Free Home
Energy & Water Cost
Savings Collection
With over 530 items, below is the 3rd Edition of our free energy saving and water saving ideas, suggestions, tips, etc. to save you money in your home be it a house, condo or apartment. Be it energy or water usage reduction, these are green savings for the home.
Being (environmentally) Green In Your Home
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More (financial) Green For Your Home
If this single collection of over 530 money saving energy and water conservation ideas is a bit intimidating for you (that is, where the heck do I begin? 
), there is another option for you to consider. We have spun off a second web site where the focus is purely on home water and energy saving, where all of these conservation ideas for the home have been sorted, grouped, categorized, and so on.
So, feel free to amble over to SavingsGrid.com, where all of these money saving ideas for your home are presented in a more usable manner. As well, there is a free 100+ Easy Ways To Save Electricity At Home eBook simply for signing up to the SavingsGrid newsletter.
LONG TERM ENERGY COST SAVINGS
Complete Long Term Conservation Tips List & Articles
# Tip
1 *Teach Grand/Children Energy & Water Conservation
2 **Always Consider How Much It Will Cost
3 Energy Conservation web sites
4 Energy Conservation TV shows
5 *Monitor Utility Bills For Conservation Progress
6 **Participate in Earth Hour
7 **Participate in Earth Day
8 **Personal Earth Day Once A Week
9 **Have Family Energy & Water Conservation Meetings
10 Home Energy Audit – Self
11 *Focus on Saving Money
12 *Use Less
13 *Environmental Records of Politicians
14 *Downsize to Lower Energy Consumption
15 Energy Conservation Fairs
16 **Spend More Time Outside
17 *Use All Energy Conservation Tips
18 Home Energy Audit – Pro’s
19 ***Create Your Own Energy/Water Saving List
20 ***Encourage Schools To Teach Energy/Waster Saving
COOKING ENERGY COST SAVINGS
Complete Cooking Energy Conservation Tips List & Articles
# Tip
21 *Cook With Full Oven
22 *Reduce Opening Oven During Baking
23 *Minimize Oven Preheating
24 *Use Leftover Oven Heat as Food Warmer
25 *Cook Consecutive Meals In Oven for Later
26 *Cook Weekday Dinners on Weekend
27 **Don’t Boil More Water than Needed
28 Thaw Frozen Food Before Cooking
29 *Cut Food Into Small Pieces Before Cooking
30 Turn Off Stove Before Finishing Cooking
31 Turn Off BBQ Before Finishing Cooking
32 Right Size Pot To Cooking Need
33 **Use Crock Pot vs Oven
34 **Use Flat-Bottom Pans
35 **Use Lids on Pots To Reduce Cooking Time
36 *Keep Oven & Stone Burners Clean
37 *Use Microwave vs Stove for Hot Water for Tea
38 *Use Smaller Cooking Appliances
39 Use Electric Kettle To Boil Water
40 *Use Oven Broiler (Faster)
41 *Double Recipe & Freeze Balance for Later
42 T-FAL Frying Pans
43 Microwave cooking (vs stove / oven)
44 *Use Camping Stove on Top of Wood Stove
45 *Solar Cooker in Summer
ELECTRICITY COST SAVINGS
Green Savings For the Home – Electricity Costs Savings
Complete Electricity Energy Conservation Tips List & Articles
# Tip
46 *Turn Off Lights Leaving House
47 Dishwasher Heat Drying – Turn Off
48 Table Lamps vs Ceiling Lights
49 **Shut Off Main Breaker When Leaving House
50 *Turn Off Lights When Not Needed
51 *Turn Off Lights Leaving Room
52 **Keep Air Passages in ‘Fridge / Freezers Clear
53 *Use Task Lighting Always
54 *Hand Wash Dishes (i.e. not Dishwasher)
55 *Unbundle Wet Laundry Before Placing in Dryer
56 *Indoor Clothes Drying Area in Winter
57 **Unplug Home Office Equipment At Night/Weekends
58 **Unplug Home Office Equipment When Not in Use
59 **Turn Off All Electrical Appliances Before Bed
60 **Use Front Door More vs Garage Door
61 **Don’t Leave Computer On All Day
62 **Turn Off Fans When Not In Room
63 *Turn Off Appliances/Computer Leaving Room
