Save hundreds on energy costs

Rethink your laundry routine

“One surprisingly easy tweak that can add up to big savings is washing clothes in cold water. On average, this can save you about $63 a year on electricity, and it can make your clothes last longer since washing in warm or hot water can cause the dyes to fade faster and even shrink your items. It’s also a good idea to clean the lint trap every time you use the dryer. Lint buildup is a fire hazard, plus it prolongs the amount of time it takes clothes to dry, causing you to use more energy. It also blocks air flow in dryer vents, which can impact the efficiency of your machine.” —Sydney Ziverts, ConsumerSafety.org

Upgrade to dimmer switches

“While dimmers are best known for their ability to improve a room’s aesthetic appeal, they also reduce energy consumption, leaving more money in your wallet. If you dim your lights by half, you can reduce the power requirements of each bulb by 40 percent and save up to $30 a year on your power bill.” —Jori Gohsman, senior category manager, lighting, Batteries Plus Bulbs

Opt for energysaving light bulbs

“We started replacing our incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs. Not only are they brighter, making fewer lights needed, they save money on energy. Studies show that you can save up to $300 a year with LED compared with incandescent bulbs.” —Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell, author of

Living Large in Our Little House

Try a simple showerhead swap

“On average, 20 to 25 percent of water usage comes from showering, which uses a ton of energy. Installing low-flow showerheads can reduce consumption by up to half and save you hundreds of dollars a year. Look for the WaterSense label on showerheads to identify models that save water, perform well and meet EPA standards for water efficiency and performance. You can buy one for around $11 at a home-improvement store. You won’t even be able to tell it’s low-flow.” —Ashley Feinstein Gerstley, TheFiscalFemme.com

Wrap your water heater with this

“You can save up to $50 a year simply by wrapping your water heater with an insulated water-heater blanket (available at hardware stores, starting at $20). This easy project keeps the water warmer for a longer period of time, resulting in elements turning on less frequently. The insulation can reduce your heating bill by as much as 45 percent. To secure the insulation, use thin, flexible wire—not tape or plastic, both of which are flammable.”

—John Hale, owner of Mr. Electric of Augusta, GA

Outsmart sneaky “phantom electricity”

It can be hard to remember to unplug all your devices after using them. So we switched to power strips that kill “phantom electricity”—electricity consumed by gadgets or appliances plugged into outlets even when devices are powered off. Once you hit the kill switch on the power strip, you don’t have to worry about extra electricity being used. Power strips cost around $20. Ten percent of an average home’s energy consumption is from phantom electricity, so over time, this can add up to huge savings!” —Kathryn Kellogg, GoingZeroWaste.com

Wash the dishes on a different setting

“You can use less energy and reduce your power consumption by up to 20 percent if you turn off the ‘heated dry’ option on your dishwasher. Your dishes will be cleaned but not dried. When the cycle ends, simply open the dishwasher a crack and let the dishes air-dry. I usually run my dishwasher every night, then pop it open before I go to bed and let the dishes air-dry overnight. It doesn’t take much more time at all.”

—Personal finance expert Lauren Greutman, LaurenGreutman.com

Program your home’s thermostat

“Many homes are unoccupied throughout the day while the residents are at work and school. Rather than wasting money on an empty house, a programmable thermostat can be set so the heat is turned off during the day and turned on when everyone returns home. There’s a tremendous amount of energy to be saved if more people take advantage of this smart upgrade—only about 15 percent of households in America have these installed. According to EnergyStar, properly used programmable thermostats can save consumers approximately $180 per year. These thermostats sell for as little as $30.” —Dan Welsh, program director at Westchester Power, New York