Use Cold Water

You should only use hot water to wash your clothes and dishes when appropriate. Your home uses a great deal of energy to heat up water, but cold water is room temperature. Most clothes will come out just as clean if you use cold water to wash them, especially if you are also using detergent. Save the hot water for when you wash towels or sheets, which may have bacteria that the heat will need to remove.

Replace Your Light Bulbs

Manufacturers stopped producing incandescent light bulbs in 2014. Replace any you still have in or around your home with longer-lasting LED bulbs that don't require as much energy to power. You won't just save on your electric bill when you switch light bulbs; using energy-efficient items also helps to sustain the environment.

Let in Natural Light

You can further save on your electric bill and depend less on electricity when you utilize natural light throughout the day. Inspect your windows to ensure you are maximizing the amount of sunlight you can get in your home. Power wash dirty windows for maximum transparency. Or you could even replace your current windows with larger ones to let in more light. 

Pro Tip: Install skylights to maximize the amount of natural light your home receives throughout the day.

Design Your Home for Energy Efficiency

Insulate Your Home

You can significantly improve the quality of the air in your home and reduce your energy bill by improving the insulation. The best way to do this yourself is to plug up any holes where air is leaking out. As air leaks from your home, your air conditioner must work harder to replace it. Most common areas in your home where leakage can occur include:

• Windows
• Doors
• Mail slots
• Electrical outlets
• Fireplaces

Finding ways to make your home more energy efficient is worth the time it takes to perform minor improvements. You may not see instant results, but as you continue to work on your home, you will watch it become a modern masterpiece.