Energy savings
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
Avoid air drying in high-humidity climates where clothes may stay damp for long periods and risk molding.
Humidity prevents drying and can cause mold, rot, and mildew.
- In some areas, clothes may stay damp for days or months before drying.
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Air dry clothes to extend their lifespan by avoiding the wear caused by machine drying.
Dryers remove fabric fibers and destroy clothes faster; hang drying can double or triple clothing life.
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Open cabinet doors under sinks to let warmer room air circulate around pipes.
This helps get warmer air to the pipes.
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Reroute dryer intake to suck air from the attic in summer.
Avoids using gas to heat climate-controlled home air.
- Attic smell may be a factor.
one person who lived it
Wait at least 24 hours after rain before doing laundry.
This ensures heat and sunlight go into drying clothes rather than creating steam from humid air.
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clothes, drying, dry, air30
Shake clothes firmly before hanging them to remove stiffness and wrinkles, especially if it is not windy or you are drying indoors.
Air dry clothes to save money by avoiding per-load fees at communal laundry rooms.
One person saved money by avoiding $1.75 per load fees.
one person who lived it
Tumble dry clothes briefly on low heat after air drying to soften them and remove stiffness.
It helps loosen up fabrics like jeans, hoodies, and cottons.
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Air dry clothes outside on sunny, dry days in winter.
Cold air is often very dry and effective for drying; clothes may get stiff first but will still dry.
one person who lived it
Accept that line-dried clothes may feel stiff initially but will soften after being worn for a few minutes.
It'll relax after 5min.
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Use dryer balls or tennis balls in the dryer to reduce drying time.
They help the dryer work better.
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Lay clothes flat on a standing drying rack instead of hanging them by the collar to prevent stretching.
Hanging by the collar allows weight to drag clothes down and stretch them out.
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Consider using a small portable washer that plugs into a bathroom faucet for specific loads like diapers.
One user found it effective at removing dirt from diapers, even better than front loaders.
one person who lived it
Treat your washing machine to remove detergent buildup if clothes remain stiff.
This may help the machine rinse better.
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- Reduce detergent usage to prevent clothes from becoming stiff or crunchy.3
Lay knit fabrics flat to dry instead of hanging them to prevent stretching.
Knit fabrics stretch when hung, whereas woven fabrics do not; keeping them out of direct sunlight also helps clothes last longer.
one person who lived it
Turn clothes inside out on the drying rack to expose pocket flaps.
This prevents bunching and speeds up drying.
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Run the dryer during off-peak electricity hours to reduce costs if your provider uses peak pricing.
One user saved on their electric bill by doing this.
one person who lived it
Buy thinner towels to reduce drying time and stiffness when air drying.
Shaking them while drying results in hardly any stiffness.
one person who lived it
Use pant hangers to dry t-shirts upside down on short lines.
Allows fitting many more items on a limited line.
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Place the drying rack away from walls to improve airflow and speed up drying.
More air circulation makes clothes dry faster.
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Hang dry sweaters and jeans specifically to prevent shrinking.
They don't shrink when hang dried.
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Shake clothes firmly before hanging them to remove stiffness and wrinkles, especially if it is not windy or you are drying indoors.
A firm shake removes stiffness and wrinkles more than relying on wind alone.
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Monitor indoor humidity levels carefully when air drying to prevent long-term mold damage.
One person reported their parents developed significant mold growth under drywall within three years of air drying, costing thousands to remedy.
one person who lived it
Check for a clogged lint trap or failing heating element if drying times seem excessively long.
These issues may indicate something is wrong with the dryer.
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Check and clean dryer vents regularly to prevent the laundry room from becoming excessively hot and humid.
If the room feels like a sauna, the vents may not be clear.
one person who lived it
Do smaller, more frequent laundry loads to ensure clothes have enough room to air dry.
Overloading racks prevents proper drying.
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Clean dryer vents regularly to remove blockages that cause longer drying cycles and higher energy use.
Fixing a partial blockage reduced cycle times for one user.
one person who lived it
Hang clothes straight and smooth out creases on the rack to reduce or eliminate the need for ironing.
Smoothing creases while hanging results in clothes that are almost like they are ironed when dry.
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Clean the internal dryer filter and the external wall vent if your unit is self-venting.
Lint buildup in ductwork can seriously affect overall efficiency.
one person who lived it
Avoid hanging clothes indoors without ventilation to prevent mold growth.
