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7 Simple Things You Can Do To Use Less Energy and Save Nearly $500 a Year

  1. Turn Off The Lights And Replace Incandescent Bulbs.  It only takes a few seconds to conserve energy: just remember to always turn off your lights when you leave a room. And switching to energy-efficient LED light bulbs can save you about $75 each year.
  2. Program Your Thermostat.
    Save as much as $180 a year on your heating and cooling bills by setting your thermostat to a lower temperature when you are asleep or away from home.
  3. Take Shorter Showers.
    Hot water is expensive. If a family of four each shortens their daily showers by 3 minutes, they could save about $80 a year.
  4. Unplug Unused Electronics.
    Standby power can account for 10% of an average household’s annual electricity use. Unplug your DVR, stereo—and even your coffee maker—to conserve energy and save as much as $76 a year.
  5. Run Full Loads Of Laundry.
    90% of the energy used by washing machines is for heating water. Use cold water and only wash full loads to save up to $124 a year.
  6. Weatherize Your Home.
    Drafts can consume 5% to 30% of home energy usage. Buy or make a DIY draft stopper, or add weather-stripping and caulk leaks to improve your home’s comfort and save $38 a year.
  7. Use The Microwave, Crock Pot Or Toaster Oven.
    A microwave takes 15 minutes to do the same job as 1 hour in an oven. Use another cooking method and save time, energy and as much as $70 a year.

Learn more about energy saving in the home from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.