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

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

Change HVAC air filters monthly.

Enable auto power down feature on gaming consoles.  

Remove and clean window A/C filter monthly.

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

Verify livestock water tank heaters are off when not needed.

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

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

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.

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

Ensure attic access door closes tightly and is insulated.

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

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

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

Install water saving shower heads.

Turn off stereos and radios when not in use.

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

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

Use microwave for cooking when possible.

Fix dripping faucets.

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

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

Only do full laundry loads.

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

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

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

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

Make sure outside soffit vents are not blocked.

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

Use bath towels at least twice before washing them.

Set water heater temperature no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

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

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

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.

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

Turn off unnecessary lighting.

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

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

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

Seal electric wall outlets and wall switches with foam pads.

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

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

Turn computers and monitors off when not in use.

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

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

Unplug battery chargers when not needed.

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

Make sure electric blankets are turned off in the morning.

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

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

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

Limit shower length to 5-7 minutes.

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.

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

Make sure heat tape is off when not needed.

Caulk along baseboards with a clear sealant.

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

Ensure refrigerator door seals are tight.

When heating or cooling, keep windows shut and locked.

Turn off pool pumps and heaters when not needed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Use cold water for garbage disposal.

Clean refrigerator coils annually.

Do not close supply air registers.

Caulk around storm windows and basement windows.

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

Insulate exposed hot water lines.

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

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

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

Install a programmable thermostat to save even more.

Keep fireplace dampers closed unless a fire is burning.

Clean dryer’s lint trap before each load.

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

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

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

Always use cold-water rinse.

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

Make sure dryer vent hose is not kinked or clogged.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Only run dishwasher when fully loaded.  

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

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

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