Conservation Steps

Some of these suggestions are more effective than others. You mileage will vary and some of these tips may not be helpful at all. Please consider them carefully and take advantage of the ones that you find safe and practical. The explanations provided here are minimal, so if you don't know how to do something correctly or safely please do some research and find out.

Around Home

General

• Ask yourself: "Do I need to turn this on now?"
• Many utilities offer rebates for high efficiency lighting retrofits.
• If you leave a room for more than 15 minutes turn off the lights and other appliances such as radios or televisions being used.
• Home photovoltaics are an option for remote houses or equipment sheds.
• Find out if your home is charged a peak demand charge by the electric utility company and investigate ways to reduce that expense.
• The aluminum industry consumes 1.4% of all the world's total energy. Recycle aluminum cans and other items.
• Purchase an energy efficient home or upgrade your older home with the latest energy conserving materials and equipment.

Kitchen

    frig/freezer

• Vacuum coils and back of refrigerator
• Manual defrost refrigerators use less energy than automatic defrost models.
• Defrost the freezer regularly to keep ice from building up on the coils and making the unit operate less efficiently.
• When buying a refrigerator, choose an energy efficient model. Side by side models are less efficient that other units.
• If the freezer is not full already fill plastic jugs with water and keep them in the freezer compartment.
• Don't open the refrigerator or freezer until you are sure what you will be getting. Keep a list of contents posted on the door with an inventory of contents.
• Keep the refrigerator coils free of ice build up by defrosting at regular intervals.
• Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator to take advantage of their low temperature.
• Adjust the temperature control on the refrigerator and freezer to the warmest practical temperature.
• Locate the refrigerator away from the stove, a heating vent or where the sun will shine directly on it.
• Be sure there is enough clearance at the back of the refrigerator for air to circulate. The coils are heat exchange devices that transfer heat from the unit to the air by way of a circulating fluid inside.
• Store only foods that must be refrigerated in the icebox.
• Keep foods covered tightly to reduce moisture buildup in the icebox. It takes more energy to cool humid air than dry air.
• Wipe moisture from bottles and cartons before putting them in the refrigerator to be sure they do not add to the latent load.
• Check the refrigerator door gasket and replace it if it is not sealing tight.
• Wrap your refrigerator with a $10 emergency blanket and magnets during the day (or whenever being used less - on vacation but leaving something in the freezer?). But don't block ventilation

    Food

• Buy certified organic produce and frequent farmer's markets.
• Reduce Meat consumption (considerable energy use in production)

    Stove/oven

• Use the kitchen exhaust fan when cooking to vent humid and odorous air.
• Operate kitchen exhaust hoods only when the cooking surfaces are actually in use.
• Do not use the kitchen stove to heat rooms, but do let residual heat out after cooking.
• Use the extra heat left over after cooking in the oven to do other tasks such as rising bread or warming food.
• Use smaller appliances such as pressure cookers, woks or broiler ovens instead of the full oven when cooking small portions.
• You can turn off the oven or stove a few minutes before an item is finished cooking and the residual heat will finish the job.
• Preheat the oven for baked goods only and don't preheat sooner than is necessary.
• Cooking with lids on pots and pans can reduce by half the heat required.
• Don't use hot water to rinse the kitchen dishes.
• Yellow flames on a gas stove mean it is not adjusted right. The flames should be blue.

    Dishwasher

• Use the economizer cycle on the dishwasher and let the dishes drip dry instead of using electric heat to dry them.
• Run the dishwasher in the evening and open the door overnight so the dishes can drip dry.

    Washing/Drying

• Clothes Drying rack
• Wash with cooler temps - 110 for most (some say that higher temps are necessary to get rid of bed mites - most important possibly in the development of allergies in kids)
• Wash full loads when using the washing machine or clothes dryer.
• Colored clothes do not have to be washed in warm or hot water. This wastes energy and causes the colors to fade.
• Clean the lint trap of the clothes dryer regularly to maximize the airflow within the machine.
• Keep indoor shading devices clean so they can work properly.

Heating AND Cooling

• Close off air vents and keep the doors closed to rooms that are seldom used to save on air conditioning and heating costs.
• Turn off the heat or AC an hour or two before leaving and the home will continue to be comfortable until you leave.
• Variable speed motors and controls on air handling units can save on cooling and heating costs.
• Calibrate thermostats so they maintain the right set point.
• Keep a kettle simmering on the oven to raise indoor humidity in the winter for increased comfort. You will also be able to turn the thermostat down a few degrees and still be comfortable.

