Tips to Save Energy Today...
Easy low-cost and no-cost ways to save energy

• Set your thermostat comfortably low in the winter and comfortably high in the summer. Install a programmable thermostat that is compatible with your heating and cooling system.
   
• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.
   
• Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.
   
• Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.
   
• Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power).
   
• Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120° F.
   
• Take short showers instead of baths.
   
• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
   
• Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gasoline.
   
• Look for the ENERGY STAR^® label on home appliances and products. ENERGY STAR^® products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Excerpted from: U.S. Department of Energy, "Energy Saver$: Tips on Saving Energy & Money at Home," (Washington: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 2006).

For more energy-saving tips, see Energy-Saving Tips.

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