Do You Have A High Performance Home?

More than 270 million people live in the United States today. If every person would make an effort to live more energy efficiently, the amount of pollution in the atmosphere would be greatly reduced.

Using energy wisely is simpler than many of us realize. With all of the new technology at our disposal, reducing energy waste and saving money without sacrificing comfort and convenience is easy.

Close to one-third of your home's total heat loss occurs through windows and doors. Preventing this heat loss by sealing leaks is one way that you can conserve energy in your home.

Check for leaks in the window seals by moving a lit candle around the frame. Any place where the candle flickers, there is a leak. You can apply weather-stripping to windows to decrease heat loss in winter and keep cool air inside in the summer. Another good idea would be to install storm windows.

In the case of doors, if they open to the outside or into unheated areas, they should be caulked in the area between the frame and the wall. You can prevent heat loss in doorways by installing door sweeps or draft guards.

More than one-half of the energy that you use in your home goes to heating and cooling. The least expensive way to heat a home is to capture the heat from the sun. The best way to regulate the heat given off by the sun is through the use of curtains and drapes. Open them during the day to allow the heat to enter the house, and close them on those cold winter nights to trap the heat indoors.

If you are unable to take advantage of this heat source, make sure to keep radiators free from dirt and dust. Wrap your water heater with an insulating blanket so that it only heats the water that it contains, not the room that it is in. Also, insulate exposed water pipes.

In regards to cooling your home, do everything that you can to cool your house naturally. This can be done in a number of different ways, from planting shade trees to using ceiling fans and cross ventilating.

If you must use an air conditioner, make sure that it is tuned up every spring, and that the filter is changed regularly. By doing this, your air conditioner will operate for less money and it will also last longer.

Only 10 percent of the energy used by incandescent bulbs goes to making light, the rest is given off in heat. It is best to use natural lighting whenever possible. When you cannot, opt for fluorescent lighting, the bulbs use one-quarter to one-third less electricity and last up to ten times longer. Also, always turn off the lights when you enter a room, and never use multiple smaller bulbs when a few large ones will do the job.

Appliances are among the largest energy consumers in the home. It is important to reduce wasteful use of energy and use models that are as energy efficient as possible.

The refrigerator/freezer unit should be located away from all sources of heat. Keep in mind that models with the freezer on the top are more energy efficient than side-by-side models. Also, automatic defrost models use more energy than manual defrost models. Make sure that you defrost your freezer on a regular basis to ease the strain on the coils as they try to maintain a cold temperature.

The dishwasher uses the same amount of water to wash one glass as it does to wash an entire load. As about 80% of the energy used by a dishwasher goes toward heating the water, it would make sense that using less water uses less energy. Also, using the "No-Heat" drying feature, or air-drying your dishes will conserve valuable energy.

Energy conservation is an issue in the laundry room as well. Ninety percent of the energy used by a washing machine goes toward heating the water. Using cooler water during the rinse cycle will not affect the cleaning quality and will reduce the amount of energy used. Also, load the washer to capacity whenever possible, and consider the fact that front-loading models use less water than top-loading machines.

The dryer should also be filled to capacity whenever possible. In addition, dry at least two loads in a row to take advantage of the heat that is still held within the dryer. Removing the clothes from the dryer while still damp will reduce the need for ironing also. When it is at all possible, hang your wet clothes on a line outdoors to dry.

Water conservation in the home is important also. Wash your dishes in a sink full of water, rather than under a running tap, and always be sure to repair any dripping taps. If taking a bath, fill the tub only as high as required. Opt for showers instead, as they only use around 3 gallons of water as opposed to a bath using 15+ gallons.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that each homeowner could reduce his average energy bill by 30%, just by using energy more wisely and purchasing energy-efficient products. Even though the initial cost of an energy-efficient appliance is high, considering the amount of money it will take to operate it over the course of its lifetime, it will cost you less in the long run.