- Swap your incandescent bulbs—that give off 90% of their energy as heat—with LED lights that use approximately 25% less energy and last up to 25 times longer. LEDs are available in different colors and light levels, based on different preferences and can be used with outdoor fixtures, even saving energy if always on. I love GE LED Lighting https://www.gelighting.com/ and LIFX https://www.lifx.com/
- Replace dirty, clogged (HVAC) filters every one to two months during the summer to lower your energy use by 5% to 15%. I like 3M https://www.filtrete.com/ and Rheem https://www.rheem.com/indoor-air-quality/
- Insulate and seal ducts to reduce about 30% of a cooling system’s energy consumption.
- Install a ceiling or a whole house fan—air conditioner costs $0.36 per hour, and a ceiling fan only $0.01 per hour.
- Use a programmable thermostat to save up to 10% on annual heating and cooling costs. I like https://nest.com https://www.ecobee.com/ and https://www.honeywellhome.com/us/en/products/air/thermostats/wifi-thermostats/
- If you’re looking to buy any new appliances in your home, shop for Energy Star certified products. These appliances offer significant savings in operation, often saving you enough money to pay for the appliance in just a few months. Washing machine technologies have come particularly far recently, and you can now get a machine that costs less than $80 per year to operate.
- Smart Home Energy Management Systems (like https://www.brilliant.tech) This may sound like it’ll put a dent in your wallet, but these systems allow you to control your entire home via remote control, giving you peace of mind when leaving your home. With this holistic system, you can automatically control lights, heating and air system, appliances, stereo, and security system can all be controlled from your remote or with your smartphone, thus saving energy and worry.
- If you have several appliances plugged in various outlets, you’re more unlikely to go around and unplug all of them before leaving or going to sleep. Instead, consider a smart power strip that cuts power from anything plugged into it. The power strip is also a more convenient way to reach hard to reach plugs around your home.
- Use your outdoor grill (versus your stove or oven) during warmer weather.
- Install energy-efficient window coverings to prevent solar heat gain.
Kathryn Emery established her career inside The Home Depot, where she guided product story telling in the public relations department for close to two decades. Kathryn identified trends and created stories around new products, innovation, seasons, how-to. Prior to Home Depot, Kathryn was a magazine editor and learned early on, what it takes to tell a great story. With her two decades of relationships, she is a trusted, known, liked personality and has her finger on the pulse of the industry across the board. Kathryn is a media spokesperson for her own brand Be the Best Home (www.bethebesthome). As a Home Improvement & Lifestyle personality she appears on TV regularly as a vivacious, passionate, knowledgeable lover of making home and life enhanced & more enjoyable. Kathryn has regular TV segments in Los Angeles, Houston, Phoenix, Denver, Sacramento, Las Vegas, San Diego.
