These Are the Clever Energy Saving Tips You'll Wish You Knew Sooner

Seal the Leaks in Your Home

When it comes to adjusting your home's temperature, experts recommend considering your house as an envelope. Jeff Starkey, vice president of Atlas Butler, a heating, cooling, and plumbing company in Columbus, Ohio, recommends sealing all cracks to maintain your winter heat or your summer air conditioning. Starkey says you could pay someone to do this task for you, but it will run about $250.

DIY Options

• Use weather stripping (strips of vinyl, felt, metal, rubber, or silicone) to seal off air leaks around doors and windows that open.
• Apply caulk around stationary spots that can still be drafty, like windows that don't open and areas where pipes, ducts, or wires come through walls.
• Spray a foam sealant into the gaps you see in and around the baseboards.

Tasks for Your Contractor

Experts can look for other culprits. "Ducts are also a common source of leaks, so have your contractor look for holes, tears, and other signs of leaking ducts and seal them," Pendleton says. A contractor can also check on other common sources of leaks in your home, including your chimney, plumbing stack, and attic door.

Purchase Energy Efficient Upgrades

If your heating or cooling system is outdated, invest in a replacement. "Since heating and cooling uses the most energy, look to replace your old system with high-performing equipment," Pendleton says. "And make sure you're getting the right size furnace or HVAC system for your home—too big or too small will waste energy."

You also might benefit from switching out your single-pane windows for more energy-efficient ones. This eco-friendly upgrade can increase your home's value.

Finally, Pendleton suggests replacing your major appliances (such as the washer and dryer) with versions that include the Energy Star logo. "The US Department of Energy offers tax credits, rebates, and other savings which can help with the cost," she says. You can also make smaller changes by replacing your light bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs.

Change Your Habits That Waste Energy

Of course, there are simple habits you can change and small energy-saving tips you can try.

• Turn your lights off each time you leave the room.
• Curb your family's TV or video game habits. Pendleton says that while the television isn't a major energy suck, all of the combined gadgets, such as your gaming or sound system, can be.
• Wash laundry in cold water when possible and clean the lint trap in your dryer for a quicker dry time. Unplug small appliances and close your chimney flue when not in use.
• Take showers instead of baths to reduce the amount of hot water needed. And scrape dishes clean instead of rinsing them before loading the dishwasher.
• Use the smaller burner for smaller pots and pans while cooking to ensure you aren't wasting additional heat.

Monitor Your Electricity Usage

All of these energy-saving tips might not matter much unless you can tell they're working. Monitor your usage by going over your monthly power and heat bills in detail. Your utility company can help in two ways:

• Most will provide a graph comparing your monthly energy usage. If the amount you paid for the current month is much different from the same month one year ago, call your utility company. Ask if there have been any changes to the energy metering system you should know about.
• Most companies will also offer an energy audit to show you where your usage is going and how it might be lowered. If they don't, Pendleton suggests contacting your local or state government to find a good energy auditor. Check with the Residential Energy Services Network for a directory of auditors in your area.

Consider a Switch to Solar

Perhaps the best way to save energy is to switch to solar. While this method requires a hefty investment upfront, Pendleton says it can be worth the switch if you plan to stay in your current home for a while.

"Not only can adding solar panels to a home save energy costs and help the environment, but Zillow research finds homes with solar panels sell for 2.6 percent more," Pendleton says. In other words, solar power is also a money saver.

Here's how to get started with solar:

• Figure out if your home is suitable for solar power by entering your address into an online solar calculator. You'll learn how much sun exposure your home receives and whether it's enough to power your home with solar panels.
• Find a reputable solar company. Look for a solar panel installer with at least three years of experience, and ask if they are certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP).
• The installer will assess your home and roof to determine the size of the panels you need and the amount of electricity you will be able to generate. After the panels are installed, you'll have a licensed electrician wire the panels into your home's electrical system.

Take Control of the Temperature

Adjust Your Heat and Air Conditioning

Lower your temperature in the winter and up it in the summer, suggests Starkey. Even a change of a few degrees can impact your bill and energy usage. Experts from the government's EnergyStar program (which advises consumers on energy matters) recommend:

• In summer, raise the thermostat by seven degrees when you're not at home and by four degrees when you're sleeping.
• In winter, lower the thermostat by eight degrees when you're not at home and four degrees when you're sleeping.
  

Invest in a Smart Thermostat

The experts at the EnergyStar program also recommend investing in a smart thermostat. Though smart home devices have pros and cons, a smart thermostat allows you to lower the temperature while you're gone.

Set your smart thermostat to kick on about 30 minutes before you're due home. This way, the house is warm again for your arrival without unnecessarily heating it while no one's home. Also, smart thermostats come with phone apps that allow you to use your phone as a remote control from anywhere.