Home energy saving tips: mini quiz

We save up to $150/year because we have a programmable thermostat.

We set back our thermostat when we go to work and before we go to sleep and save 2% for every degree over a span of 8 hours. However, we avoid drastic changes in temperature settings.

We keep our furnace operating efficiently by keeping furniture and obstructions away from radiators and heating registers.

We don't waste our money by heating rooms we're not using. We close the door and shut off radiators and heat vents.

We don't keep the door open unnecessarily when we say goodbye to our friends or let the pets out.

We close the damper tightly whenever our fireplace is not being used because this prevents warm air from being drawn out of the house.

We have sealed off all the common places where heated or air conditioned air leaks into and out of our home, such as electrical receptacles, mail slots, around pipes and wall or window-mounted air conditioners, attic doors, window frames and inadequate door weather stripping.

We add storm windows and doors or plastic over windows and doors for better insulation.

We save gas during the summer months by turning off our furnace pilot light.

We use free heat from the sun to warm our house and close shades and drapes at night to keep the heat in.

We know that north windows are energy losers and keep shades and drapes pulled all winter on those windows.

We run ceiling fans and portable fans when running the A/C isn't absolutely necessary.

We keep our house cool by keeping shades pulled and windows and doors closed during the hottest part of the day.

We use our air conditioner sparingly if at all, and then only to cool the rooms we are using.

We operate our air conditioner efficiently by putting it in a window out of direct sunlight and keeping the filter clean.

We avoid using the oven on hot days and cook outdoors frequently to avoid heating up the house.

We have inspected our ductwork for adequate insulation and leaks, making repairs as needed.

LIGHTING

We lower our electric bills by turning off all unnecessary lights and using only enough lighting to get the job done.

We save 50%-75% of energy spent on lighting through by using LED and CFL bulbs rather than old-fashioned incandescents. (Plus, our CFL and LED bulbs last 10 times longer before they need replacing.)

We keep lamps and fixtures clean since dirt can significantly reduce light output.

LAUNDRY

We save money by keeping our water heater thermostat on the low setting.

We save by washing full toads in the clothes washer

We use cold or warm settings when washing clothes.

We dry full loads of clothes, one after another, so the dryer doesn't cool between loads.

We keep our dryer operating efficiently by cleaning the tint screen and exhaust vent before every use.

We hang clothes outside to dry, whenever the weather permits.

BATH

We use bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans sparingly so valuable heat is not drawn out of our home needlessly.

We save water by taking quick showers, using low-flow showerheads and turning off the water when lathering up.

We use low-flow toilets, since toilets are the biggest consumers of water in the house.

APPLIANCES

We keep freezers and refrigerators away from heat sources like the dishwasher, stove and sunny windows.

We have disconnected all unnecessary appliances like extra refrigerators and freezers.

We keep our refrigerator running efficiently by regularly cleaning the cooling coils.

We turn off computers, TVs, printer, DVD player and even laptop and cell phone chargers when they are not in use.

We replace inefficient appliances with ENERGY STAR rated units as needed.

We cook with the microwave as much as possible, since it uses 80% less energy than does a conventional stove.

We insulated the pipes on our hot water heater.

KITCHEN

We cover foods when placing them in the refrigerator because liquids in uncovered foods make the fridge work harder.

We always use cold water in the disposal.

We never let water run constantly when doing dishes, brushing our teeth or washing hands.

We wait until we have full loads before running the automatic dishwasher.

We let our dishes air dry for free by turning off the dishwasher before the drying cycle begins (and cutting the amount of energy the dishwasher uses in half).