    Heating

        General

• Plant evergreen trees to break the strong winter winds before they reach your home or office building.
• Water indoor plants more often in the winter because central heating dries the air out.
• Purchase efficient heat pumps for your home or business?
• Ground source heat pumps are efficient and environmentally friendly.

        Furnace

• Thermostat - Cascade Natural Gas recommends 65 during day and 55 at night for Pac Northwest (supposedly more comfortable if adequately humid)
• Using long underwear, more clothes and more quilts in the winter.
• Relocate thermostats if they are near outside walls, in seldom used areas, near heat sources or in a draft. The best position is near the return air grill on an inside wall.
• Filter - change (or wash if reusable) regularly
• If you have a pilot light (not electronic ignition) extinguish the gas furnace pilot light at the end of the heating season so you do not continue to burn gas unnecessarily.
• A good electric heat pump can beat the resources-to-be-delivered efficiency of a gas furnace.
• Turn HVAC systems off at night so fresh air can infiltrate naturally.
• Consider replacing the pilot lights of gas burning furnaces and water heaters with electronic ignition devices.

        Fireplace

• Fireplace Damper or Doors - Close the fireplace damper tight when the heating season is over.

        Space Heating/Wood Stoves

• It is important to provide adequate ventilation when using kerosene space heaters or wood burning stoves. There must be sufficient oxygen available for complete combustion and the products of combustion must be vented from the occupied space.

        Fans

• Use ceiling fans to move warm air down (fan has to operate this way) from the ceiling in the winter. (slow rotation speed)

        Duct work

• Leaks - leakage from areas such as joints, elbows, and connections can be substantial--as much as 20% to 30%.

    Cooling (* even in cooler climates some homes with much glass may need to deal with excess sun exposure during the summer)

• Fans
• Creating a cross draft to avoid the use of fans and air conditioners in the summer.
• Setting up cross-drafts and closing some shades and curtains to keep cool.
• Shut off your gas pilots during the summer months.
• Don't block the supply air or return air ducts to the air conditioning system with furniture or drapes.
• Keep doors open in all rooms cooled by a central air conditioning system so that supply air can return easily to the unit.
• Be sure the air conditioning system is fully charged with coolant so it will operate most efficiently when you need it.
• Check your auto and home air conditioning systems for coolant leaks and repair them properly. Freon damages the ozone layer.
• When the weather is nice outside leave the AC off and open the windows.
• Duct air to ice machine condenser instead of using conditioned air that is exhausted to the outside. That way the heat generated by the condenser never enters the air-conditioned space.
• Plant shrubs and trees around the air conditioning condenser to improve its operating efficiency. The shade makes it work less to cool the refrigerant circulating from the inside air handler.
• Clean out bird nests and debris from attic louvers so that air can flow freely through the attic space. Your home will be cooler.
• Plant grass or ground cover on exposed land to prevent loss of topsoil from erosion. Landscaping also reduces the amount of reflected heat reaching the building shell.
• Clean air conditioning ducts in older homes and businesses to increase the efficiency of the air conditioning system and save on the bills.
• A high efficiency air filter used on the air conditioning can help against airborne particles that cause allergies.
• Use a high efficiency filter for the air conditioning system to protect the fan, motor and air distribution system from build up of dust and dirt that reduce efficiency.
• Exhaust all the hot humid air from the restroom after bathing, as the humid air puts a heavy burden on the air conditioning system.
• Wear lighter clothing in warm weather and raise the AC thermostat.
• Solar film installed on the south and west windows will keep the house cooler in the summer.
• Use ceiling fans in classrooms and offices to circulate the air in the summer.
• Remove concealment and bushes that are so near AC condensing units that they restrict the flow of air.
• Purchase home (and automobile air conditioning equipment) that uses coolant with a low ozone depletion potential.
• Install a replacement roof on your home that is light in color if the summers are extreme. Your air conditioning will work less to keep your home cool.
• Turn off the air conditioning an hour or two before leaving and the home will continue to be comfortable until you leave.
• Tilt blinds slightly to keep direct sunlight from entering a room and heating it up unnecessarily in the summer.
• An efficient air conditioning system for dry climates is the substantial savings. An evaporative precooler is a good idea for existing units as well and will make the packaged system more efficient.
• Excessive moisture in the air is bad for buildings during the cooling season. The humid air places an extra heavy burden on the air conditioning apparatus and can cause moldy curtains, walls and other surfaces.
• Comb the fins on the air conditioning condenser outside when they are mashed or disfigured to improve the heat exchange rate of the unit.
• Most electrical appliances, such as motors, lights and electronic components generate heat that puts an extra burden on air conditioning.
• Cover the fresh air intake for through-the-wall air conditioning units when they are not used for a season to keep air from entering.

