HOME ENERGY SAVINGS GUIDES
RESIDENTIAL ENERGY SAVINGS GUIDESThere are many strategies you can use to save on your energy costs at home, ranging from simple, no or low-cost opportunities, to significant investments that will yield excellent returns. The Energy Savings Guides below will help you identify opportunities that make sense for your family. Be sure to click around, as many of these opportunities are interconnected. For example, improving insulation can enable you to make energy saving changes to your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, too. If you would like to find energy saving tips customized to your interests, go to Savings Tips in the Energy Action Planner on this site. Recharge Colorado would like to acknowledge the excellent publicly available sources that have been used to gather some of the consolidated information, data and tips available in the Energy Savings Guides: |
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INSULATION
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Insulation is a win-win proposition. With it, you’ll save money on your energy bill, cut back on your environmental impact and make your home more comfortable, too. You may also cut down on factors like noise, moisture and condensation inside your home. Improving your insulation is one of the most time and cost-effective ways to save money and make your home or workplace more energy efficient. Learn more. |
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Air leakage is a serious contributor to energy costs and inefficiencies. Proper air sealing not only significantly reduces heating and cooling costs, it also improves building durability and creates a healthier, more comfortable indoor environment. |
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Changing the way you light your home may be the easiest way to save energy and money. Approximately 15% of your electricity bill can be attributed to the costs of artificial lighting. But the use of new lighting technology can reduce lighting energy use in homes significantly; and timers, sensors and daylight techniques can help save even more energy. |
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The typical homeowner spends $1,900 each year on energy bills—and as much as half of that amount goes to heating and cooling. It makes sense to look carefully at heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and evaluate whether there are changes you could make to reduce your energy bill and improve your comfort and safety. |
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Heating water for home use takes a lot of energy. Small changes, like insulating your water heater or shifting to low-flow fixtures, will help to improve your water heater’s performance and reduce waste. And switching from a conventional water heater to an ENERGY STAR qualified product can save you even more. |
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If you’re like most Americans, about 20% of your residential energy bill goes to running appliances and powering electronics. These items offer many conveniences, and you can make them more energy efficient, whether you want to replace them or simply modify the way you use them. And switching from conventional appliances and electronics to ENERGY STAR qualified products can save you even more. |
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Windows, doors and skylights are designed to give access to exterior air, light and spaces. But by nature, they also make it easier for air leakage and heat transfer to occur. There are a variety of changes you can make to combat this source of energy loss and save money. |
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Solar thermal systems collect the sun’s heat and use it for space or water heating. Solar thermal energy is renewable, and using this kind of energy will reduce your energy bills, benefit the environment and cut your contribution to greenhouse gases. |
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Put simply, solar electric systems, also called photovoltaic (PV) systems, convert sunlight into electricity. PV panels, seen more and more often on Colorado rooftops, absorb light energy from the sun and convert it into electricity. This electricity can be used to power most electrical needs in your home, such as lights and appliances. |
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In passive solar strategies, designers and builders leverage knowledge of solar geometry, window technology and local climate to make decisions about building design. Passive solar can cut heating bills by 50%, yet it costs very little (if anything) to incorporate it into building design. Buildings designed for passive solar also boast the added comforts of natural light and airflow. |
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A clean, renewable energy option, wind power is a great option for those interested in saving money, reducing their carbon footprint and gaining more independence from fossil fuels. Colorado has great wind potential, so it’s an especially viable option in our state. |
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Many options are newly—or nearly—available for drivers who wish to reduce their environmental impact, cut or eliminate emissions and liberate themselves from rising gasoline prices. |
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For many people, walking, biking and taking public transit are viable alternatives to driving. Choosing one of these options even some of the time can help to reduce traffic congestion, air pollution, energy consumption and your impact on the environment. |
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Nearly everything we do creates some type of waste. And today, Americans are throwing away more than ever before. Landfills take up valuable space, contribute to ground water pollution, and release large amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas, among other pollutants. Waste reduction through reducing, reusing and recycling can help mediate your household waste and cut your contributions to landfills. |
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A recent government survey showed at least 36 states are anticipating local, regional or statewide water shortages by 2013. What can you do? A lot. Through small changes, like changing out inefficient fixtures or repairing leaky faucets, you can make a big difference in the amount of water you use. |
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Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) draw upon the constant temperatures below the earth’s surface to make indoor temperatures warmer in winter and cooler in summer; some are even equipped to serve as water heaters. In use since the late 1940s, GHPs are durable and reliable and use 25-50% less electricity than traditional heating and cooling systems. |