64 *Transfer Several Days of Food Freezer To Fridge
65 *Christmas Lights at Night Only
66 *Turn Off Lights While Watching TV
67 **Turn Off TV When Not Watching
68 *Turn Off TV (e.g. read, go out)
69 **Unplug Dehumidifiers When Not Needed
70 *Unplug Battery Rechargers When Done
71 *Unplug Electrical Appliances When Away
72 *Take All Meal Items From Refrigerator at Once
73 Clean Refrigerator Coils Periodically
74 *Unscrew Every Other Light Bulb
75 **Keep Dishwasher Drain Clear of Food Scraps
76 Keep Dryer Lint Trap Clean
77 Full Laundry Loads
78 *Soak Dishes In Sink Overnight
79 Check Dryer Before Finish
80 Remove Dry Garments Before End
81 *Only Damp Dry Clothes in Dryer
82 *Use Dryer Moisture Sensor
83 Do Consecutive Laundry Loads
84 Avoid Dryer’s Wrinkle Shield Feature
85 **Turn Off Home Office Equipment When Not in Use
86 **Put Scanner on Sleep Mode
87 **Put Printer on Sleep Mode
88 **Put Fax Machine on Sleep Mode
89 **Turn Off Game Console When Finished
90 **Unplug Game Console When Finished
91 **Unplug Cellphone Recharger When Not In Use
92 **Use Manual Shears vs Electric Trimmers for Bushes
93 **Use Hand Operated Can Opener vs Electric
94 **Replace Toast With Bread / Dry Cereal
95 **Rotate Cordless Phones in One Charger Base
96 Computer Standby Mode
97 **Air Dry Hair vs Hair Dryer
98 **Don’t Use Lights One Day A Week
99 **Use Garbage Disposal Less
100 Full Dishwasher Loads
101 Unplugging Beer Refrigerator
102 *Disconnect Microwave Bulb
103 Raise Refrigerator Temperature
104 Raise Freezer Temperature
105 **Remove One Light Bulb From Garage Door Opener
106 **Turn Porch Light Off When Last One Home
107 **Keep Porch Light Off
108 **Place All Home Office Electronics on Single Power Bar
109 **Place Refrigerator Away From Stove
110 **Light Wall Colours Minimize Need for Lighting
111 **Unplug All Electronics When On Vacation
112 *If Fridge Not Full, Place Water Bottles Inside
113 *Hand Rake Leaves vs Leaf Blower
114 *Keep Light Fixtures Clean
115 **Clean Refrigerator Coils
116 **Unplug Camera Battery Recharger when Not In Use
117 *Clean Pool Pump Strainer Baskets
118 **Keep Freezer Full
119 Outdoors Clothesline
120 **Use Fans Not Air Conditioners
121 *Keep Flashlight Next to Bed vs Lights at Night
122 **Put Lay-Z-Boy on Power Bar & Turn Off
123 **Put Microwave on Switched Outlet
124 **Put Microwave on Power Bar
125 *Use 3-Way Lamps / Bulbs
126 *Use Dryer Balls To Reduce Dryer Time
127 Use Automatic Shut-off Dryers
128 **Put Downstairs Entertainment System on Power Bar
129 *LED Christmas Lights
130 *Use Lower Wattage Light Bulbs
131 Power Bars Re Phantom Electricity Usage
132 LCD TV Preferred Over Plasma TV
133 *Timer on Christmas Lights
134 CFL Lightbulbs
135 *Nightlights in Halls & Bathroom at Night
136 *Less Lights, More Candles
137 Motion Sensor Interior Light Switches
138 Motion Sensor Exterior Light Switches
139 **Place Freezers / Refrigerators in Basements
140 Bathroom Fan Timers
141 Dimmer Light Switches
142 Replace Worn Seals on Refrigerators
143 *Use Wind-up Radio / Flashlight
144 **Solar Charged Lawn Mower
145 **Use Non-Motorized Lawn Mower
146 *Toaster vs Electric Oven
147 *Solar Garden Lights
148 *Solar Powered Christmas Lights
149 *Laptop Uses Less Electricity vs Desktop PC
150 **ENERGY STAR Lighting Fixtures
151 *Auto Timer on Pool Filter / Cleaner
152 *Use Pool Pump & Filter Properly
153 *Auto Pool Sweep Usage
154 *Timers for Lights and Appliances
155 **Purchase Solar Generated Electricity
156 **Purchase Wind Generated Electricity
157 **Refrigerators With Top/Bottom Freezer Preferred
158 ENERGY STAR Appliances
159 Solar PV Panels
160 *Tube Sky Lights For Dark Areas
161 *Atomic Power Generation
162 ***Use Solar LED Lights vs Electric Porch Light
163 ***Cool Cooked Food Before Placing in Refrigerator
164 ***Use Solar LED Lights vs Electric Backyard Light
