Energy Efficient Homes Magazine is a great resource for learning to reduce your energy consumption in your current home, or to learn about innovative new building products and ideas for building a new green home. 

I want to share the 12 tips they featured for reducing your energy consumption…it’s something we can all do a better job of, and many of these tips are easy to do!

1. Skip pre-rinsing dishes.  Tests have found that it’s unnecessary, and consumers can save up to 6,500 gallons of water per year by omitting this ritual.

2. Opt for the cold water wash cycle, and save about $60 per year.

3. Use the standby or hibernating feature on your computer, it can save $75 or more annually.

4. Install a high-efficiency showerhead. It will reduce hot-water use by up to 50 percent.

5. Check with the local utility company to see if it offers rebates to customers who replace old appliances with energy-efficient models. Some states hold periodic “tax holidays” for purchases of energy -efficient appliances.

6. Lower your water-heater temperature to 120 degrees from 130 and insulate hot-water pipes to knock as much as 5 percent off your monthly energy bill.

7. Weather-strip old windows and doors.  It’s the surest way to close the gaps around openings, reduce heating and cooling costs by 15 to 30 percent.

8. Move the thermostat to an inside wall away from windows and doors so that the drafts won’t cause the heating system to cycle on unnecessarily.

9. Open blinds and shades on cold days.  Solar heat gain can raise interior temperatures significantly.  Close them at night to minimize heat loss.

10. Plant a deciduous shade tree on the west and southwest sides of your house to conserve energy.

11. Zone heat smartly.  Using a portable heater in a room can save you money only if you’re willing to keep the rest of the house chilly. Wood-burning fireplaces can suck more heat out of the home than they put back in.

12. Call an energy auditor.  They use a blower door or infrared photography to pinpoint where a home is leaking energy. You can find certified professionals in your area by visiting www.resnet.us

Any questions or