How to save energy in your home?

Saving energy at home is easy. Click on the category links below to learn about time-tested tips and energy-saving choices for reducing your home energy consumption:

Cooling

• Switch your ceiling fan to turn in a counter-clockwise direction In the summer; in the winter, run it at low speed, but clockwise.
• Close your exterior doors and windows tightly when the AC is on. Save even more by turning off kitchen and bath exhaust fans.
• Change or clean your AC’s air filters at least once a month to keep your system running at peak performance.
• Make sure your AC has a rating – or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) – of 15. Not only will your AC be more efficient, you could also be eligible for a rebate up to $300.
• Make saving automatic: Set your thermostat fan switch to “auto” to save energy. Leaving it in the “on” position keeps air running constantly.
• Block the sun from overheating your home! Inside, use shades, blinds and drapes. Outside, use awnings, trees and shrubs.
• Insulate your walls with injected foam insulation to help you save energy by keeping hot outside air from seeping through porous block walls – check with your local building supply company for details.
• Give your AC tune-up. Running an inefficient AC system can result in high monthly bills. Plus, you could qualify for a Progress Energy rebate.
• Open interior doors so that cooled air flows freely throughout your home.
• Repair leaky ducts to reduce heating and cooling costs and qualify for a rebate up to $120 toward repairs.
• Install attic insulation rated R-30 and sealing any attic leaks to reduce high home cooling costs. You’ll save money each month and qualify for a Progress Energy rebate of $75 or more.
• Check for household leaks to make sure air isn’t escaping through openings such as fireplace dampers, doors and windows.
• Decorate for a cooler home by hanging light-colored curtains that allow light to enter a room while blocking some of the sun’s rays, and light-colored paint to reflect heat.
• Close unused air vents. If you have central AC you can close air vent in rooms you’re not using so you’re not paying to cool them.
• Plant trees to provide shade on the sunny side of your home.
• Use ceiling fans to cool off for less. Ceiling fans use no more electricity than a standard light bulb. However, be sure to turn fans off when you leave — they only cool people, not rooms.
• Install more ceiling fans. Because the breeze of a fan can make you feel three to four degrees cooler, you can raise that thermostat and still stay comfortable.
• Raise the temperature on your thermostat by a few degrees to save on your cooling costs.
• Install a programmable thermostat to adjust your temperature during the day.

Heating

• Cover all bare floors. Carpeting or rugs add to comfort and heat retention, especially if there is little or no floor insulation.
• Raise the temperature slowly to keep your bill lower. Quickly raising your heat pump’s temperature activates the heat strip, which uses tons of energy.
• Set your thermostat to 68-70 degrees during the day in the winter, and 65-68 degrees at night to keep your home comfortable and save on heating costs.
• Close the flue in your fireplace and install glass doors to keep in the warm air.
• Limit your use of portable heaters. They’re great for “spot” heating, but running a 1,500-watt heater 24/7 can be expensive.
• Keep your thermostat close to the outside temperature – it’s cheaper to keep your home at 70°F when it’s 50°F outside than when it’s 30°F.
• Don’t block air vents with drapes and furniture.
• Get an energy-efficient heat pump and you could cut your heating costs in half. Progress Energy offers rebates up to $300 to help you upgrade.
• Change the filters in your heating system every month for optimum efficiency.
• Give your air compressor space to work efficiently. Never stack anything against your HVAC or drape anything over it.
• Set your thermostat to 60 degrees if going on vacation during the winter months, but don’t turn it off.
• Heat your home with the sun’s help. Leave window shades or blinds open during the daytime. And consider using solar heat to supplement your normal heating source.
• Lower your thermostat every time you leave the house.

Lighting

• Buy bulbs for less. Check out Progress Energy’s Residential Lighting Program to find local retailers who offer energy-efficient compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs at discounted prices.
• Replace standard bulbs with CFLs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs are more energy-efficient than regular bulbs, while giving off the same amount of light.
• Use the right bulb. Make sure you’re using the appropriate CFL bulb for your light fixture – they come in various sizes and types for different lighting needs.
• Replace halogen light bulbs, which can get hot enough to be a fire hazard, with CFLs – they use less energy and don’t get as hot.
• Use motion-detector lights for all your outdoor lighting – they’re convenient and efficient.
• Recycle your CFL bulbs. Check Progress Energy’s CFL recycling page to find out how, where and why.
• Replace your five most-used light fixtures and/or bulbs with ENERGY STAR® products. If every American did so, we would save about $8 billion per year in energy costs.
• Consider using timers to turn lights on in the morning and off during the day.
• Choose outdoor CFLs for outdoor lighting – they last up to 10 times longer than standard bulbs.
• Select light-colored or opaque lamp shades. Place lamps in corners so they reflect light from two walls.
• Install fluorescent tubes as an efficient way to light your workshop or playroom.

