10 Simple ways to save energy at home (that don't cost a thing!)

Looking for a new way to advocate for the environment? That's a fantastic goal — thanks for being curious about what you can do for the climate. Let's talk about one of the most powerful ways to make a difference: conserving energy at home.

After all, energy is everywhere in our daily lives. From heating our morning showers to keeping our leftovers cold and all the little switches in between, residential energy use accounts for about 21% of total U.S. energy consumption. Because power is such an essential part of modern life, being more intentional about how we use it can create a significant positive change in our collective environmental footprint.

The best part? This climate action literally pays off in utility bill savings. Let's break it down: In 2022, the average U.S. residential electric-utility customer used about 899 kWh/month. With electricity rates currently averaging around 16.94 cents per kWh, that adds up to about $152.29 per month. What’s more, residential energy consumption accounts for about 15% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. So, the less energy you use, the less you — and the planet — pay.

While it’s true that some energy efficiency upgrades — from opting for LED light bulbs, to replacing your old fossil-fueled appliances with ENERGY STAR®-certified products — can require initial investments, finding ways to conserve energy doesn't have to cost you anything. Here are our top ten tips for reducing your energy use without spending an extra dime. (Don't worry, we're skipping "Turn off the lights" — we're sure you've heard that one a million times!)

Temperature check

• Adjust your thermostat by 10–15 degrees (based on the weather) when you're sleeping or away from home. Implementing this simple change for 8 hours a day could save you 5-15% per year on heating and cooling.
• Lower your water heater temperature from the standard 140°F to 120°F – this alone could save you up to $400 annually. Taking shorter, colder showers and using the washing machine cold setting also help. (Heating the water accounts for about 90% of your washer’s electricity.)
• Use your curtains strategically: close them to block direct sunlight in summer and help retain warmth in winter. Pro tip: the closer they're hung to your windows, the more effective they'll be.
• If you have a ceiling fan, use it! Running counterclockwise, it can make a room feel up to 10 degrees cooler while using only 10% of the energy of central A/C. In winter, reverse it to swing clockwise to push down warm air.

Smarter appliance use

• Got a dishwasher? Using it saves more energy and water than handwashing — just make sure you load it properly. Pro-tip: let your dishes air-dry — same goes for laundry.
• Set your refrigerator to 37°F and freezer to 0°F, the sweet spots for food safety and energy efficiency. Also keep the coils on your refrigerator — as well as the filters on your furnace and A/C and your dryer’s lint trap — nice and clean to ensure they all run as efficiently as possible.
• If you have an oven, keep the door closed to avoid wasting heat. You may also be able to turn it off a little before your timer’s up and use residual heat to finish your dish (same for a stovetop burner). Smaller devices like toaster ovens and pressure cookers are even more efficient!

Power, managed

• Switch energy saving features on for any device that offers them, like your TV, desktop, laptop, gaming console, etc. You could save up to $30 a year.
• Better yet, unplug devices you’re not using, as they could still be drawing electricity even when they seem to be switched off. (Electronics on standby can account for about 10% of your electric bill!)
• If your utility offers time-of-use rate plans, try completing your most energy-intensive tasks in the early morning or later in the night when electricity is cheaper due to the dip in overall demand.

We hope you find these ten energy conservation hacks as easy as they are effective! To put your impact in perspective: in 2019, the average household's energy use released about 17,320 pounds of CO2 — that's 70% more than the average passenger vehicle. While no single person is responsible for cutting national emissions, this just reminds us that every reduction you can make does matter.

Want to take your climate action a step further after putting these tips into practice? Consider joining our community solar program! Like the tips listed above, signing up is free to you. Plus, enrolling in a solar project can lower your annual energy costs while helping ensure that more clean energy goes into your local power supply. That’s a big deal: from 2010 to 2020, CO2 emissions from residential energy use decreased by 26.5%, largely due to changes in how our electricity is generated. The more we can do to clean up our power grid, the better for our planet and everyone who lives here.

By combining smart energy use at home with support for clean energy through community solar, you can help create a more sustainable future. Now that's climate action for everyone!