SUMMER COOLING COST SAVINGS
Green Savings For The Home – Air Conditioning Costs Savings
Complete Space Cooling Energy Conservation Tips List & Articles
# Tip
166 *Seasonally Open / Close Window Coverings
167 *Seasonally Adjust Light/Heavy Drapes
168 **Ensure Doors Closed When A/C Running
169 **Ensure Windows Closed When A/C Running
170 *Close Vents in Unused Rooms
171 *Close Doors in Unused Rooms
172 **Turn Off A/C When Away At Work
173 **Turn Off A/C When Away On Vacation
174 **Use Basement Living Area in Summer
175 **Drink Ice Water vs Using Air Conditioner
176 **Use Less Lights for Less Generated Heat
177 A/C Unit Free From Grass / Weeds
178 **Raise Temperature in Summer While at Work
179 **Turn Off Lights During Hottest Part of Day
180 **Turn Off A/C When Out On Errands
181 **Delay Using Heat Producing Appliances Until Evening
182 Thermostat Temp. Setting Increase In Summer
183 Open Windows (ventilation) In Summer
184 *Check Along Exterior Walls for Air Leaks
185 *Check Window Frames for Air Leaks
186 *Close Basement Vents
187 *Cover Basement Vents
188 *Seasonally Change Ceiling Fan Direction
189 Shade Location for A/C Units
190 Air Filter Replacement Frequency
191 **Check / Change / Clean Air Conditioner Filter
192 *BBQ with Charcoal in Summer
193 *Use Microwave vs Stove in Summer
194 Programmable Thermostat
195 Weather Stripping (exterior doors)
196 Weather Stripping (cold cellar door)
197 *Exterior Door Sweeps
198 *Attic Opening Insulation
199 Duct Tape Heating Duct Gaps
200 Vent Cover Blocker
201 Caulking (strip-able on attic opening)
202 *Inside Door Draft Stoppers
203 Weather Stripping (electric panel doors)
204 *Weather Stripping on Windows
205 Electric Outlet Child Proof Covers
206 Electric Outlet Insulating Seals
207 Wall Light Switch Insulating Seals
208 Shade Tree on South Side of Home
209 Plant Shade Trees per Mature Sizing
210 Plant Trees Away From Power Lines
211 Plant Trees Away From Sewers
212 Plant Trees Away From Sunken Lines
213 *Use White Window Coverings To Reflect Sun
214 Climbing Flowers on Exterior Wall
215 *Small Tree/Bush Beside A/C Unit
216 *Ensure Storm / Screen Doors Work
217 Caulking (window / exterior door frame)
218 Seal Pipes & Electrical Gaps on Outside Walls
219 *Kitty / Doggy Door Flap Hinges Well Oiled
220 **Eliminate Air Leaks Around Window A/C Units
221 *Insulate Around Exterior Door Frames
222 **Hang Thick Curtains in Entryway
223 Exterior Window (Solar) Blinds
224 Interior Window Blinds Down During Day
225 *Infra-Red Temperature Reader
226 *Attic Pull Down Stairs Insulation
227 Evergreen Trees on North Side of Home
228 Interior Solar Blinds Reflective Side Out
229 Outdoor cooking
230 Climbing Vines on South / West Walls
231 **Keep A/C Full of Freon for Efficient Operation
232 **Use Dehumidifier In Summer
233 *Use Ceiling / Whole House Fan
234 Insulate Heating Ducts
235 Storm Doors on All Exterior Doors
236 Ceiling Fans
237 Retractable Screens
238 *Paint House Light / Dark Colour re Climate
239 Attic Insulation
240 Sufficient Attic Insulation
241 High Efficiency Air Conditioner
242 *Add Wall Insulation
243 ENERGY STAR Windows
244 **ENERGY STAR Doors
245 *Window Film to Block Sun’s UV Rays
246 ***Keep Central Furnace Fan On With Basement
247 ***Use Room Fan VS Central A/C
248 ***Use Room VS Central A/C
249 ***Keep Bedroom Door Open At Night
WINTER HEATING COST SAVINGS
Complete Home Heating Energy Conservation Tips List & Articles
# Tip
250 *Seasonally Open / Close Window Coverings
251 *Seasonally Adjust Light/Heavy Drapes
252 **Ensure Doors Closed When Furnace Running
253 **Ensure Windows Closed When Furnace Running
254 *Close Vents in Unused Rooms
255 *Close Doors in Unused Rooms
256 Layered Clothing in Winter
257 *Sleep Under Extra Blankets
258 *Close Glass Door in Fireplace When Off
259 *Turn Down Heat at Night
