At Home: House Ideas to save energy

(Numbers indicate order in which each idea was added to website.)

House in General

263 Have an energy audit of your home Read More

708 Paint with lighter colors so you don’t need as much artificial light

765 Use porch overhangs and awnings

1195 Asphalt shingles are recyclable Read More

Saving Water

61 Never flush pills take them to a center Read more

87 Use water usage meter Read more

106 Fix all leaks in faucets Read more

118 Use low flow faucets Read more

119 Use flow aerators on faucets Read more And More

120 Use low flow toilets save

760 Consider installing a residential circulation pump to save water Read more

793 When it rains set out a bucket or bowl for plant and pet water

795 Move faucet lever to cold for small amounts of water

941 Consider installing a grey-water recycling system Read more

1137 Save condensate of air conditioners and condensing furnaces Read More

Chemicals

56 Use non-toxic cleaning solutions Read more

59 Never mix chemical products Read more

135 Dispose of hazardous chemicals properly Read more

262 Don't put hazardous waste in the trash Read more

369 Find Eco friendly carpet cleaning contractor

514 Household batteries contain hazardous materials dispose of Properly

518 Eliminate mercury from your house Read more

539 Review all labels in house hold for unwanted chemicals Read more And More

540 Have your home tested for radon Read more

650 Use traps instead of poisons

651 Use cedar chips or aromatic herbs instead of mothballs Read more

659 Choose products with child resistant packaging

661 Paint with brushes/rollers instead of using spray paints to minimize emissions

676 Minimize air freshener use Read more

679 Declog your drains naturally Read more

688 Use a natural chemical free rug cleaner Read more

749 Use multi purpose products to save on plastic bottles

774 Never eat drink or smoke when using chemical products

1030 Use water from beverage coolers for plants and household

1042 Use natural ingredients for dusting and polishing Read More

1143 Use natural pest management Read More

1238 Definitely download the EWG app and website icon Read More

Electrical

28 Turn off lights when leaving any room

29 Use light sensors to turn off lights Read more And More

68 Use high efficiency lights Read more

129 Buy rechargeable batteries Read more

223 Use light sensors around the house

265 Use dimmer switches for lighting

281 Use power strips to plug things in so you have only one off switch to tend to

424 Select proper sized light for fixture Read more

582 Remove one light bulb from garage door opener

583 Replace lights from garage door opener with garage light switch with motion sensor

581 Install dimmer switches to save energy and extend the life of light bulbs Read more

584 Install low-voltage lighting for outside illumination Read more

585 Use motion detectors for outdoor security lights

807 Buy LEDs that are dimmable

808 Use warmer light LEDs instead of white light when you can Read more

810 Use small, energy efficient task lights for computer work reading etc

600 Connect outdoor lighting to timer to shut off

950 Install a residential wind turbine Read more

1007 Make sure there is open space beneath the electric baseboards

1008 Use light colored lamp shades for better illumination

1069 Reduce the number of free standing redundant lights in your house

Weatherize

107 Insulate water pipes

108 Insulate water heater Read more

110 Insulate walls

111 Increase ceiling insulation Read more

112 Weather strip Doors

113 Replace your old windows Read more

114 Put on storm doors Read more

222 Put up storm windows

292 When floors are leaky use rugs to help insulate

304 Put door sweeps under drafty doors

306 Use bubble wrap to insulate your windows Read more

542 Caulk and weather strip your doors and windows Read more

543 Seal air leaks where plumbing, ducts or electrical wires penetrate walls, floors, ceilings

544 Install foam insulating pads inside your receptacle and switch plate covers Read more

545 Seal cracks in your basement walls and floor to keep heat in and cold air out.

152 Use wood plant holders

515 Insulate whole house fan opening in off season

755 Paint exterior walls a light color Read more

744 Add solar shade screens to your house Read more

761 Use low-e film on the inside of your windows to keep heat in

778 Seal all sill plates with caulk or stripping

779 Seal recessed light canisters Read more

780 Insulate attic access

781 Insulate drop ceilings exposed to outside walls and ceilings

783 Insulate ducts in unheated areas like crawl spaces

782 If building consider heat absorbing wall to help heat Read more

Building and Remodeling

264 Hardwood floors require less vacuuming

602 Select gas filled windows with low-emissivity coatings to reduce heat loss Read more

604 Installing storm windows can reduce heat loss through windows by 25 to 50 percent

606 Passive solar design is very effective for reducing heating and cooling costs Read more

607 Buy or build houses with "salt box type design Read more

608 Design homes with south facing insulated windows

610 Design protective overhangs on west walls to reduce cooling costs in the summer

675 Avoid Vinyl flooring Read more

732 Buy eco-friendly paints for your house Read more

762 Consider a roof of highly reflective shingles when building or replacing Read more