Home Energy Efficiency

Install a programmable thermostat that automatically adjusts indoor climates to increase home comfort and reduce energy bills. It’s cost-effective and easy!

Seal and insulate your home. Sealing your home's "envelope" is one of the most cost-effective ways to lower your home's energy bills and improve your comfort. Visit ENERGY STAR for more information and to download the Do-It-Yourself Guide to Home Sealing.

Clean or replace heating/cooling filters monthly and make sure all equipment is maintained regularly.

Insulate your hot water heater. Follow directions carefully when installing an insulation jacket.

Caulk, seal, and weatherstrip any air leaks to ensure heat and a/c does not escape through cracks in your home. Be sure to check where plumbing, ducting or electrical wiring go through exterior walls.

Use shades or blinds to heat and cool your home naturally. During the summer, close binds or shades on the south- and west-facing windows of the house. During the winter, keep blinds on sun-exposed windows open in the daytime and closed at night to conserve heat.

Close the damper on your fireplace after the fire is completely out. Open your fireplace damper when there is a fire going.

Turn off lights, TVs, computers, electronics when not in use. Activate “sleep” features on computers, printers, and televisions.

Replace five of your most used 100-watt incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Use dimmers, timers, and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor lighting.

Use dimmers, timers, and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor lighting.

Use a microwave oven instead of a conventional range or oven when possible.

Take showers istead of baths to reduce hot water use.

Appliance Audit Find out which of your home appliances and electronics use the most energy and switch to ENERGY STAR appliances.

Fans can provide additional cooling and better circulation to cut down on air conditioning costs during the summer. If you are replacing your air conditioner, consider buying an energy efficient evaporative cooler or ENERGY STAR central a/c.

Clean your refrigerator condenser coils at least once a year.

Do full loads when you use clothes washers, dryers, and dishwashers. Try line-drying your clothes on warm days to save even more money and energy!

Repair leaky faucets promptly; a leaky faucet wastes gallons of water in a short period of time.

Going on vacation? Be sure to turn down your thermostat and unplug appliances and electronic devices, which use energy even when they are powered “off”.

Tell family and friends about the financial, public health and environmental benefits of energy efficiency.

More tips on residential energy efficiency:

The Alliance to Save Energy promotes energy efficiency worldwide to achieve a healthier economy, a cleaner environment, and greater energy security.

ThermWise Residential Gas Efficiency Tips

Rocky Mountain Power Energy Efficiency Tips

Home Energy Efficiency Audits:

Use these audits as checklists to determine how energy efficient your home is and how to reduce your energy consumption and save money. The Extended version has even more action items to further improve the efficiency of your home.

Also, visit ENERGY STAR's Home Energy Yardstick to compare your home's energy efficiency to the national average. You will need your a year's worth of utility bills, home square footage and the year your home was built.

Home Energy Efficiency - Quick Tips

Quick Tips