Energy Saving Tips

Free and Low Cost Tips

Adjust Your Thermostat

Setting your air conditioner 5° higher will save up to 20% on cooling costs.

Adjust Your Water Heater

Turn your water heater down to 120° or the "Normal" setting when home, and to the lowest setting when away. Water heating accounts for about 13% of home energy costs.

Save Water

Installing faucet aerators and low-flow shower heads will cut water heating costs by 50% and save up to $300 per year. It will also cut water use by up to 50%.

Wash Clothes in Cold Water

When possible, wash clothes in cold water. About 90% of the energy used in a clothes washer goes to water heating.

Find and Seal Leaks

Sealing cracks, gaps, leaks and adding insulation can save up to 20% on home heating and cooling costs. Test for air leaks by holding a lit incense stick next to windows, doors, electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches and other locations where there is a possible air path to the outside. If the smoke stream travels horizontally, you have located an air leak that may need caulking, sealing or weather stripping.

Smart Investment Tips

Programmable Thermostat

Install an ENERGY STAR qualified programmable thermostat – It can save up to $100 per year in coastal areas and over $150 inland and pays for itself in less than 12 months. Make sure to install it away from natural cool and hot spots.

We suggest a TRANE® Programmable Thermostat. A responsive control for maximum comfort. Trane® XL600 Series 5/2 Programmable Thermostats allow you to manage your home’s comfort however you like – and when your comfort needs change, you can change your system settings quickly and easily. Click Here for product details.

Seal Your Home

Seal your home's envelope, (walls, floor, ceiling and roof ) to save up to 10% on your annual energy bill.
Add weather stripping around windows and doors to reduce drafts. Click Here for tips on selecting and installing weatherstripping.
Use caulking to seal around ducts, plumbing and any other openings in walls, floors and ceilings to reduce air leakage. Begin in the attic, a common place for warm air to escape. Click Here for tips on selecting and installing caulk.
Seal larger gaps that cannot be covered with caulk or with expanding sprayed foam. Click Here for tips on selecting and installing sprayed foam.

Insulate, Insulate, Insulate

After air sealing, determine the current level of insulation. In the attic, measure the depth of existing insulation using a ruler. If there is less than R-22 (7 inches of fiber glass or rock wool or 6 inches of cellulose) you could probably benefit by adding more. Most homes in the states should have between R-22 and R-49 insulation in the attic. Insulating ceilings, walls, attics, floors, crawl spaces and basements to recommended standards can reduce heating and cooling costs by 5% to 25%. Click Here for tips on selecting and installing insulation.

Upgrade Your Heating System

Replace heating equipment more than 15 years old with new ENERGY STAR qualified models. Equipment must be sized and installed properly. Old furnaces cost more to operate per year than new, ENERGY STAR qualified models that are 15% more efficient than standard models. We suggest a TRANE® XT90 Furnace. Total warmth and comfort. Whatever your heating needs, from slow, gentle warmth on a chilly day to high-performance heating when the temperature plummets, the XT90 provides the energy-efficient comfort you’re looking for. Click Here for product details.