260 *Turn Down Heat When Out For Errand
261 *Turn Down Heat When At Work
262 *Turn Off Heat During Day
263 *Turn Off Heat At Night
264 *Turn Off Heat When Out For Errand
265 Going To Bed Early Reduces Heating
266 *Exercise During TV Commercials for Body Heat
267 *During Day Heat Only 1st Floor (Hot Air Rises)
268 *Close Fireplace Damper When Not In Use
269 **Clean Air Registers, Baseboard Heaters Periodically
270 **Remove Window A/C Unit In Winter
271 *Keep Oven Door Ajar After Baking in Winter
272 *Wait for Bathtub Water to Cool Before Draining
273 *Snuggle With Loved Ones
274 **Close Curtains At Night To Retain Indoor Heat
275 Thermostat Temp. Setting Decrease in Winter
276 **Keep Furniture & Rugs Away From Heating Vents
277 *Place Beds/Chairs Away From Walls/Windows
278 *Check Along Exterior Walls for Air Leaks
279 *Check Window Frames for Air Leaks
280 *Close Basement Vents
281 *Cover Basement Vents
282 *Seasonally Change Ceiling Fan Direction
283 *Close Fresh Air Vent in Room A/C in Winter
284 *Check for Drafts Under Doors
285 *Close Windows in Winter
286 *Close Storm Door Window in Winter
287 *Newspaper Under Mattress to Hold Heat
288 **Spend Time Searching For Air Leaks in House
289 **Keep Plants/Trees Trimmed from South Windows
290 Air Filter Replacement Frequency
291 *Wear Slippers to Keep Feet Warm in Home
292 **Use Sun Room To Help Heat House
293 *Door Socks
294 *Use Pets To Keep You Warm
295 Hold a Party for Guests’ Body Heat
296 Programmable Thermostat
297 Weather Stripping (exterior doors)
298 Weather Stripping (cold cellar door)
299 *Exterior Door Door Sweeps
300 *Attic Opening Insulation
301 Duct Tape Heating Duct Gaps
302 Vent Cover Blocker
303 Caulking (strippable on attic opening)
304 **Place Bricks In Wood Stove to Retain the Heat
305 Weather Stripping (electric panel doors)
306 *Weather Stripping on Windows
307 Electric Outlet Child Proof Covers
308 Electric Outlet Insulating Seals
309 Wall Light Switch Insulating Seals
310 Area Rug on Cold Floor
311 **Insulate Cold Cellar Door Frame
312 *Dryer Vent Seal
313 Weather Strip Dormant Fireplace
314 *Ensure Storm / Screen Doors Work
315 Caulking (window / exterior door frame)
316 Seal Pipes & Electrical Gaps on Outside Walls
317 Install Plastic Wrap Window Kit Inside Windows
318 *Wrap Plastic on Window Over Frame
319 *Repair Damaged Storm Doors / Windows
320 **Use Hot Water Bottles to Warm Feet in Winter
321 *Wash Windows to Maximize Sun in Winter
322 Annual Furnace Tune-up
323 *Insulate Around Exterior Door Frames
324 **Hang Thick Curtains in Entryway
325 **Use Heat-Resistant Vent Reflectors
326 *Electric Mattress Pad
327 *Infra-Red Temperature Reader
328 *Attic Pull Down Stairs Insulation
329 *Line Mattress With Thermal Sleeping Bag
330 **Plant Insulating Shrub Barrier 1 Foot From House
331 Interior Solar Blinds Collective Side Out
332 *Throw Blankets On All Furniture
333 **Use Fully Dried Hardwood for Maximum Heat
334 *Drink Lots of Wine
335 *Electric Space Heater
336 *Use Ceiling / Whole House Fan
337 Insulate Heating Ducts
338 Storm Doors on All Exterior Doors
339 Covers on Outside of Windows
340 Solar Space Heating
341 Basement Floor Insulation
342 Basement Walls Insulation
343 **Replace Outdoor Natural Gas Lamps With CFL’s
344 **Ensure Basement Wall Headers Insulated
345 **Use Dense Shrubs on North/Windy Side of Building
346 *Paint House Light / Dark Colour re Climate
347 *Cover Stained Glass Windows w/ Plexiglass
348 Pellet Stove
349 *Wood Stove
350 **Use Space Heaters in Outdoor Work Area
351 *Increase Humidity Level in Home
352 *Vent Electric Dryer Inside
353 Attic Insulation
354 **Install Solar Window Inserts
355 *Install Wood Fireplace
356 *Add Wall Insulation
357 ENERGY STAR Windows
358 **ENERGY STAR Doors
359 High Efficiency Furnace
360 Solar Radiant Floor Heating
