Legend:
0 = Free,  $ = Cheap,    $$ = Costs more, but worth it

0 Turn off everything not in use: lights, TVs, computers, etc.

0 Activate "sleep" features on electronics that power down when not in use for a while. Use the Control Panel->Power Options settings to power down the computer and monitor after a set amount of time. 

$ Replace your light bulbs with ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent bulbs (save over $65 each in energy costs). These light bulbs use 80% less energy and last up to 10 times longer.  Wal-Mart has them for about $2 each. Austin Energy offers a rebate coupon for CF bulbs on their website.  www.austinenergy.com. Incandescent light bulbs are outdated! Over 95 percent of the energy used goes to heating the bulb, adding unwanted heat to your home in the summer.

$ Use dimmers, timers, and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor lighting.  Motion detectors can be found for about $20.  See http://www.smarthomeusa.com 

$ Install an ENERGY STAR programmable thermostat (save about $100 each year). Adjust the timer to save energy when the house is normally unoccupied.  Austin Energy will give you one for free if you agree to allow them to ‘cycle’ your AC unit periodically during peak use times.

0 Check for vampires!  These are phantom consumers of power you don’t notice.  Battery chargers, electronic items with a clock, anything that has a big transformer plugged into an outlet is consuming power even though it seems to be ‘off’.

0 Check the air conditioner (AC) filter each month, and clean or replace it as needed. Dirty filters block air flow through your heating and cooling systems, increasing your energy bill and shortening the equipment’s life.

0 Frequently clean your AC unit’s condenser coils with a hose.  The cottonwood and dust reduce the efficiency of the unit dramatically.

0 Only heat or cool the rooms you need—close vents and doors of unused rooms.

0 During hot months keep window coverings closed on the south, east, and west windows. In winter, let as much sun as possible in.

0 In summer raise the thermostat temperature a few degrees.  Use fans whenever possible instead of AC.  

$ Glass fireplace doors help stop energy from being lost up the chimney. Also, close the fireplace damper when not in use.  You can even buy a fireplace “pillow” to block air from escaping up the chimney.  (Don’t forget to remove them before lighting the fireplace!)

0 When cooking, cover your pots.  Better yet, use the microwave instead of the range.

0 Dress appropriately for cold weather, and set your thermostat to the lowest possible comfortable setting. On winter nights, put an extra blanket on the bed and turn down your thermostat more.

$ Adding area heaters to warm just the occupied rooms in your home will enable you to keep the rest of your home at cooler, more economical temperatures.

0 Get a home energy audit every couple of years with your power company to find ways to cut costs. See austinenergy.com to schedule a  free energy audit.

$ Seal and weather-strip your windows and doors to ensure that you're not wasting energy on heat or air conditioning that escapes through leaks to the outdoors. Look for gaps along the home’s foundation.  Seal all exposed ductwork joints. Insulate ducts to improve your AC system’s efficiency and your own comfort.  Austin Energy has a rebate program.

$$ Add insulation in the attic. U.S. homes should have between R-38 and R-49 attic insulation. The average homeowner needs to add between R-19 to R-30 insulation (about 6 to 10 inches). See www.energystar.gov/homesealing.  Austin Energy has a rebate program.

$ Trees that lose their leaves in the fall give protection from the summer sun and permit winter sunlight to reach and warm your home. Plant trees on the south, east, and/or west sides of your home. Be sure to shade the AC unit. Create a windbreak with evergreen trees and shrubs to stop chilling winds. This saves $100-$250 each year.

0 About 15 percent of an average home energy bill goes to heating water. To save hot water, take five-minute showers instead of baths.

$ Install low-flow showerheads and sink aerators to reduce hot water use.

0 Switch to cold water washing of laundry (save up to $63 a year).  Detergents formulated for cold water get clothes just as clean. Do only full loads when using the clothes washer or dishwasher.

0 Lower the temperature on your water heater. It should be set at “warm,” so that a thermometer held under running water reads no more than 120 degrees.

$ A water tank insulation wrap costs about $20 and helps hold the heat inside. Add pre-cut pipe insulation to exposed pipes going into your water heater—it is cheap and easy to install. The energy savings pay for the improvements in just a few months.

$$ When it’s time to replace your hot water tank, buy the most efficient one possible. Austin Energy has a rebate program.

$$ When buying new appliances and electronics, look for the ENERGY STAR® label.  This is the government’s rating program that shows you which items are more efficient than typical models. Remember these items have two price tags: purchase price and lifetime energy cost. Appliances and electronics accountfor over 20 percent of household energy use.

$$ If your home has only single pane windows, consider replacing them with low-e coated or ENERGY STAR windows. Efficient windows can lower your heating and cooling bills up to 30 percent. Alternatively, storm windows can reduce your winter heat loss by 25–50 percent.

$$ When buying a new AC/furnace unit, look for a SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) of 13 or higher on central systems and the ENERGY STAR label on room units.  Austin Energy has a rebate program.