Learn about these top 10 energy wasters and savers.

Compact Fluorescent Lighting

One of the easiest things you can do is to change your light bulbs. It’s best to switch out incandescent bulbs with CFLs in areas that are lit for extended periods of time, typically two hours or longer. Switching a CFL on and off too frequently will shorten its life.

CFLs are four times more efficient (using 50 to 80 percent less energy) and last up to 10 times longer than typical incandescents, which have an average lifetime of 750 to 2500 hours, while CFLs last from 6,000 to 10,000 hours. CFL bulbs can range from $4 to $15 depending on their type. This is much more than typical incandescent bulbs, but energy bill savings will more than pay for the extra cost of the lamps over their lifetime, and you will have to replace fewer bulbs. Installing motion sensors or timers on outdoor lights, instead of leaving the lights on during nighttime hours, can also help to reduce the electricity bill.

Programmable Thermostats

Install a programmable thermostat to set your heating and cooling equipment to automatically turn on or off to match your schedule and create a comfortable and energy-efficient living environment. These units typically offer savings of 10 to 15 percent and cost $40 - $100. Remember set your thermostat to a higher temperature in the summer and a cooler temperature in the winter – especially when you’re on vacation.

Fans

Fans and dehumidifiers use less energy than air conditioners and can help to make the home comfortable during the warm months.

Winterizing

Look for cracks and openings in the house that are letting cold air in during the winter and hot air in during the summer. Many leaks can be sealed with caulking and weather-stripping, which can greatly improve the energy efficiency of your home. Once you have sealed the cracks, the air tightness of your home can be tested by an energy professional performing a blower door test. Check with your local utility to see if they offer free or discounted testing. If they don’t, they may be able to recommend a professional, or you can go to www.energystar.gov for related links.

Tree Conservation

Properly placed trees and shrubs help to reduce your utility bills. Tree preservation reduces landscaping and future energy costs and helps provide winter wind breaks or summer shade. Deciduous trees planted on the west and south sides of your home help to keep your house shaded during the day's peak heating times. Plus, as an added benefit, one tree can filter 60 pounds of pollutants from the air each year.

ENERGY STAR® appliances

When buying or replacing appliances, choose energy-efficient models. Federal ENERGY STAR-rated appliances are designed to use 10%-50% less energy and water than standard appliances and save an average of 30% over standard models. The up front cost is usually higher, but the payback over time should be well worth it. Look for dishwashers, induction cooktops, refrigerators, and front-loading clothes washers.

Induction Cooktops. Rather than heating the cooking surfaces, the magnetic induction process turns the pot into the heating element. Food is heated more quickly and to precise temperatures. Cooking with magnetic induction is 90 percent efficient, as compared to resistance electric at approximately 65-percent efficiency, and open-flamed gas which measures in the 55-percent efficiency range.A magnetic induction cooktop costs three to four times more than an electric cook top. A magnetic induction cooktop with four elements ranges in price from $1800 to $4000, depending upon the manufacturer and features.

High-Efficiency Refrigerators. Because a refrigerator is one of the most energy-consuming household appliances, federal regulations have mandated energy ratings and efficiency improvements for all refrigerators. New high-efficiency refrigerators exceed the federal energy requirements and can save consumers a substantial amount of money. Today’s generation includes more insulation, high-efficiency compressors, better door seals, and more accurate control of temperature than older models. They use between 450 kWh per year (for a 15-cubic foot top-freezer model) and 850 kWh per year (for a 26.7 cubic foot side-by-side model). This compares with the past typical new home refrigerators (with top-freezer) that used about 700-kWh per year and the typical 1973 model that used nearly three times the electrical energy. Furthermore, refrigerators certified by the EPA/DOE ENERGY STAR® program must yield at least a 10% improvement over the federal standard. Replacing a ten-year-old refrigerator with a new, high-efficiency refrigerator can save a homeowner $100 in average annual energy costs. (Dollar values assume a national average energy cost of $0.084 per kWh.)

Front-loading clothes washers. Front-loading washers use less water, energy, and detergent. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, front-loading washing machines can use about 40 percent less water and 50 percent less energy than conventional washers, cause less wear and tear on clothes, and can accommodate large items that won't fit in a top-loader. A typical top-loading washer uses about 40 gallons of water per full load. In contrast, a full-size front-loading clothes washer uses between 20 and 25 gallons. Front-loading washers cost between $600 and $1,500, which is more expensive than top-loading machines. The estimated annual utility bill savings for a family of four is about $75 to $100 plus any additional savings associated with shorter drying time and reduced detergent use.

Insulation

You may consider adding insulation to your basement or attic, particularly if these areas are used as a bedroom or family room. The great thing about insulation is that it works in both hot and cold weather. When it is cold outside, insulation helps to prevent heat from flowing out of your house, and when it’s warm outside, it helps to prevent heat transfer into your house. These days, you have a choice of insulation materials. You may be interested in environmentally-friendly materials such as blown-in cellulose insulation, or an energy-efficient spray foam insulation.

Energy-Efficient or Tankless Water Heater

Water heating typically accounts for 10 to 25 percent of the energy used in the home. If your water heater is over 20 years old, it is generally a good idea to get it replaced because today’s models are much more efficient. Tankless water heaters provide hot water on demand at a preset temperature rather than storing it, which reduces or eliminates standby losses - with 10%-20% water heating savings for electric models. Gas savings may be about 20% -40% ($50-$100/yr). Equipment life may be longer than tank-type heaters because they are less subject to corrosion. Expected life of tankless water heaters is 20 years, compared with between 10 and 15 years for tank-type water heaters. Tankless water heaters range in price from $200 for a small under-sink unit up to $1200 for a gas-fired unit that delivers 5 gallons per minute. Typically, the more hot water the unit produces, the more it will cost.

There are numerous other ways home owners can reduce the amount of energy they use to heat water: turn down the water heater's thermostat setting to 115 to 120 degrees F; buy an energy-efficient water heater; install non-aerating, low-flow faucets and showerheads; use the "warm" water setting on your clothes washer instead of the "hot" water setting; and set your dishwasher to "energy saver" or "water saver."

Right-Sized Equipment

When you decide to remodel, it’s a great time to evaluate your home’s heating, cooling equipment. Selecting more efficient, correctly sized heating and cooling equipment saves money. Remember that bigger does not always mean better. For the most efficient system, you really want your HVAC system to meet your needs – not surpass them. An oversized unit will cost more up front, plus your monthly bills can be higher. Oversized cooling equipment tends to cycle more frequently, which costs more to operate and can shorten the life of the unit. In the event you need to replace your central air conditioning unit, check for the ENERGY STAR label. If you find that your equipment doesn’t need to be replaced, give it a tune-up and take care of any minor repairs or leaks to improve efficiency, and make sure your pipes and ducts are insulated.

High Performance Windows

Consider replacing single-pane windows. Double-pane windows with high performance glass (e.g., low emissivity or "low-e" glass) that are gas-filled perform much better and help reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in summer. Low-E coatings used to add about $1 per square foot of glazing, however, in most climates this has become the standard. Low-E coatings save energy in most U.S. climates. In a simulation of a home located in Boston, low-E coating saved $103 per year. Interior storm windows provide a compromise by increasing energy efficiency while maintaining exterior aesthetics at a significant cost savings over window replacement.

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This content was written by the National Association of Home Builders.