361 **Position New Home’s Common Areas South
362 **Install Skylight For Sun’s Heat in Winter
363 *Heat Pump
WATER HEATING COST SAVINGS
Complete Water Heating Energy Conservation Tips List & Articles
# Tip
364 **Flip Hot Water Tank Switch Only When Needed
365 Showers Instead of Baths
366 *Use Shower Closest to Water Heater
367 **Use Only Hot Water When Necessary
368 **Take Warm, Not Hot, Showers
369 **Take Cold Showers
370 **Turn Down Water Heater Temperature When Away
371 *Wear PJ’s Multiple Times
372 Reduce Length of Time in Shower
373 *Shower With Significant Other
374 *Turn Off Faucet During Shaving
375 *Turn Off Faucet During Washing Dishes
376 **Don’t Oversize Hot Water Heater
377 Lower Hot Water Temperature to 120 F
378 Low-Flow Shower Heads
379 *Wrap / Insulate Hot Water Tank
380 Insulate Hot Water Pipes
381 *Timer in Shower to Limit Duration
382 Leaky Faucet Repair
383 Front Loading Washing Machine
384 *Use Pool Cover re Heat & Water Evaporation
385 *Locate Pool in Full Sun re Heating Water
386 *Add Heat Traps on Hot Water Tank
387 Tankless Water Heater
388 **Install Energy Efficient Hot Water Tank
389 *Timer for Hot Water Heater
390 Solar Water Heater
INSIDE WATER COST SAVINGS
Green Savings For The Home – Inside Water Costs Savings
Complete Inside Water Conservation Tips List & Articles
# Tip
391 Full Dishwasher Loads
392 **Take Showers vs Baths
393 **Don’t Leave Faucets Running
394 **Only Run Water When Using It
395 **Don’t Let Water Run Unnecessarily
396 **View Water Meter for Water Leaks
397 **Take Shallow vs Full Tub Bath
398 **Use Dehumidifier Water for Indoor Plants
399 **Turn Off Water While Brushing Teeth
400 **Turn Off Water While Shaving
401 **Turn Off Water While Washing Hands
402 **Turn Off Water While Washing Face
403 **Turn Off Water While Washing Hair in Sink
404 **Turn Off Water While Hand Washing Dishes
405 **Turn Off Water While Shaving Face in Shower
406 **Turn Off Water While Shaving Legs in Shower
407 **Turn Off Shower While Lathering
408 **Turn Off Shower While Shampooing
409 **Be Sure To Turn Faucets Completely Off
410 **Shower Every Other Day
411 **Take A Navy Shower
412 **Take An Army Shower
413 **Put Water Jug In Fridge vs Running Tap
414 **Check Faucets for Leaks, Especially Little Used
415 **Check Water Lines in Basement for Leaks
416 **Wash Fruits/Veggies in Pan vs Running Tap
417 **Flush Toilet Only When Necessary
418 **Don’t Use Toilets As Waste Basket
419 **Use Water in Kettle for Plants vs Down the Drain
420 **Use Bucket in Shower to Catch Warm-Up Water
421 **Use Bucket in Sink to Catch Warm-Up Water
422 **Use Bucket in Tub to Catch Warm-Up Water
423 **Shave Outside of Shower
424 **Do Not Turn Tap On Full
425 **Scrape, Don’t Rinse, Food Scraps from Plates
426 **Collect Dripping Water Until Leak Fixed
427 **Use Flow-Through Humidifier Water for Plants
428 **Use Air Conditioner Condensation for Plants
429 **Collect Rain Water for Clothes Washing Machine
430 **Catch Rain Water for Pet’s Water Bowl
431 **Use Cooled Down Veggie Water for Plants
432 **Use Water from Hot Water Bottle for Plants
433 **Use One Glass for Day’s Drinking Water
434 **Soak Pots/Pans While Scraping vs Running Water
435 **Use Leftover Water in Bottles for Plants
436 **Reduce Toilet Tank Water Level
437 **Know Where Main Water Shutoff Valve is Located
438 **Collect Water Used to Rinse Things for Plants
439 **Turn Main Tap Off When Away on Vacation
440 **Use Fish Tank Water for Plants
441 **Bring Snow Inside to Melt & Water Indoor Plants
442 **Use Some Bath Water for Garden
443 **Use Some Bath Water for Trees
444 Full Clothes Washing Machine Loads
445 **Put Left Over Brick in Toilet Tank
446 *Only Use Hot Water for Showers
447 **Turn Off Water Heater When Away on Vacation
448 **Bathe Children Together
449 **Put Bottle of Water in Toilet Tank
