Improving Energy Efficiency in Your Home
An energy-efficient home is not only more economical; it’s also healthier. Causes of poor air quality such as humidity, drafts, cold windows in the winter or hot windows in the summer, are lessened by improvements in energy-efficiency. Here are some more tips on keeping your home efficient and healthy.
• Install ceiling insulation
• Keep curtains closed to prevent heat loss
• Close off unheated areas
• Don’t overheat your room: increasing the thermostat setting by 1 degree can increase costs by 3 percent
• Clean the heating filter regularly
• Wear warm enough clothing to help cut heating costs
• Choose energy-efficient appliances when making new purchases
• Turn off appliances when not in use
• Keep heaters free of dust and fluff around the fan and reflective surfaces
• Use compact, high-efficiency fluorescent lighting in areas where this is appropriate. It can save you up to 80 percent in costs.
An energy-efficient home is not only more economical, it’s also healthier. Causes of poor air quality such as humidity, drafts, cold windows in the winter or hot windows in the summer, are lessened by improvements in energy-efficiency. Here are some more tips on keeping your home efficient and healthy.
Kitchen
• Defrost your freezer if the ice is 5mm thick.
• Keep refrigerator condenser coil free from dust by vacuuming frequently.
• Make sure the magnetic door seal on the refrigerator doesn’t leak.
• Make sure the on/off cycle of your refrigerator works properly.
• Use the kettle, not the microwave, to heat small amounts of water.
• Use only the amount of water you need in the kettle.
• Keep cold water in the refrigerator for drinking.
• Use cooking utensils that have a flat base and tight sealing lids.
• Check the oven seal for leaking heat.
• Run only full loads in the dishwasher.
Laundry Room
• Set the hot water heater thermostat to no more than 65 degrees Celsius.
• Insulate hot water pipes well.
• Turn off hot water system if you’re going on vacation.
• Repair leaking hot water taps.
• Have hot water heater checked periodically by a professional.
• Use cold water to wash clothes when possible.
• Don’t overload the clothes dryer.
• Clean lint filter from dryer after each use.

ENERGY SAVINGS tips from LadyFixIt.com