Appliances

• Use microwaves and toaster ovens to cook or warm leftovers. You’ll use less energy than cooking with a conventional oven.
• Pull the plug on that second fridge located in the hot garage or utility room. Progress Energy will pick it up and pay $50 to recycle it.
• Set your refrigerator temperature between 30 and 42°F. Use the power-save switch if you have one.
• Repair refrigerator door seals if you feel cold air around the closed door or if moisture is collecting.
• Replace a refrigerator bought in 1990 with an ENERGY STAR®-qualified model – energy-efficient models cost less to operate than older refrigerators.
• Dust your fridge the next time you dust your house. Check the coils behind the refrigerator — and use coil vacuums or dusters to clean it off and keep costs down.
• Keep your freezer full – it uses less energy than an empty one. For maximum savings, consider filling your freezer with gallon containers of water.
• Choose energy-efficient appliances. They don’t just save you money, but they’re good for the environment because they use less energy.
• Replace your refrigerator. Look for the yellow EnergyGuide® label to compare features. Choose models with improved insulation and power-saving switches.
• Wash and dry several loads at once, so that your dryer isn’t completely cooled down when it heats up for the next load.
• Avoid over-drying your clothes. It wastes energy, plus causes static and wrinkling.
• Separate wash loads into light and heavy fabrics for the shortest drying times. Or better yet – air-dry your lightest fabrics.
• Vent your dryer to the outside to reduce the workload on your air conditioner.
• Wash full loads of clothes when possible. When smaller loads are necessary, use less water.
• Hang dress clothing to air dry on portable laundry racks; they will also look better.
• Clean the dryer lint filter before every load to keep your dryer running efficiently.
• Set your dishwashers on economy mode, to use less water and electricity.
• Turn off your dishwasher after the wash cycle — and let your dishes air-dry. You’ll save energy and keep your dishwasher from heating up your kitchen.
• Keep the oven door closed while cooking – the temperature can drop by as many as 25 degrees each time you open the oven door.
• Grill out more often during the summer. Using the oven in the heat of summer forces your AC to work harder, which raises your energy bill.
• Use copper-bottomed pots and pans that use heat more efficiently when cooking on the stove.
• Keep stove reflector pans clean to reflect more heat upward while cooking.
• Turn off your oven or burners when food is almost ready and let existing heat finish the cooking for you.
• Use tight-fitting covers on pots and pans when cooking on the stove to shorten your cooking time and save energy.
• Match your pot size to the burner on your stove. Heat is lost when small pots are used on large burners.
• Turn off kitchen and bath fans immediately after use.

Water heating

• Always wash with cold water, laundry detergent works just as well, and you’ll save 40 cents per load.
• Check your hot water pipes for leaks, which can drain your energy savings.
• Install aerating, low-flow faucets and showerheads – available at home improvement stores – to reduce your hot water use.
• Turn off your water heater until if you plan on leaving home for a few days. And you get back. Most models will reheat the water to the set temperature in about an hour.
• Shorten those showers to cut hot water costs.
• Insulate the first six feet of the hot and cold water pipes connected to the water heater. It’ll keep your comfort high and your energy bills low.
• Install a solar water heater to save energy and money by using solar power.
• Get an insulation wrap to help your old water heater heat in more effectively.
• Reduce your water heater temperature setting from 140 degrees to 120 degrees — it will save you money while keeping water hot enough for showers and cleaning dishes.
• Look for the EnergyGuide label when purchasing a new water heater — if a more efficient heater is more expensive, you’ll save money over time.
• Make sure you are washing a full load if you like using hot water for your laundry.
• Stop that dripping hot water faucet. Leaky faucets not only increase water bills but also increase gas or electricity use for heating the wasted water.
• Install a timer for your water heater that will turn it off when you are not at home.
• Choose the right water heater for your needs. While they may promise savings, tankless models are pricey to install – and on-demand water heaters may actually increase your electric bill.

Electronics

• Plug electronics into a power strip, then turn the strip off when not in use to save in energy costs.
• Avoid energy vampires. Even when they’re turned off, home electronics in “standby” mode use energy to power features like clock displays.
• Look for ENERGY STAR-qualified TVs – they’re up to 30 percent more efficient than noncertified models.
• Consider a laptop next time you’re looking to buy a computer – they use less energy than desktop computers.
• Set your computer to sleep or hibernate mode instead of using a screen saver so it uses less electricity during periods of inactivity.
• Unplug battery chargers when the batteries are fully charged or the chargers are not in use. Many chargers draw power continuously, even when the device is not plugged into the charger.

Windows

• Install high-performance windows, screens and films to protect upholstery, wood and artwork from UV rays while saving energy.
• Eliminate “hot spots” in your home by using High-performance windows, solar window screens and qualified window films.
• Consider high-performance windows before you replace your AC system. They’re so efficient that they may help reduce the size and cost needed for a AC system.
• Install high-performance windows with double-glazing and spectrally selective coatings that reduce heat gain and avoid cranking up your AC.
• Look for the National Fenestration Rating Council label when shopping for new windows: It means the window’s performance is certified.

Roofing

• Reduce the strain on your AC by applying reflective coating. This will help you save by decreasing the amount of heat coming into your home.
• Keep your roof lasting longer. Reflective roofs not only reduce heat buildup, they also prevent the expansion and contraction that degrade roofs.
• Replace the roof with one with an ENERGY STAR® label. It will save energy and help protect the environment through superior energy-efficiency.