Crawlspace/Basement

• Clean crawl space vents and keep soil off of house wood
• Protect structural wood components from decay by moisture, fungi and termites.
• Homes with basements can save on their heating and cooling bills by providing extra insulation in the basement.

Attic

    General

• Install a thermostat to control the attic fan so that it operates only when the temperature is ten or more degrees above ambient.

    Insulation

• More attic insulation - most bang for buck. Ceiling insulation can save up to 30% on fuel bills, depending on your home's size, R-value of the insulation, the number of windows and doors in the house, and other energy saving improvements.
• Radiant barrier in attic - not as much payback as insulation (although it is more effective if insulation is lacking)
• Many heating and air conditioning ducts in the attic or ceiling space of older homes are not insulated. Proper insulation will save a lot of energy and cause the system to operate more efficiently.
• If roof insulation cannot be added, then put it at the top floor ceiling.

    Ventilation

• Ridge vent in Attic?
• Clean the attic louvers of nests, debris or other items that can block the flow of air and cause the attic to heat up.
• (?) Partially close attic vents and louvers in the winter so that warm air will remain in the ceiling space and not escape and be replaced with cold outside air. (allow for some ventilation)

Living Space Ventilation

• Be sure to open the windows now and again to air out the house or business. Fresh air is vital to human activity
• Plants help to purify air in the home. They extract carbon dioxide and create oxygen.
• Inadequate ventilation in an office or home can result in the "sick building" syndrome and possible illness to people within. Problems can range from dizziness or headaches to allergies or worse.
• Reduce the quantities of air exhausted from kitchens, restrooms and laboratory vent hoods as much as practicable. - put the fans on timers or limit use just to the time necessary otherwise you are sucking all of the hot air or cold air you have to the outside and will have recondition the air you are sucking in to replace it
• Purchase vent hoods that introduce a percentage of air as untreated outside air instead of exhausting 100% of conditioned air from the space. Existing vent hoods can sometimes be modified with this option for great savings.

Windows

• Drapes -
  • Your drapes will act as a blanket for your energy sensitive windows.
  • warm summer days - close your drapes to keep out the sun's mid-day heat and reduce air conditioning costs.
  • winter days - leave your drapes open so your home will absorb the sun's natural heating energy. Always close your drapes at night to keep the heat in (or when it is cloudy outside.)
  • Use drapes and awnings to reduce the heat transferred through windows by closing them when a space is not currently in use. Even partially closed vertical or horizontal blinds help.
• Solar screens on south and west facing windows will reduce the cooling load of a building in the heat of the summer.
• Caulking (Doors also) - Estimates indicate that you can save up to 10% of your home heating and cooling costs by caulking and sealing all windows and doors.
• Double pane the windows or purchase storm windows. (double panes by themselves do not guarantee much greater insulation - get dbl paned windows that provide real insulation improvement over single panes)
• Rehang misaligned windows and replace windows with broken or cracked panes.
• Thermally seal all unused windows.
• Add reflective or heat absorbing glazing to windows. They diminish the natural daylight but can reduce the solar heat gain substantially.
• Reflective materials on the window side of draperies reflect solar heat when the curtains are closed.
• Wash windows frequently to take best advantage of daylight.
• Replace light fixture lenses that have become yellow or hazy with age with a clear acrylic lens that will permit the most light to pass.

Doors

• Adjust exterior doors to minimize the cracks all around so that air infiltration is minimized.
• Insulators for glass doors -
• Sealing with weather strip/caulking
• Door warmers
• Consider automatic door closers on swinging exterior doors. (When children are old enough for doing so safely)

Garage

• Gasket the bottom of all garage type doors if they enclose a conditioned space.
• Insulated Garage Door?
• Garage air-sealed from rest of house and vented