450 **Install Aerators on All Faucets
451 **Install Water Saver Discs
452 **Fix Internal Toilet Leaks
453 **Use Electric Razor (no water)
454 **Front Load Clothes Washing Machine
455 **Install Low Flow Toilets
456 **Install Bladder Inside Toilet Tank
457 **Install Automatic Sensor Faucets
458 ***Wash Dishes in Basin In Sink vs Sink
459 ***Use Water From Meal Glasses For Plants
460 ***Listen For Running Toilets To Repair
461 ***Use Hot Water Tap To Brush Teeth Before Shower
462 ***Scrape All Paint Before Cleaning Paint Brushes
463 ***Put Food Coloring in Toilet Tank; Leak If Into Toilet
464 ***Match Water Level To Laundry Load
465 ***Know How Much Water Indoor Plant Needs
466 ***Use Lettuce Spinner vs Washing Under Faucet
467 ***Having Everything Ready Before Starting Shower
468 ***Use Compost or Green Bin, Not Sink Garburator
469 ***Use Bath Towels Multiple Times Before Washing
470 ***Use Water From Boiled/Steamed Veggies as Broth
471 ***Don’t Use Water To Defrost Frozen Food
OUTSIDE WATER COST SAVING
Complete Outside Water Conservation Tips List & Articles
# Tip
472 **Water Only Vegetable Plants, Not Lawn
473 **Don’t Leave Hose Running Outside
474 **Water By Hand vs Sprinkler re Water Run-Off
475 **Check Sprinkler System In Spring
476 **Water Garden After 8 PM or Before 8 AM
477 **Water Lawn After 8 PM or Before 8 AM
478 **Keep Grass Longer to Reduce Water Need
479 **Don’t Water Lawn At All
480 **Use Dehumidifier Water for Outdoor Plants
481 **Use Buckets to Catch Rain Water for Plants
482 **Catch Rain Water to Rinse Fruits / Vegetables
483 **Catch Rain Water for Outdoor Garden
484 **Catch Rain Water for Indoor Plants
485 **Save Rain Water
486 **Apply Less Fertilizer on Lawn
487 **Set Sprinklers To Not Water Road / Driveway
488 **Water Slowly So Water Sinks in vs Running Off
489 **Water Plants With Watering Can Not Hose
490 **Don’t Water Lawn on Windy Days
491 **Don’t Water Garden on Windy Days
492 **Water Less in Fall & Winter Months
493 **Check for Lawn Sprinkler Leaks
494 **Water Lawn Less
495 **Turn Off Outdoor Fountain on Dry Days
496 **Turn Off Outdoor Fountain on Windy Days
497 **Check Soil Moisture Before Watering
498 **Learn How Much Water Your Garden Plants Need
499 **Water Lawn By Hand, Not Sprinkler
500 **Sweep Driveway vs Hosing It Down
501 **Use Bucket, Not Hose, To Wash Car
502 **Wash Car on Lawn
503 **Wash Car Less Frequently
504 **Use Wading Pool Water for Garden
505 **Use Wading Pool Water for Lawn
506 **Turn Outdoor Water Off During Winter
507 **Remove Weeds from Garden
508 **Recycle Fountain / Bird Bath Water On Garden
509 **Recycle your Grey Water
510 **Install Rain Barrel
511 **Use Rain Barrel Water for Garden Plants
512 **Use Rain Barrel Water for Lawn
513 **Use Rain Barrel Water to Wash Car
514 **Plant Native Plants in Yard; Less Watering
515 **Use Auto-Shut Off Nozzle on Hose
516 **Install Rain Water Sensor With Sprinkler System
517 **Set Lawn Sprinkler on a Timer
518 **Repair Lawn Sprinkler Leaks
519 **Choose Plants Needing Little Water
520 **Replace Part/All Lawn With Drought-Tolerant Plants
521 **Use Drip Watering System for Garden
522 **Use Low Water Grass Seed
523 **Xeriscaping / Xeroscaping Gardening
524 **Cover Garden With Mulch To Reduce Water Need
525 **Replace Lawn With Drought Resistant Plants
526 **Reduce Lawn Size With Patios, Walkways, Decks
527 **Install Water Sprinkler System
528 ***Sweep Garage VS Using Garden Hose
529 ***Check Pool For Leaks
530 ***Check For Leaks Around Pool Filters And Pumps
531 ***Water Plants Deeply But Less Frequently
532 ***Group Plants By Watering Needs
533 ***Do Not Over Water Outdoor Plants, Can Rot
534 ***Wash Pet Outdoors
535 ***Don’t Forget To Turn Off Manual Lawn Sprinkler
536 ***Use Low Angled Sprinklers
537 ***Use Pool Cover To Reduce Evaporation
*Tip submitted by contestants during our 2008 contest.
