Energy Efficient Home Checklist | |
Year-Round Weatherize. Check for drafts around windows and doors with a lighted candle. If the flame flickers, adding the proper amount of weatherstripping and caulking can increase energy savings by up to 10%. Close off unoccupied rooms. Insulate hot water heater, pipes and ducts. Install water-saver shower heads or flow restrictors. These inexpensive devices will pay for themselves in a few months. Install energy-efficient doors and windows which can help reduce fuel costs up to 15%. Choose energy-efficient kitchen appliances. They may cost more initially, but can save you money by reducing your energy use. Winter Once a year, clean and inspect all central heating equipment such as furnaces and boilers. The cleaner and more efficient they are, the bigger the energy savings. A properly adjusted furnace can help save you up to 10% in fuel consumption. Change furnace filters once a month. Close energy-stealing openings such as fireplace dampers. Set thermostat at 65 degrees F in the day, 55 degrees F at night. Vacuum radiators and registers frequently. Cover your window air-conditioning unit to prevent cold air from entering through the vents. Summer Turn off air conditioning when you go out. It takes more energy to maintain the temperature level of a cooled home than it does to bring it back to the desired temperature. Cool with fans whenever possible. They use as little as one-tenth the electricity used by an air conditioner. Save heat-producing activities such as washing and drying clothes indoors for summer's cooler evening hours. Use an outdoor clothesline to dry clothes on warm summer days. Copyright 1996 Owens Corning Reprinted with permission, HouseNet, Inc. |