Are You a Water and Energy Expert?

If your home was built or remodeled after 1994, you probably have low-flow showerheads, which flow at about 2.5 gallons per minute compared to the standard 5 gallons per minute or more.

How low can you flow? If your home was built or remodeled after 1994, you probably have low-flow faucets, which flow as low as 1.5 gallons per minute compared to the standard 3 to 5 gallons per minute.

All of the listed strategies help conserve water by either stopping or limiting the flow of water.

Caulking and weatherstripping are two simple and effective air-sealing techniques that offer quick returns on investment, often one year or less. Reducing the amount of air that leaks in and out of your home is a cost-effective way to cut heating and cooling costs, improve durability, increase comfort, and create a healthier indoor environment.

For basic 1″-3″ air filters, manufacturers usually direct you to change them every 30-60 days. If you suffer from light to moderate allergies, you could upgrade the air filter or change them even more often.

The Department of Energy estimates savings of about 1 percent for each degree of thermostat adjustment per 8 hours, and recommends turning thermostats back 7 to 10 degrees from their normal settings for 8 hours per day to achieve annual savings of up to 10%.

In general, refrigerators with top-mounted freezers use less energy than refrigerators with either side-mounted or bottom-mounted freezers. A top-freezer refrigerator that has earned the ENERGY STAR uses less energy than a 60-watt light bulb.