**Tip submitted by contestants during our 2009 contest.
***Tip submitted by contestants during our 2010 contests.
Like many topics, energy conservation is very subjective. In our opinion, there are few truly universal best practice because:
- what is best in one set of factors may not be best in a different set of factors (e.g. electric tankless water heaters may be best where the energy is supplied by a solar PV panel but not when it comes from a coal burning power generation station)
- each person has different beliefs and priorities (e.g. saving the planet at all costs vs saving money at all costs vs anywhere in between)
Therefore we have used subjective ratings within each category to rank each tip. Words like cheap, moderate, simple, complex, and so on mean different things to different people; however, we have used such generalizations rather than try to actually calculate specific numbers which, while helpful, are totally dependant on a wide variety of factors.
However, how does one group or categorize an energy or water conservation tip? There are many, many different ways.
It is because much of energy usage is seasonal (for example home heating in the winter, home air conditioning in the summer) we have decided to present our above list based on :
- Energy Reduction Category
- The type of energy reduced by the energy conservation tip
- Installation Complexity
- The level of difficulty for the average home owner to install the tip
- Installation Cost
- The cost to the home owner to install / adhere to the energy conservation tip
- Frequency
- The number of times the energy conservation tip may need to be repeated
- Payback Potential
- The relative potential for the average home owner to save money by implementing the tip
And, remember to amble over to SavingsGrid.com, where all of these money saving ideas for your home are presented in a more usable manner plus a free 100+ Easy Ways To Save Electricity At Home eBook simply for signing up to the SavingsGrid newsletter.
I want to see the ecoEnergy Retrofit Program available to all home owners who needs in it immediately to help us create jobs, address the Climate change and save money on high energy bills. Canadians need to press their politicians to act.
Hi Gabriel,
Personally, I agree wiith you. There are a lot of shoddy home builders out there. A new home built in the past few years may have passed ‘code’ but IMO it doesn’t mean that it is energy efficient. It would be unlikely that many home owners of homes built in the past 10 years would find it cost effective to replace a (comparatively) new-ish furnace or A/C or replace the existing windows with ENERGY STAR windows, but they could undertake other home energy conservation measures for which ecoENERGY grants are available such as increasing attic insullation, installing basement wall and floor insullation, tightening up air leaks, etc.
Great idea!
Dan
Don’t forget the lawn!!! – Save energy by planting no mowing lawn grasses- less water, less pollution, less time managing. And Permaculture those landscapes – food for you, the birds and squirrel friends.
Hi Tesh,
Interesting ideas. The ‘no mowing lawn’ idea no doubt will save water. However, with a solar charged lawn mower such as we purchased and started to use last year there would be no energy savings.
Dan
We recently took our dryer apart because it began to shimmy. The fan blade was covered with years of lint. Now clothes dry in half the time. If you don’t fear the possibility of a mysterious left-over screw, and your dryer is more than a few years old, try it.
PEOPLE ARE FORGETTING THIER PETS. WHEN YOU TURN DOWN THE HEAT IN THE WINTER CATS AND DOGS GET COLD. DURING THE DAY I PLAY WITH MY DOG TO KEEP HIM ACTIVE AND WARM. AT NIGHT I PUT A BABY BLANKET ON HIM. FOR MY CATS I TAKE A CARDBOARD BOX, TAPE IT UP,CUT A ROUND HOLE JUST BIG ENOUGH FOR THEM TO GET IN, PUT NEWSPAPERS AND AN OLD TOWEL IN IT. TWO GET IN. THEY LOVE IT AND STAY WARM.
One easy way to save energy is that I hang up virtually all my clothes to air dry using the spare bathroom. Two loads of wash can fit on the shower curtain rail and the towel bars (using wire coat hangers) and it is a big energy saver. Plus, it puts moisture in the atmosphere in winter.
