12 ways to save energy and money
Because saving energy and money go hand in hand, the non-profit Consumer Federation of America came up with 12 simple ways to save both. Join thousands of organizations, companies, and individuals in a nationwide effort to become more energy independent, improve the environment, and save households hundreds of dollars in unnecessary energy costs by following these top tips:
1. AIR DRY: Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher’s drying cycle.
2. TURN IT OFF: Use timers and motion detectors to turn off lights and be sure to unplug TV entertainment systems when travelling (use power strips for easy on/off switching) and don’t leave your computer and monitor on needlessly.
3. DON'T GET BURNED WITH HOT WATER: Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120F. Water heaters are the second highest source of energy use in the home.
4. FILL IT UP, PLEASE: Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
5. KEEP ‘EM CLEAN: Check furnace, heat pump, and AC filters once a month and replace them regularly. A dirty air filter can increase your energy costs and cause problems with your equipment.
6. GET A CHECK UP: Get your heating system checked up once a year. A licensed professional will make sure that your system is operating efficiently and safely. Checkups can identify problems early.
7. STOP THE BREEZE: Caulk and weather-strip around drafty doors and windows.
8. GET AN AUDIT: Your utility company may offer free energy audits that can identify expensive energy losses in your basement, unfinished rooms, attics and leaky ductwork. Sealing your ducts can give big savings on energy bills and help keep you from turning up the thermostat because of one cold room.
9. TAKE A WALK: Circle your home with an easy-to-use spray foam insulation and look for openings and gaps around pipes, chimneys, lights, windows and basement brick and cement work.
10. GET WITH THE PROGRAM: Install a programmable thermostat which automatically adjusts the temperature during the day or at night, keeping you from forgetting as you dash off to work. A programmable thermostat can save you up to $100 a year.
11. STAY BRIGHT: As “old-school” incandescent light bulbs burn out, replace them with new, light emitting diode bulbs (LEDs) and save about $90 a year in electricity costs. You pay more up-front, but shop around, prices are dropping. They use up to 25% less energy, can last up to twelve times longer and light like the old fashioned ones do.
12. BE A STAR: Look for products and appliances that have earned the ENERGY STAR label. They meet strict new energy efficiency criteria that will reduce your utility bills and help the environment. ENERGY STAR clothes washers, for example, use approximately 40% less water and 25% less energy for washing than standard models.
For more energy saving info, visit energysaver.gov or energystar.gov.
Check out these related insights!
CHECK OUT OTHER SAVINGS JOURNEYS FROM SAVERS JUST LIKE YOU
Another Dream Realized
By Mary Brown
Mary Brown was already a disciplined individual when she came to Wisconsin Saves coordinator Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) in last summer. She had successfully completed her bachelor’s degree with the assistance of her husband and son, and was now ready to tackle her next big dream – homeownership.
The Gift of Homeownership
By Quaneka Willis
Quaneka Willis, a single mother of three children, was receiving rental assistance through the Housing Au...
Saver Story: Set a goal, make a plan!
By Shannon
We've chosen Shannon as our Saver of the Month! Her approach to saving for her family’s dream home is a g...
Saving With My Boys
By Kelly
Kelly has made saving a family effort. She started her boys saving early. “Probably 3,” Kelly told us, “w...
Budget like Nohemi
By Nohemi
Nohemi found out about America Saves a few years ago as an undergraduate at the University of Illinois at...
Savings #ImSavingForSweepstakes
#ImSavingFor Winner Story
By Pedram R.
America Saves awarded one lucky saver, Pedram R. from California, $750 for sharing his #ImSavingFor story. Pedram said, “Saving is important to me because it proves I am not willing to buy unnecessary things to please others or to be perceived as successful.”
Transforming “I Can’t Save” to “I Will Save”
You will not believe what it took to completely change my life. About three years ago, the HR Administrat...
Coping with a Lost Job
By Aimee Shaffer
Aimee Shaffer worked as a Public Service News Director for radio for years until one day her employer dow...
Saving With My Boys
By Kelly
Kelly has made saving a family effort. She started her boys saving early. “Probably 3,” Kelly told us, “w...
Saving Early: Key to Successful Future
By Johnnie Lovett
For Johnnie Lovett, a Young Illinois Saver, saving has been a habit since he was a teenager. “As a teenag...
A Think Like A Saver Attitude
By Melissa
Melissa has always been thrifty with a #ThinkLikeASaver attitude. This served her family well when her husband lost his job in 2014. Using their savings, Melissa’s family stayed afloat while her husband found a new job.
