amount of energy your water heater uses, set the temperature of the water to 120 F (49 C).

Seal leaks and drafts. Keeping your house at a comfortable temperature requires a great deal of energy. Leaks and drafts around the house that let outside air in and climate controlled air out further increase the amount of energy it takes to heat or cool your house. Therefore, you can save energy by sealing your home properly:^[4

^{]Increase insulation around the house. Insulation will also help keep your house at a comfortable temperature without your furnace or air conditioner having to work too hard. Go around your house and check the insulation thickness, especially in the basement and attic. In areas where the insulation is less than 12 inches (30 cm) thick, add extra batt insulation to reduce drafts and leaks.[5]}

^{Upgrade to energy-efficient appliances. Older appliances tend to use a lot more energy than modern ones, and energy-efficient appliances will use the least energy possible. When it comes time to replace old appliances, look for the Energy Star rating or another energy-efficiency seal of approval. Energy Star appliances use up to 50 percent less energy and water than their traditional counterparts.[6}

^{]nstall energy-efficient windows. A large percentage of your energy may be lost through bad windows and doors.[8]} Older windows are often very drafty, and this means your furnace and air conditioner have to work harder to heat or cool your house, and this means using more energy. When it’s time to update your windows, look into more energy-efficient double- or triple-paned ones that will help reduce your energy use