I was surprised to find out that the Blue Box does not recycle caot hangers – they are of a low quality metal compapred to food cans and aluminum beverage containers. The energy savings (for the planet) solution is to take them back to your dry cleaner for resuse, thus making a friend at the dry cleaner and helping the environment by reusing.
Hi Charles,
Thanks for this (comment #7 re clothes drying); it’s a nice expansion of what is currently tip #53 “Indoor Clothers Drying Area in Winter”.
We also use on top of the bed’s comfortator for heavy clothes when all of the bathroom’s towel racks, etc. are used.
Dan
Dan
Hi Dan, This is a great site. I really like the dryer vent solution. I live in Florida and the humidity is making the inside of my dryer wet. Did someone create the vent flap apparatus for the dryer vent or do I need a handy man to make it, please.
Hi Candace,
Thanks for visiting and spending time on our home site.
Candace, to which specific energy conservation tip are you referring in your comment? I don’t recall an energy conservation tip (which is the focus of this particular page) which calls for a dryer vent to reduce the humidity. All dryers should IMO be vented outside unless ‘up north’ and using a special aparatus to have it vent inside during the winter months to add humidity to the home as well as heat.
If humidity in the air by itself is making the inside of your dryer wet, then you need to IMO install a very good home dehumidifier such as we did with the SaniDry dehumidifier because this would only be one symptom of a larger issue with excess humidity throughout your home which can cause mold, etc.
Dan
You do suggest a low flow shower head but it seems that without the cut off switch for soaping, shampooing, shaving, etc. it isn’t complete and the only one I can find on good sites or catalogs is only about $12.00 and does fine even with low water pressure.
Hi Harriet,
Some showers as you know already come with this. We had this installed on our wall when we had our en suite shower built.
Whether the shower comes with this or not, many people simply won’t be bothered do to as you suggest; at least the low flow shower head is better than nothing.
As well, there are some (I know of at least one) low flow shower head that actually comes with the switch to reduce or turn off completely (I believe) the water flow as you suggest.
Dan
great website
keep up the good work
Hi Ron,
Thanks for visiting our site and for the complements.
Please feel free to let us know of any addition energy or water consevation ideas you or your friends are using which are not already on our ‘Un-Offical Guide’ so we can include them to let others know as well.
Dan
Re: the no mow lawn…Glad to see this posting. I have been pulling my tall weeds and leaving the short ones, especially the yellow sorrel which is edible. I also ‘harvested’ my dandelion ‘seeds’ and will sprinkle those on my no mow lawn.
These tips are great! Thanks for posting, I enjoy reading your blog!
Dry clothes over a door (sheets, jeans, heavy towels) rather than in the dryer.
conserving wildlife,water,minerals avilable on this prescious planet is not our job, but our duty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can definately appreciate the tip to cut food in small pieces before reheating. My kids used to ask why my plate was reheated faster than theirs….I offered the suggestion. They think I am brilliant.
Hey Dan just stopped by to see the site. And go figure I think I learned something!
What a lovely article. I spend days on the internet reading blogs, about tons of different subjects. I have to first of all give kudos to whoever created your theme and second of all to you for writing what i can only describe as an unbelievable post. I honestly believe there is a skill to writing articles that only a few posses and frankly you have it. The combination of informative and quality content is definitely extremely rare with the large amount of blogs on the internet.
This site is the leading blog site. . Cheers Glenn
Thanks, Glenn.
I’m glad you are finding our information useful.
Dan
For shaving, I heat hot water on the stove rather than running water throughout the house for a few minutes until the water turns hot.
Hi Paul,
Hmmmm…..I would think that approach would be a wash, energy savings wise…..amount of energy to heat the water on the stove vs hot water heater.
Yet, it certainly saves on the water.
Don’t forget to enter our $200 Home Depot Gift Card giveway where you can actually enter this and other bathroom related home energy and water saving tip as part of your entry. Enter as many times as you want. The giveaway ends Feb 13, 2011.
Dan
Heat water in microwave instead of stove.
I don’t use any paper products besides toilet paper. Instead I use resuable towels, wash cloths, and napkins.
The most simple and least expensive thing we did was to install a programmable thermostat. Set it and forget it!
Il suffit de diminuer la température la nuit et garder cela plus chaud le jour…
Use water from dehumidifier for washing machine (front loaders: pour through soap dispenser), plants, garden, topping up aquarium, etc….this water is pretty clean as it’s a condensate.
These are indeed very useful and helpful tips to every household. These tips will not only help us save energy but can also lessen our daily expenses.
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