27 energy-saving tips for winter and summer

The cost of electricity has hit all-time highs, which has most of us looking for ways to lower our bills, whether by conserving energy, buying more energy-efficient appliances, or other tactics. 

We recommend starting with a home energy audit (professional or DIY) to learn exactly what uses the most energy in your home. Spoiler: it’s likely your heating and cooling systems.

Keeping your home a little warmer in the summer and cooler in the winter can help, but that doesn’t mean you and your family have to suffer uncomfortable indoor temperatures. There are many ways to save energy and money throughout the year—from small changes to major home upgrades.

Making tiny changes to the way you use devices can significantly lower your energy use. Temperature regulation is nearly half your power usage, so it should be the main focus. But other changes certainly help, like turning off lights and fans when you leave a room, or regularly cleaning HVAC filters to improve efficiency. 

Here are some small, zero-cost changes you can make that will add up to noticeable savings.

In the winter

• Open window curtains (especially on south-facing windows) during the day to take advantage of heat from the sun.

• Close window curtains at night to reduce chill from cold windows.

• Set the temperature as low as is comfortable—for optimal savings, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recommends keeping your home between 68°F and 70°F while you’re awake and between 58°F and 60°F at night or while you’re out.

• Program your thermostat to lower automatically when no one is home.

• Keep the fireplace damper closed when fires aren’t burning.

• Keep your water heater temperature warm (120°F).

In the summer

• Hang or lay clothes flat to dry instead of using a dryer.

• Draw window curtains closed to reduce heat gain from the sun.

• Set the temperature as high as is comfortable—try to keep it within a few degrees of the outdoor temperature.

• Program your thermostat or cooling devices to increase the temperature automatically when no one is home.

• When lowering the temperature, do it gradually. Cranking your device to a much colder setting won’t cool down your home any faster, but it will waste a ton of energy.

• Turn off the ceiling and plug in fans when you leave a room.

• Keep appliances and devices away from your thermostat, as it can pick up the heat radiating from them.

• Clean and vacuum your air intake vents and ensure no furniture is blocking them.

All seasons: pull out your plugs

A sneaky culprit of energy waste? Electronics left plugged in. Even if turned off, appliances and devices can still pull power (it's called a phantom load). In the late 90s, the DOE estimated that 75% of the electricity powering electronics was consumed after they were switched off.

Luckily our modern devices (such as smart TVs) are far more energy-efficient and shouldn’t draw that much power while in standby mode. But, beware of your older gadgets. For instance, a vintage stereo system can add nearly $70 a year to your electricity costs, even when off. When in doubt, pull the plug out.

We've shared free tips to save on electricity, but if you’ve got a small budget to put toward your efforts, here are some affordable energy-efficient purchases to consider:

• Energy-efficient lightbulbs ($5 and up): Halogen incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), and light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs use 25-80% less electricity and last anywhere from three to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.

• Caulk, weatherstrips, or window sealant ($6 and up): Seal air leaks around drafty doors, windows, and fireplaces. Heat gain and loss through windows can waste 25-30% of heating and cooling energy.

• Mastic sealant or foil tape ($6 and up): About 20-30% of air moving through your ducts leaks out. Seal holes and insulate the HVAC ducts in your attic, crawlspace, basement, garage, etc.

• Battery or solar-powered holiday lights ($9 and up): Ditch plug-in lights without compromising your holiday display.

• Advanced power strips ($18 and up): These devices automatically turn off high-energy devices when you’re not using them (because let’s be real, who’s going to remember to unplug them every time?), saving you up to $200 per year by avoiding phantom loads.

• Outdoor solar lights ($20 and up): Switch to solar-powered outdoor lights to save on exterior lighting costs.

• Programmable thermostats ($25 and up): A thermostat that automatically adjusts heating and cooling when you are asleep or away can help you save roughly $180 a year without sacrificing comfort. (Remember: programmable thermostats are not recommended if you have a heat pump.)

• Shade trees (varies): Plant shade trees (any tree that sheds its leaves in the winter) outside your windows to help with cooling costs in the summer without sacrificing natural heat in the winter.

We’ve gone over the free and budget-friendly ways to save energy at home, but making bigger investments to reduce energy waste can save you thousands in the long run. Plus, you may be able to cash in on incentives, like up to $14,000 in rebates through the Home Electrification and Appliances Rebate Program.

Ready to make a smart investment to save energy in the winter and summer? Here are some of the best home improvements:

• Heat pumps ($7,120 and up): These all-in-one HVAC systems can heat and cool your home (typically) using far less energy than old ACs, boilers, furnaces, or electric heaters and can save you up to $600 on cooling costs alone over its lifetime.

• Heat pump water heaters ($3,000 and up): Ditch your old water heater for this energy-saving alternative. It’s over three times more efficient than standard gas or electric water heaters and can save you up to $5,610 during its lifetime.

• Energy-efficient windows ($300 and up per window): Replacing older windows with ENERGY STAR-certified ones can reduce your energy bills by up to 24%

• Energy-efficient appliances (varies): Upgrading washers and dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, and ovens with energy-efficient products can reduce your energy bills for years to come. 

• Solar panels (varies): A solar panel system is one of the biggest energy-saving home investments, with solar installation costs starting around $25,000 for an average-sized system. That’s a big expense, but you could see energy savings as high as $120,000 over 25 years.

Winter and summer are the most energy-hungry seasons, but you can use these energy-saving tips any time of year.

If you want to eliminate your energy use (or get close to it), the best option is to power your home with electricity produced by your own solar panels. We know, it’s a large investment—and not right for every homeowner. But solar panels generate electricity for 25 to 40 years and the average homeowner pays off their solar panels in just 7.5 years. Use our free Solar Calculator to learn how much you can save.