Moisture leaving the clothes has nowhere to go.
one person who lived it
Add vinegar to the rinse cycle to eliminate the crispy feeling caused by residual soap.
The strong smell evaporates quickly.
one person who lived it
Build a custom clothesline using plumbing pipe for greater durability.
It holds up a lot longer than other options, though it is more expensive.
one person who lived it
Close the door to the room where clothes are drying to concentrate dehumidifier effectiveness.
Less space works better.
one person who lived it
Leave smelly clothing outside overnight to dampen, then sun-dry it in the morning.
Usually eliminates odors.
one person who lived it
Carefully measure the starting liquid amount in solar-cooked dishes to prevent them from turning into soup.
The liquid in the pot cannot escape.
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heat, temperature, pipes, around25
Opt for heat pumps over resistive electric heating elements to get higher efficiency.
Keep central heating on at a low temperature (around 50-60°F) to prevent pipes from freezing, even when using space heaters.
Turning off the heat completely risks busted pipes.
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Wear a hat if you do not have thick hair to reduce heat loss from the head.
The head radiates transferred heat rapidly.
- Only necessary if you don't have somewhat thick hair.
one person who lived it
Opt for heat pumps over resistive electric heating elements to get higher efficiency.
Heat pumps operate at 3 to 4 times the efficiency of standard electric heaters, with modern units reaching 400 to 500% efficiency relative to resistance heating.
- When it gets too cold outside for the heat pump to work, electric heat strips usually kick on as backup.
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Set your fridge to 37°F and freezer to 0°F to maintain efficiency.
Settings lower than these are not as efficient.
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Avoid closing vents in unused rooms if it causes pressure issues in the HVAC system.
In some cases, it will cost more.
one person who lived it
Hang quilted blankets over exterior walls and windows to cut down on heat transfer.
Quilts provide layers of fabric that insulate.
- The blankets must be quilted (layers sewn together) to be effective.
one person who lived it
Wear polypropylene or Merino wool base layers instead of cotton to retain body heat.
Man-made fibers and wool keep heat in more than cotton.
one person who lived it
Install solar panels to absorb heat that would otherwise transfer into your home.
This reduces summer AC usage and wear and tear on AC units.
one person who lived it
Use vent deflectors to redirect heat from vents covered by furniture into the room.
It prevents heat from going into the furniture.
one person who lived it
Downsize TVs to reasonable sizes and switch to laptops or tablets instead of desktop PCs to save power.
Giant televisions and desktop PCs impact electric bills.
one person who lived it
Avoid keeping your house temperature extremely low (e.g., around 50°F) to prevent mold and mildew growth.
Low temperatures combined with humidity can lead to condensation and subsequent mold.
one person who lived it
Measure temperature specifically where the pipes are, not just at the thermostat.
Temperatures can vary between living areas and pipe areas; a first-floor reading of 41 degrees might mean below-freezing conditions in a basement.
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Maintain indoor humidity around 30-40% to make the air feel warmer without increasing the thermostat.
Humid air feels warmer than dry air at the same temperature
one person who lived it
Avoid setting thermostats too low in wood-framed homes to prevent structural damage from thermal shrinkage.
Extreme temperature swings can cause damage to walls and floors.
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Use infrared heaters for spot-heating specific people, such as when sitting at a desk.
Infrared heaters warm only the person sitting in front of them rather than heating large areas.
one person who lived it
Install dampers in your ductwork and label them for seasonal use to control airflow to specific rooms.
to add comfort and reduce energy usage
one person who lived it
Focus on warming yourself by drinking warm beverages like soup, herbal tea, or hot water.
Making soup is also frugal eating.
one person who lived it
Focus on small fixes and baseline efficiency over expensive gadgets like smart thermostats.
Small fixes save more than gadgets.
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Trade in old, inefficient appliances like refrigerators when receiving new ones through weatherization programs.
Old appliances are often electric guzzlers.
- Programs typically require trading out the old unit.
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Avoid placing thermostats next to vents, doors, exterior walls, or in direct sunlight to ensure accurate temperature readings.
Placement near these elements can cause false readings, forcing you to set the heater to ludicrously high temps to compensate.
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Hang thermal curtains, velvet curtains, or blankets between rooms to cut down on thermal variance.
It minimizes thermal variance between rooms and creates ambiance.
one person who lived it
Ask your utility for free plastic window inserts and hot water pipe insulation tubing.
These items stop heat from escaping windows and pipes.
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Invest in better refrigerators, dishwashers, TVs, and air conditioners to get greater energy efficiency.
