Plant trees and shrubs to provide shade on the east, south and west sides of your home. Evergreen trees and shrubs can provide a windbreak on the north side.

Turn off unnecessary lighting.

Limit shower length to 5-7 minutes.

Request an ENERGY STAR® set-top box from cable or satellite provider.

Use fixtures with electronic ballasts and T-8, 32 Watt fluorescent lamps.

Use refrigerator’s anti-sweat feature only if necessary.

If you are heating water on the stove, use hot tap water instead of cold.

Consider using a “solar-powered” clothes dryer: an old fashioned clothes line.

Check to be sure return air grilles are not blocked by furniture or bookcases.

Do not close off unused rooms that are conditioned by forced-air systems.

Caulk along baseboards with a clear sealant.

Turn off stereos and radios when not in use.

If you don’t unplug them, use energy-saving modes or automatic sleep functions on electronics.

When cooking on the oven range, use pot lids to help food cook faster.  

Turn off ceiling fans when leaving the room. Fans cool people, not rooms.

Turn computers and monitors off when not in use.

Use dishwasher’s air-dry cycle instead of the heat-dry cycle to dry dishes.

Ensure window A/C units are weather-stripped. Remove the unit in the winter and close and lock the window.

Check that the dryer vent hose is tightly connected to dryer.

Drain 1-2 gallons from bottom of water heater each year to reduce sediment build up.

For households with 1 or 2 members, a 115 degree Fahrenheit setting may work fine.  

Caulk around storm windows and basement windows.

Ensure floor registers are not blocked with rugs, drapes or furniture.

Do not use roof-top power ventilators for attic exhaust as they may draw conditioned air from your home.

Keep your garage door down.  A warmer garage in the winter and cooler garage in the summer will save energy.

Minimize use of electric space heaters, except for limited or temporary spot heating.  Turn space heaters off when leaving the room.

If not frost-free, regularly defrost refrigerator or freezer to avoid ice buildup.

Always use cold-water rinse.

Set thermostats to 78 degrees Fahrenheit in summer, 68 degrees Fahrenheit in winter.

Check for energy saving settings on flat-panel TVs like automatic brightness control and a power saving sleep mode.  

Turn off pool pumps and heaters when not needed.

Keep fireplace dampers closed unless a fire is burning.

Remove and clean window A/C filter monthly.

Make sure heat tape is off when not needed.

When using the fireplace, open the outside air vent (if provided) or open the nearest window slightly.

Ensure your outdoor heat pump/air conditioning unit is kept clean and free of debris.

Use cold water for garbage disposal.

Switch your refrigerator’s power-saver feature to “ON,” if available.

Make sure the dryer’s outdoor exhaust door is not blocked or clogged.

Ensure all new appliances, electronics and lights are ENERGY STAR® labeled.

Monitor your home’s relative humidity in the summer.  If it consistently stays in the 60 percent range or higher, ask your HVAC technician about lowering your central air conditioning unit’s indoor fan speed.

Unplug battery chargers when not needed.

Install a programmable thermostat to save even more.

Do not close supply air registers.

Make sure dryer vent hose is not kinked or clogged.

Outside your home, caulk around all penetrations including telephone, electrical, cable, gas, water spigots, dryer vents, etc.

Verify livestock water tank heaters are off when not needed.

Plug electronic devices such as cable boxes, printers and TVs into power strips to turn off during vacations or long periods without use.

Only run dishwasher when fully loaded.  

Close shades and drapes at night to keep heat in during the winter.

Minimize clothes drying time by using an auto moisture sensor, if available.

Insulate exposed hot water lines.

Keep “fresh-air” vents on window A/C units closed.

Unplug unused refrigerators or freezers. Recycle them if you do not need them.

Run ceiling paddle fans on medium, blowing down in summer and paddle fans on low, blowing up in winter.

Turn off bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans 15 minutes after the job is complete or install 15 minute timers on bathroom ventilator fans.

Turn large-screen TVs off completely when not in use.

Have your HVAC system serviced once per year by a NATE-certified technician.

Install water saving shower heads.

Turn off coffee makers when not in use.

Use a slow-cooker instead of simmering foods on the stove.

Use heavy-duty, clear sheets of plastic sealed tightly on the inside of windows to reduce the amount of cold air entering your home during the winter.

Seal electric wall outlets and wall switches with foam pads.

If you must do smaller loads, adjust the water level in the washing machine to match the load size, especially when using hot water.

Close shades and drapes during the day to help keep heat out in summer.

Caulk electrical wire penetrations at the top of the interior walls in the attic.

Make sure electric blankets are turned off in the morning.

In hot weather, avoid running the dryer during the heat of the day.

Clean dryer’s lint trap before each load.

Enable auto power down feature on gaming consoles.  

Make sure insulation in your attic does not block soffit vents.

Wash clothes in cold water. Use hot water only for very dirty loads.

Use bath towels at least twice before washing them.

Ensure refrigerator door seals are tight.

Remember to use the kitchen exhaust fan when cooking.  Turn it off after cooking.

Install a water heater wrap, also known as a water heater blanket, per manufacturer’s instructions.

Replace outdoor lighting with its equivalent outdoor-rated LED bulb. LEDs work well in cold weather.  

Caulk around plumbing penetrations that come through walls beneath bathroom and kitchen sinks.

Ensure windows and doors are properly weather-stripped and use door sweeps.

Use outdoor security lights with a photocell and/or a motion sensor.

When buying a new computer, select an ENERGY STAR® model.  Consider buying a laptop as it uses less energy than a comparable desktop.  

When installing new air filters, make sure they are facing in the correct direction (look for arrow on side of filter).

Dry consecutive loads to harvest heat remaining in dryer from last load.

Install heat traps on hot and cold water lines when it’s time to replace your water heater.

If rinsing dirty dishes before putting them into the dishwasher, do so with cold water.  

When using the fireplace, turn down your heating system thermostat.

Set water heater temperature no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Verify dryer vent hose is tightly connected to the inside wall fitting.

Set the refrigerator temperature to 34 – 37 degrees Fahrenheit and freezer temperature to 0 – 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

Clean refrigerator coils annually.

Don’t let the water run while you are shaving or brushing your teeth.

When heating or cooling, keep windows shut and locked.

Change HVAC air filters monthly.

Fix dripping faucets.

Make sure drapes and shades are open during the day to catch free solar heat in winter.

Replace any light bulb, especially ones that are on more than one hour per day, with a light-emitting diode (LED) bulb.  

Use microwave for cooking when possible.

Ensure attic access door closes tightly and is insulated.

Make sure outside soffit vents are not blocked.

Only do full laundry loads.