Energy efficiency
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Keep your thermostat set to at least 55°F in winter to prevent pipes from freezing.
Setting the heat below this temperature puts the plumbing system at risk of freezing.
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- Set the whole-house thermostat to at least 60°F in winter.1
Turn off fans in rooms you are not occupying.
Fans only move air; they do not cool it, so running them when no one is present serves no purpose.
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Construct detachable wooden frames fitted with plastic sheeting to cover windows for insulation.
These are far superior to heat shrink film, cost little to build, and endure for years.
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- Install plastic shrink-wrap kits over window frames to seal drafts.3
Invest in quality LED bulbs despite higher upfront costs.
They may remain in your home for over 10 years.
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Hang dry your laundry on a clothesline instead of using a dryer.
Roll dark paint on house windows to block sunlight.
Saves on AC bill
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- Install heavy drapes or blinds to block sunlight and keep rooms cooler.9
Keep your A/C set high in summer and heat set low in winter, dressing appropriately to see the biggest change.
That's how you'll see the biggest change.
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Switch to an induction cooktop to reduce excess heat and save on running costs.
It is cheaper to run because you are not paying to create excess heat, and it heats faster.
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Drink plenty of ice-cold water throughout the day.
Staying hydrated will help you feel much cooler than otherwise.
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Wet your body, turn off the water to soap up, then turn it back on to rinse.
This method reduced one person's running water time from 5 minutes to about 30 seconds.
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Turn up the heat during ice storms or power outages to prevent pipes from freezing.
It prevents the need to run taps to stop freezing if power is out for an unknown duration.
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Plant deciduous trees in front of sun-facing windows.
They provide shade in summer and allow sunlight in during winter when leaves fall off.
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Sleep in a tent inside your bedroom with a winter sleeping bag or electric blanket to trap body heat.
This allows you to lower your thermostat.
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Turn off your air conditioner when leaving the house, as keeping it running all day costs more than cooling the home upon return.
The energy required to cool the house back down is less than the energy used to maintain the temperature while empty; one person reported spending 25-30% more electricity by leaving the AC on all day.
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Use a dehumidifier to make high temperatures feel more tolerable.
Dry air at the same temperature is much more comfortable than humid air.
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Close closet doors if the closets are not insulated to prevent drafts.
would create drafts
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Change or clean your furnace and AC air filters regularly.
Dirty filters can increase utility bills.
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Use thermostats with remote sensors, such as Ecobee or Nest.
They are wonderful things.
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Open windows at night when the outside air is cooler to let hot air escape.
- Only do this if the air outside is cooler than inside.
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Clean dust from under the fridge, the compressor area, and the radiator.
These areas collect dust over time.
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Hang dry your laundry on a clothesline instead of using a dryer.
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Line curtains with heavy fabric like flannel to block cold air or hot sun.
Heavy lining blocks temperature transfer even when ice forms on the inside of the window.
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Position yourself in rooms where sunlight enters to use passive solar heating.
Sunlight can raise the temperature in a specific area enough to delay the need for artificial heat.
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Gather family members into one room to use combined body heat.
Combined body heat helps keep the room warm.
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Run a dehumidifier if you cannot use air conditioning but need to control moisture.
It helps prevent mold growth.
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Use bamboo or synthetic sheets instead of cotton for better cooling.
Cotton is not as cooling as bamboo and some synthetics.
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Let the house temperature drop when away rather than maintaining a constant temperature.
It uses less energy to fill the 'bucket' only when needed than to keep it full continuously against leaks.
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If you are home alone, skip flushing the toilet after urinating to save water.
to save some water
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Live in a smaller house to reduce overall energy consumption.
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On sunny winter days, open blinds to let sunlight in; in summer, close them to block the sun.
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Apply saran wrap to windows using a hair dryer to seal against heat loss.
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Close off rooms you are not using to reduce the volume of space that needs conditioning.
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Use a smoke pen to locate drafts by observing smoke movement.
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Keep receipts and date new lightbulbs when installed to help with warranty claims or refunds if they burn out prematurely.
Choose name-brand LED bulbs with warranties over CFLs for residential use.
Name brands offer 10-15 year warranties at a low cost, making them the better choice for most homes.
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Focus on converting the fixtures you use most often to LEDs rather than trying to save across all bulbs at once.
A small percentage of bulbs likely account for the majority of lighting usage.
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Select LEDs with a 2700K color temperature and high CRI to match the quality of halogen or incandescent light.
This matches the color of halogen bulbs.
- LEDs do not turn orange when dimmed like incandescent or halogen sources.
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Avoid Chinese-made 'corncob' style LED bulbs due to poor life expectancy and lack of standard certification.
They may last only a fraction of the promised time and lack UL certification.
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Shower at a gym daily to save on home utility bills.
It reduces costs for water, sewer, and electricity at home.
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Recycle broken or unused CFL bulbs through retailers like Home Depot or Lowes, or at your local transfer station.
CFLs contain mercury, which is toxic and makes broken bulbs hazardous waste.
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Install LEDs in hard-to-reach outdoor fixtures to avoid frequent maintenance.
One person reported that LEDs lasted three years without needing replacement in fixtures that previously required bulb changes every 18 months.
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Be aware that some newer LED bulbs may interfere with broadcast frequencies and hospital telemetry monitoring bands.
Some units have been found to step on protected frequency bands.
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Treat cheap decorations well to extend their lifespan.
One frugal shopper reported that Dollar Tree decorations lasted at least five years because they were treated carefully.
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Estimate potential energy savings by taking 19% of your non-tax kWh bill and reducing that amount by 80%.
The US Department of Energy suggests this calculation reflects annual lighting costs.
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Buy store coupons for hardware stores from eBay to save on DIY materials.
Purchasing discounted coupons can lead to significant savings on storewide purchases.
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Borrow draft-check meters (IR thermometers) and kill-a-watts from the library to identify energy waste.
A good frugal option
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Clean dust from computers and electronics with air intakes annually.
It benefits their performance.
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Limit evening activities to low-energy tasks like reading and sleep earlier.
To use little artificial light.
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Register your appliances immediately after purchase.
Failure to register may result in paying out of pocket for repairs that should be covered under warranty.
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Keep receipts and date new lightbulbs when installed to help with warranty claims or refunds if they burn out prematurely.
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Unplug power bricks or use smart outlets to turn off computers and appliances completely.
This may save a residual amount of electricity.
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Look into state or federal tax breaks for insulation improvements.
Money spent on insulation starts making back immediately.
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Write simple, direct letters to manufacturers explaining your financial need to potentially receive free gear or samples.
One person reported receiving brand new items after writing such letters.
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Ask your local utility company if they offer complimentary kits with efficiency upgrades like LED bulbs and faucet aerators.
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