Looking to reduce your energy bills? It’s best to take it day by day. There are 24 hours in a day. Make the most of those hours with these 24 simple ways to reduce your daily energy use.
Morning
- Take a shorter shower. A hot shower is a great way to start your day but keep it to 10 minutes or less.
- Turn off the water tap when brushing your teeth or shaving.
- When heating breakfast, use an energy-efficient microwave or toaster oven.
- Turn off lights and electronic devices when you leave for the day to avoid wasting energy.
- Adjust the thermostat. Don’t waste energy keeping your unoccupied house comfortable.
Afternoon
- If you’re at home and the temperature is right, open your windows. Shut off the air conditioning and stay cool for free.
- On hot days, run ceiling fans in occupied rooms. The extra airflow makes you feel cooler, allowing you to use less air conditioning.
- Use window treatments. In winter, open window treatments to let warming sunlight in. In summer, close them on south- and west-facing windows to block heat gain.
Dinnertime
- Match the size of pots and pans to the size of the burner so that more heat goes into the cookware and less into the air.
- Keep lids on pots and pans to reduce energy waste and help food cook faster.
- Use glass and ceramic cookware if possible; they retain heat better than metal.
After dinner chores
- Scrape dishes instead of rinsing them before loading them into the dishwasher. Only run the dishwasher if it’s full.
- If doing laundry, use the cold setting to reduce water heating energy use.
- Clean the dryer lint trap before each load to help improve dryer performance and efficiency.
- Hang your clothes out to dry. Skip the dryer and use clothing racks to air dry your clothes.
- Inspect your furnace filter and replace it if it’s dirty. A dirty filter reduces system performance.
- Check your water heater temperature and adjust it if needed. It should be no higher than 120°F.
Evening
- Dim the lights. Turning down the lights helps create a cozy evening atmosphere and saves energy.
- While watching TV, reduce the contrast or picture control (brightness) to cut energy use nearly in half.
- Turn off overhead lights and use lower-power task lighting for reading, sewing and other tasks.
- Don’t waste energy holding the fridge door open while choosing your evening snack. Open the door, get what you want and close it quickly.
Bedtime
- Make sure all lights are turned off before you turn in. Check areas such as laundry rooms, closets, workrooms and outdoors.
- Turn off or cut power to the TV or other electronic devices that aren’t in use.
- Adjust your thermostat a few degrees to save energy and stay comfortable while you sleep.
With these routine changes, you can reduce your household energy use today and every day.