Put 20 Percent Away
By Melissa
“I am a single mother, and I make ends meet for me and my daughter, but I wanted to put money away for my daughter for a college fund. So I started saving 20 percent of my paycheck every month to put it away in a savings account with a high Annual Percentage Yield (APY). By the time my daughter is 18, I will have saved nearly $90,000.”
Saving is a Family Affair
By Jeff
Saving is truly a family affair for Jeff’s household. During America Saves Week 2019, he pledged to save ...
A Think Like A Saver Attitude
By Melissa
Melissa has always been thrifty with a #ThinkLikeASaver attitude. This served her family well when her hu...
Jump-Starting a Financial Makeover
By Nichelle Johnson
Nichelle Johnson, a single mom with two teenage children, knows what it’s like to stretch a dollar. When ...
Don’t Laugh at Saving Spare Change
By Brittany
Virginia Saves saver, Brittany, decided to start saving again when she became a single mother. She thinks...
Budget like Nohemi
By Nohemi
Nohemi found out about America Saves a few years ago as an undergraduate at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She remembers attending a University of Illinois Saves event where she decorated a piggy bank and took the Pledge, but college life made her put the thought of saving at the back of her mind.
Put 20 Percent Away
By Melissa
“I am a single mother, and I make ends meet for me and my daughter, but I wanted to put money away for my...
Starting and Continuing a Personal Finance Journey
By Kiara Hardin
When Kiara Hardin, now a junior at Western Illinois University, became an intern with the Chicago Summer ...
Saving is a Family Affair
By Jeff
Saving is truly a family affair for Jeff’s household. During America Saves Week 2019, he pledged to save ...
Saving With My Boys
By Kelly
Kelly has made saving a family effort. She started her boys saving early. “Probably 3,” Kelly told us, “w...
From Overwhelmed to In Control
By Debi
In 2017 Debi felt overwhelmed. Her credit cards were maxed, and she wasn't exactly sure how to handle it. When asked how her credit issues started, her answer sounded like many Savers that we've spoken to: making too many impulse purchases.
Inspired to Build Savings By Starting Small
By Sharon
With little-to-no money in the bank and living on a limited income with her adult daughter, Sharon wasn’t...
Developing a Savings "Game Plan"
By Eunice Diaz
Eunice Diaz, a teacher in Colorado Springs, had been noticing a pattern. Despite the fact that she and he...
Taking Back Control Over Finances
By Nadine Bialo
After becoming a Virginia Saver and getting help from BankOn classes and coaching, Nadine Bialo took back...
Getting Out of Debt
By Tonya Shelton
In 2004, Tonya Shelton was facing financial ruin. Barely making more than minimum wage and having lost he...
Savings #ImSavingForSweepstakes
#ImSavingFor Winner Story
By Pedram R.
America Saves awarded one lucky saver, Pedram R. from California, $750 for sharing his #ImSavingFor story. Pedram said, “Saving is important to me because it proves I am not willing to buy unnecessary things to please others or to be perceived as successful.”
Saving is a Family Affair
By Jeff
Saving is truly a family affair for Jeff’s household. During America Saves Week 2019, he pledged to save for retirement. But making a commitment and creating a plan to save isn’t a new concept for him.
Getting Out of Debt
By Tonya Shelton
In 2004, Tonya Shelton was facing financial ruin. Barely making more than minimum wage and having lost her home to an unexpected family crisis, Shelton and her family were forced to live in a rundown hotel.
If we feature you in our newsletter, you get $50.
You May Also Be Interested In...
Take the America saves pledge
Make a pledge to yourself and create a simple savings plan that works. Complete the Pledge and America Saves will send you short email and text reminders, resources and tips to keep you on track towards your savings goal. Become part of an entire community of savers. Get started now!
creative ways to fund your savings
Those with a savings plan are twice as likely to save successfully. Taking the America Saves Pledge is a pledge to yourself to start a savings journey and America Saves is here to encourage you along the way. Take the first step toward creating a better financial future. Make a plan, set a goal, and pledge to yourself to start saving, today.
![](http://americasaves.scandiastaging.com/media/cydfwlsq/logo-as.png)
Congrats on completing the pledge!
![](http://americasaves.scandiastaging.com/media/wtggpxk5/as-decisiontree.png)
Congrats on completing the pledge!
We are so glad you have started your savings journey and Military Saves will be right beside you the whole way! You will soon receive an email from the Military Saves team to help encourage you. Find helpful links below to continue researching topics on saving.
Take the America Saves Pledge
Make a pledge to yourself and create a simple savings plan that works.