What are the key issues associated with decreasing your home's energy consumption? 

Improving the energy efficiency of your home reduces the amount of energy you need to use to keep it warm or cool.

The highest amount of home energy consumption is done by your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

• An easy, low-cost way to increase efficiency in your HVAC system is to clean or replace your furnace’s air filter on a monthly basis.
• Annual checkups of your HVAC system by a professional are also an easy way to maintain the appliance’s efficiency.
• A programmable thermostat has a moderate upfront cost but can save around $150 annually by automatically adjusting your thermostat to energy-saving temperatures while you are not home.
• Maintaining your system’s ductwork is an easy way to ensure overall efficiency.
• Updating these systems with Energy Star-rated appliances can have a significant initial cost that ends up saving you money on your utility bills.
• In addition to saving money on your utility bills, many energy efficient appliances qualify for tax credits. For more information please refer to the Finance Feature article "Take Credit for Saving Energy"

Additional low-cost methods for reducing your home’s energy consumption:

• Cleaning refrigerator coils; removing frost from freezers
• Keep lights clean; shut off when not in use
• Replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents
• Leave your South-facing windows’ curtains open in winter and closed in summer to collect or prevent solar heat gain.
• Installing insulators behind electrical outlets
• Re-leveling your blown-in attic insulation
• Insulating attic access door
• Setting ceiling fans in up-flow mode
• Insulating Water Heater and set its thermostat to 120°
• Weatherstripping around windows and doors

Additional moderate to significant upfront cost methods for saving energy include:

• Adding insulation to walls and ceiling
• Replacing / adding ventilation systems
• Replacing doors and windows with Energy Star-rated models

It can be helpful to do a home energy audit to determine your household’s current energy use.
 

For additional information please refer to the Housing Feature article on heading off your rising heating bills.

Barbara Buffaloe
Architectural Studies, College of Human Environmental Studies, University of Missouri-Columbia