Lighting

• Turn off lights when not in use.
• Put lower wattage bulbs in fixtures that are used for area lighting or exterior lighting.
• Use an inexpensive photoelectric light for nighttime lighting in the yard or home so the lights burn only when it is dark outside.
• Motion sensors will turn on outside security lighting only when movement is detected within its range and keep from running the lights all the time.
• Replace inefficient incandescent outside floodlights with more efficient high-pressure sodium or low pressure sodium lamps. The latter are better in areas with bug problems.
• Clean the lens of fluorescent fixtures periodically so the light transmittance losses are minimized.
• Replace incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent lamps for up to 80% reduction in electricity use.
• Install a motion sensor to turn off lights in offices and spaces with erratic occupancies such as restrooms and mechanical rooms.
• Use a combination photocell-switch to turn off lighting in offices or rooms with daylight available much of the day.
• Purchase an inexpensive light meter and tailor the lighting throughout the home to the minimum lighting requirements. Most places are over lit - especially rooms with daylight - and can benefit from lower wattages lamps.
• Multi level light bulbs are energy savers if they are used at the lowest wattage whenever possible.
• Dimmers can reduce the cost of lighting and cause a more healthy and effective lighting level, especially in spaces with several different functions.
• Electronic dimmers can cause harmonic distortion in a building's power distribution system. Avoid using them where equipment is sensitive to the quality of power.
• Multiple switching of fluorescent ceiling fixtures can save energy by turning on only as many lamps in each fixture as is necessary for adequate illumination.
• Reflective sills, blinds and other architectural features to supplement artificial lights can reflect natural light deep into a room.
• Painting ceiling and walls with a lighter and more reflective paint, ceiling tiles or floor coverings will increase the light level in a room.
• Move desks and work surfaces to take advantage of daylight.
• Use room and area lighting only when it is needed.
• Increasing light levels in a cool room in cold weather may improve the occupant's perceived comfort.
• Arrange work surfaces so that sidewall daylight crosses the task at a perpendicular angle to the line of vision.

Computers

• Replace CRTs with LCD or better yet - replace all desktops with Laptops
• Configure power management on your computers
• Off when not being used

Water

    Heating

• Add insulation blanket and radiant blanket (?) around H20 Heater R7 in heated space R11-12 in unheated space
• Insulate the pipes
• Lower the water temperature
• Install a heat trap or ptrap to keep the hot water from rising out of the heater.
• Install a timer on the (electric) hot water heater and turn it on only for a couple of hours each day when all the domestic chores are done.
• Insulating hot water lines in the slab or crawl space will save on the water heating bills. Heat tape will further increase savings.
• Adjust the burners (gas)
• Drain the rust and scale
• Insulate the bottom of your tank (electric)
• Turn the water heater off when you are gone for a long weekend or on vacation for several days.
• Consider replacing the pilot lights of gas burning water heaters with electronic ignition devices.
• Use heat tracing to keep hot water piping warm and adequately insulate the lines.

    Usage

• Reduce Shower Times (use timer).
• Kid's baths in smaller tubs
• Best low-flow faucets, toilets, showers. By replacing an average 5-gpm showerhead, with a 2.5 gpm low flow showerhead, the typical household can save nearly 12,000 gallons of water per year and lower water heating costs.
• Collect rainwater in a cistern for watering plants, garden and landscaping. (maybe not so vital in Bellingham unless one is using a lot of water for these things)
• Put a brick or bottle full of water in the commode reservoir to reduce water use.
• Plant natural grasses and shrubs that are native to your area and that do not require a lot of extra water in the summer.
• Install a water saving toilet when it is time to replace or remodel. Many cities offer rebates to encourage water-conserving appliances.
• Heat your pool the smart way - purchase a solar blanket and let the sun do it.

Appliances

• Put phantom loads on power strips and turn strips off overnight
  • TV, VCR
  • Computers and peripherals
• Unplug unused appliances.
• Replace electric clocks with battery powered clocks
• EnergyStar ceiling (cleaning - ion and UV) and bathroom fans
• 60 minute timer fans in bathrooms and laundry room
• Watch less Television
• Use electric instead of gas powered lawn and garden equipment, as they create less pollution and are usually more efficient.
• When purchasing replacement appliances buy the energy efficient types.
• Reduce your use of electric appliances such as hole punchers, pencil sharpeners and copy machines.
• Donate old appliances, tools and electronics to charitable groups so they can repair them for the less fortunate.
• Develop an after hours equipment check list to ensure that all unnecessary equipment such as lights, computers, and phantom loads not left on.

Away from Home

Transportation

• Riding a bike or public transit to work
• Drive the speed limit and save diesel or gasoline.
• Tune up the car engine regularly to maintain the gas mileage at its highest possible level.
• Use the lowest octane gas your car can tolerate without knocking.
• Roof and trunk racks on cars or trucks upset the body's aerodynamics and reduce gas mileage.
• Clean out heavy items such as tools from the trunk of your car. They are extra weight the car must move and so they reduce gas mileage.
• Check car fan belts regularly and change them when they become cracked, worn or oil soaked.
• Keep auto mufflers and exhaust systems in good repair to reduce emissions and to keep the miles per gallon high.