This is described as the best way to get efficiency goals.
one person who lived it
Do jumping jacks, pushups, or crunches to generate body heat.
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Consider evaporative humidifiers with solid plastic basins and nylon mesh filters to avoid mold issues, provided you follow the maintenance schedule.
The user reported no mold or fungus issues when following the schedule.
one person who lived it
energy, utility, rates, companies26
Check for complimentary or low-cost energy assessments provided by regional power companies.
Rule out flat-rate monthly plans if your usage varies, as they may charge you disproportionately for low-usage months.
Flat rates can result in much higher per-unit costs during low-usage periods compared to variable rates.
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Buy quality LED bulbs to ensure they last up to 10 years.
Discount suppliers may over-drive diodes to increase brightness, which reduces lifespan.
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Scrutinize energy supplier bills for hidden service fees that inflate costs beyond actual usage.
Service fees can be substantial and often go unnoticed by customers.
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Consider time-of-use electricity rates if you can shift heavy energy usage to off-peak hours.
Fixed rates are better if you use a lot of energy during peak times, whereas variable rates are better if you use more during off-peak times.
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Consider hiring a licensed installer to access utility rebates that may not be available for DIY jobs.
One person received a $12,000 rebate when they had the system installed professionally; the utility would not have given any money for a DIY job.
one person who lived it
Calculate your potential bill under a new plan assuming zero energy usage to identify hidden base charges.
Base charges might be higher than your current total bill even with no usage.
one person who lived it
If you do not plan to sell your home soon, build to Energy Star standards without paying for formal certification.
You can achieve similar results by following the specifications without the cost of certification.
one person who lived it
Search for utility grants that cover HVAC inspections and duct sealing if your system is inefficient.
Sealing or replacing ducts can cut energy bills immensely.
one person who lived it
Avoid buying homes with solar panels installed by out-of-business companies, as removing them for roof repairs may be impossible or prohibitively expensive.
Roofing contractors may refuse to work on the roof until panels are removed, which can be impossible if the original installer is gone and no other local companies will take the job.
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Hire an electrician to finalize wiring for solar installations to ensure safety and code compliance.
Attempting DIY installation without being a licensed electrician risks burning down your house and having insurance deny your claim.
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Avoid financing solar through companies that emphasize low monthly payments over total cost.
These companies are often unreliable and charge interest rates too high to justify the savings in most cases.
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Be skeptical of door-to-door salesmen offering electricity switches, as they likely offer inferior rates compared to online deals and may use deceptive tactics.
They likely operate on deception and do not offer the best rate.
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Try county-level government websites for energy programs if state sites are difficult to navigate.
State web presences can be bad.
one person who lived it
Reinforce home insulation to improve energy efficiency.
Insulation does not cost money to run once installed.
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Put up 'No Solicitation' signs to deter door-to-door salespeople.
It creates a lovely environment in no-solicitation neighborhoods.
- Some people ignore the signs.
one person who lived it
Be wary of fixed-rate plan sales pitches that rely on scaremongering about rare events.
Aggressive advertising suggests the deal may not save money.
one person who lived it
Consider a grid-tie system with a generator for backup instead of battery backup.
Generators are often a better solution and may cost similarly to battery backups.
one person who lived it
Address house weatherization and appliance efficiency before installing solar panels.
to get the most from financial returns rather than just pursuing solar because it is trendy
one person who lived it
Search for utility assistance directly or through reputable sources like United Way rather than relying solely on AI.
You must independently verify everything AI tells you anyway.
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- Use findhelp.org to locate local resources including utility assistance by entering your zip code.3
Check for state-specific non-profits that offer additional energy efficiency services beyond utility programs.
Non-profits like Energy Trust in Oregon provide services that utility companies do not.
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Compare only the supply portion of electricity bills when evaluating third-party suppliers, ignoring delivery costs.
Delivery costs are fixed and cannot be changed by switching suppliers.
one person who lived it
Look for online home energy audits offered by utilities to qualify for free conservation kits.
Completing an audit can unlock offers from providers like Duquesne Light.
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Encourage your landlord to enroll rental properties in multi-family energy savings programs.
Enrollment leads to free assessments and the installation of free energy-saving products by trained technicians.
one person who lived it
Ensure faucet aerators provided by utilities match your thread type before installation.
Incorrect threads prevent use.
one person who lived it
Check for complimentary or low-cost energy assessments provided by regional power companies.
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