• Match the size of the pot you’re using to the stove-heating element.
• Never use electric appliances near water.
• Always unplug small electrical appliances after using them. Even when the switch says “off”, power is still present, and appliances can electrocute you if they contact water.
• Check the freezer to make sure nothing is blocking the cold air vents.
• A typical refrigerator costs about 50 cents a day to operate. Clean the coils! You can use: special brushes designed to reach back and clean in between the coils, a vacuum cleaner with a crevice nozzle, a yard stick with a cloth wrapped around it.
• When buying a new heating system or appliance, compare energy-efficiency ratings and annual operating costs. A slightly higher initial cost for a high-efficiency unit could pay itself back in a very short time through energy savings and lower utility bills.
• Lower the temperature setting on your washing machine. Most of the energy your washing machine uses is for heating water. Wash your laundry with warm or cold water rather than hot; then rinse in cold water only and save at least 50 percent on your washer’s energy costs.
• Do not pull a plug from a wall outlet by the cord.
• On the 5 'most used' lights in your home replace the bulbs with florescent light bulbs.
• When working outside, avoid contact with overhead power lines or exposed wires. Be careful when installing antennas or towers.
• Do not plug too many appliances into one socket. Wires may overheat, destroy insulation, and cause a fire.
• Stay away from substations.
• Defrost frozen food in the refrigerator not in the microwave.
• Fly kites only in open fields, away from electric wires.
• Clean the lint from your dryer after each use.
• Be sure that dishwashers, washing machines and clothes dryers are fully loaded before running.
• Use the “energy saver” switch on your dishwasher to shut off the drying element. That greatly reduces the energy used. Wait to run your dishwasher until it’s full — skip the drying cycle.
• Wrapping your water heater with an insulation blanket can reduce its energy use by 10 – 15 %.
• Check your water heater manual for instructions and drain sediment from the water heater tank at least annually. Removing sediment promotes proper heat exchange and extends the life of the water heater. Check the website of your water heater's manufacturer if you've misplaced your manual. Many are available on-line.

Heating Tips

• Consider storm or thermal windows and doors or double-paned glass. A less-expensive alternative is plastic sheeting, which can be temporarily fastened over doors and windows to retain heat or air conditioning. Adding this extra barrier to the temperatures could reduce the amount of cooling or heating by 50%.
• Hot air and return ducts in the attic or crawl space should be covered with at least two inches of insulation and should be as airtight as possible.
• Keeping blinds and drapes closed will keep your house cooler.
• Consider attaching a small inexpensive diverter to your dryer vent. With a diverter, in winter you can send warm moist air into your house, instead of into the back yard. In summer, flip the lever and the dryer is vented to the outside again.
• Use draperies, awnings, blinds or shutters on all windows to slow the loss of heat through the glass. In winter, keep window coverings open on sunny days to let the sun's warmth in and close them at night to insulate against cold, outside air. Use drapes, shutters, awnings, shade trees, glass with reflective film or solar screens to keep sunlight out in the summer.
• Install a programmable thermostat and set it to accurately follow your schedule. If no one is home during the day, there's no need to keep your house toasty. Using a programmable thermostat, you can adjust the times you turn on the furnace or air-conditioner according to a pre-set schedule. Programmable thermostats can store and repeat multiple daily settings (six or more temperature settings a day) that you can manually override without affecting the rest of the daily or weekly program.
• Correctly positioned shade trees can reduce indoor home temperatures by up to 20 degrees and reduce cooling costs by up to 40%.
• Thermostats should never be turned up high to heat a home in a hurry. The heater will stay on longer and waste energy. And the room will not heat up any faster.
• A dirty furnace filter can drive up the cost of heating your home. Change or clean filters in heating and cooling units at least four times a year.
• Adjust vents to keep specific rooms of your home at a desired temperature. Heat rises, so you may want to partially close upstairs vents. Check with your heating contractor to see if this will work well with your heating system design.
• Check to see if your attic and crawlspace and/or basement have recommended levels of insulation. Add insulation as needed.
• For safety and efficiency, keep all heating vents and furnace registers free of dirt, lint and obstructions.
• Have your air ducts tested for leaks. Ducts should be repaired with mastic-type sealant – not duct tape. You could save 5 to 20% of your heating costs.
• Put on your favorite sweater and set your thermostats between 65 and 68 degrees during the winter. For sleep hours, set the temperature at least 5 degrees lower and add a cozy blanket to your bed. When away from home for more than a few hours, set your thermostat at 58 degrees. (Warmer temperatures are recommended for homes with ill or elderly persons or infants).
• Closets and cabinets on outside walls can leak a great deal of air, so make sure the doors fit snugly and keep them tightly closed.
• Rearrange furniture by placing it against inside walls - you're less likely to feel cool drafts if you're not sitting next to the outside walls.
• Close vents and doors in unused rooms. Check with your heating/HVAC contractor to see if this will work well with your heating system design.
• Don’t use your oven on hot summer days. In winter, bake away!
• If pipes or ducts run through unheated areas, insulate them.
• Avoid blocking heating vents and air returns with furniture, draperies or carpet.
• Purchase some inexpensive, pre-cut insulation gaskets and seal out the cold air entering your home through electrical switches and outlet plates, particularly those on outside walls.
• Weather-strip your door. Some need to be nailed into place. Others come backed with adhesive so once you clean the surface you can simply stick the weather stripping on. You can also take a bath towel, roll it up and set it against the bottom of the door.
• Seal leaks around doors, windows and other openings, such as pipes or ducts, with caulking or weather-stripping.
• A home with inadequate insulation can lose up to 40% of cool air in summer or 60% of heat in the winter.
• Use kitchen, bath and other ventilating fans sparingly in cold weather. In just one hour, these fans can blow away a household of warm air.
• If you have ceiling fans, make sure the mountings are snug and tight. Use clear caulking to seal any leaks. Even minor cracks around the base can let in lots of cold air.
• If you never use your fireplace, plug and seal the chimney flue.
• A humidifier - either on your furnace or as a separate unit - can help control heating costs. You'll feel warmer in moist air, so you can set your thermostat lower. A more inexpensive option is to near the end of your shower, close the stopper and let some of that hot water sit in the tub. It will add humidity to the air.

• A little water leak loses a lot! Just a slow drip can add up to 15 or more gallons a day.
• Don’t leave the water running. Run as much as you need, then turn off the tap until you need some more.
• Repair leaky hot water faucets promptly. A leaky faucet wastes gallons of hot water in a short period of time.
• Reduce the demand on your water heater by taking shorter showers.

Other Tips

• Only run automatic dishwashers when completely full, the dishwasher uses the same amount of water and electricity whether it is full or just has a few cups in it.
• First and foremost, have your furnace and gas appliances serviced annually by a qualified contractor to ensure safety and maximum energy-efficiency. As you "tighten up" your home for energy-efficiency, you may even want to install a carbon monoxide detector for added safety.
• Set water heater temperature at 120 degrees and install water-flow restrictors in showerheads and faucets. Water-saving showerheads and faucet aerators save up to 50% on your hot water use. Simply unscrew the old one and screw on the new one.
• Flushing your water heater tank every year or so is a wise precaution which could extend the life of your tank by preventing the build-up of sediment. (However, if your tank hasn't been flushed for over five years, flushing it now and disrupting the sediment could actually expose a leak.)