Your home is the largest investment of your life. Apart from buying a house, you have to maintain the house which involves cost on a regular basis. Besides the initial cost, a home is a series of operating systems that use energy and by taking care of those systems in a proper manner you can save much of the cost. Your cost gets multiplied if the systems aren’t efficient, or if your home is over 10 years old, then perhaps you should think of updating those systems. New generations of Energy Star appliances, heating and air/systems, and environmentally friendly insulation can bring your cost down to a great extent. Most of the energy savings can be initiated with simple upgradation of appliances. The initial cost of upgrading may be on the high side but you can save a lot once you own an energy efficient home.

1. Killer ways for engaging residents in apartment community activities
Killer ways for engaging residents in apartment community activities

3. Heating and cooling appliances consume most amount of energy at home.
Upgrade to energy efficient appliances in place of old ones.
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4. Upgrade to CFL bulbs as they generate significantly less heat than incandescent bulbs. Ensure to turn off lights when not in use.
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5. Minimize the usage of your oven as microwaves and toaster ovens are great warm-weather stand-ins.
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6. Wait until the sun goes down to run your dishwasher, dryer and other heat- producing appliances.
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7. Keep your fridge and freezer full. Food acts as insulation, and lessens the amount of time that the fridge has to run to stay cool.
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8. Position your windows and doors right so that maximum light can enter into the rooms.
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10. Get your home insulated. Once you have insulated your home, it should last forever to save energy.
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11. Lower the temperature on your hot water heater so that it doesn’t consume too much heat.
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12. As dishwashers and washing machines consume a lot of energy, wash clothes at one go, thus maximizing the usage of the appliances.
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13. Clean the coils of your fridge so that it does not have to work harder to cool your foods.
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14. Replace the regular night lights with LEDs as they consume less power.
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15. Avoid pre-heating your oven unless you have to. Use microwaves rather than ovens as the latter consumes more energy.
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