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- Caulk and seal air leaks: Look for leaks around plumbing lines, recessed lighting, electricity wires, windows, attics, and crawlspaces. Sealing off these leaks can save you up to $220/year per U.S. EPA.
- Consult an HVAC contractor: Have a professional inspect all the ductwork in your home and make any repairs to leaks. It’s also a good idea to have an HVAC tune-up. These steps can save a homeowner up to $330/year.
- Program your thermostat: Programming your thermostat to energy-saving settings can save up to $180/year per EPA.
- Replace light bulbs: Replacing traditional bulbs with LEDs or CFLs (although LEDs may be a better choice since they don’t contain mercury) can save on energy costs. Although these new bulbs are more expensive than traditional ones, they do last longer and they are coming down in price. If you replace your 5 most used bulbs with these modern varieties, you can save up to $75/year.
- Turning down water heater temp: Setting your water heater temp to 120 degrees Fahrenheit versus the 140 degrees most come out of the box set to can save you 6%-10% on your annual water heating costs.