1. Close all of your window shades at night.
2. Open window shades during the day at windows that receive direct sunlight.
3. Only run the washer and dryer with a full load. Use cold water for laundry. Consider getting a rack or line to hang your clothes inside to dry.
4. Clean the lint catcher in the dryer every time the dryer is used.
5. Turn single lever faucets all the way to cold when drawing cold water. (If the lever is not fully to the cold side, cold water is introduced into the water heater every time the faucet is turned on and throughout the day energy is spent heating up lots of cold water that is never used.)
6. Unplug appliances (TV's, DVD players, computers, kitchen appliances, etc.) that are not being used or control them with a power strip that can easily be switched on and off.
7. Plan meals that can be quickly cooked on the top of the stove. Avoid using the oven and avoid dishes that require a long time to bake or cook.
8. Close the registers or turn down thermostats in the unused rooms.
9. Put a rolled up towel on the floor in front of doors to the outside or in front of doors to unused rooms to stop drafts.
10. Turn the water off during your shower. Wet down and turn the shower off. Lather up and then turn the shower on again to rinse off.
11. Only run the dishwasher when it has a full load. Use the air dry cycle on the dishwasher.
12. Run the range hood and bathroom fan only when needed. Most of these fans draw outside (cold) air into the room.
13. Make sure storm doors close tightly.
14. Lock all windows to make a tighter seal to keep cold air out.
15. Turn off lights when leaving the room.
16. Replace burned out bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. They cost more than regular bulbs initially, but last much longer and use much less electricity. In the meantime, before the incandescent bulbs burn out, dust the bulbs and the lenses of the fixtures to get more light out of the existing fixtures.
17. Use task lighting instead of turning on all of the light fixtures in a room. Watch TV with most of the lights in the room turned off.
18. If possible, enter buildings through a main or double door entrance instead of a door that opens directly to the outside.
19. In winter, wear sweaters and shoes or slippers around the house and turn the thermostat down to the lowest comfortable temperature. In the summer, dress lightly and set the thermostat at the highest comfortable temperature. Run the air conditioner only on extremely hot days. The Federal Government recommends that thermostats should be set no higher than 68° in winter and no lower than 78° in summer.
20. Don't use supplemental heating appliances. They usually are less efficient than the normal heating system in your apartment. They may overheat a small portion of the apartment while doing nothing for other areas needing heat. They can also circumvent the proper operation of the thermostat, keeping heat from getting to other areas of the apartment that may need it.

Get Your Home Ready for Winter

"H.E.A.T." efficiently with ENERGY STAR® this winter. The four steps below will help improve your home's comfort, save energy and save money -- while protecting the environment at the same time.

• Home sealing. If you add up all the hidden air leaks in your home, they can equal a hole the size of an open window - and can lead to higher energy bills by allowing heat to escape and causing your heater to work harder to keep you comfortable. This makes home sealing one of the first and most important steps you can take to reduce home energy costs year-round. Sealing air leaks and adding insulation - paying special attention to your attic and basement, where the biggest gaps and cracks are often found - will keep warm air inside where it belongs and help your heater perform more efficiently. Do it yourself or hire a contractor. For more information, get EPA's "Guide to Energy-Efficient Heating and Cooling" and "A DIY Guide to ENERGY STAR® Home Sealing" at www.energystar.gov.
  
• Equipment maintenance. Dirt and neglect are the number one causes of heating and cooling system failure. Equipment maintenance is one of the most important steps you can take to keep your heating system at peak performance. Schedule a fall check~up of your heating system with a licensed contractor. Also, clean or change your system's air filter once a month to prevent increased energy costs and system failure.
  
• Ask for ENERGY STAR®. Look for the ENERGY STAR® when purchasing new products for your home. Found on more than 50 types of products from heating and cooling equipment, appliances, electronics, and lighting to windows and new homes, the ENERGY STAR® means you are getting the most energy-efficient product that will not only save money on energy bills, but also help protect the environment.
  
• Thermostat use. Use a programmable thermostat to regulate your home's temperature. Programmable thermostats save energy by offering four convenient, pre-programmed temperature settings that scale temperatures back when you are away and scale up when you return. When used properly, a programmable thermostat can save as much as $150 every year in energy costs.

Save more and stay comfortable with the following tips:

• Use your ceiling fan. Even in the winter your ceiling fan can help improve your comfort. Most fans have a switch which allows you to reverse the motor and operate the ceiling fan at a low speed in the clockwise direction. This produces a gentle updraft, which forces warm air near the ceiling down into the occupied space.
  
• Change your lights. Replacing five of your home's most frequently used light fixtures or bulbs to ENERGY STAR® qualified lighting can save $60 in energy costs each year.
  
• Put your computer to sleep. Activate your computer and monitor's power management features to power down when sitting idle. Depending on your usage patterns, computers and monitors that have enabled power management features can save from $25 - $75 per year in energy costs.

More Information
For more information on improving your home's overall heating and cooling efficiency:

Go to the ENERGY STAR® home interactive tool (www.energystar.gov/home), which provides energy-efficient home improvement ideas and energy saving tips and advice for your entire home.

      The most appropriate type of fluorescent lighting for residential use is a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL). Advances in technology over the past few years have brought great improvements to CFLs in terms of light quality and appearance, and CFLs now come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

      Although the initial cost of CFLs is higher relative to incandescent lamps, the energy savings makes CFLs a cost effective energy conservation measure. CFLs used three hours per day can have a payback period of less than one year. Replacing a 100-watt incandescent bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL can save you $35-50 in electricity costs over the life of the bulb.

      If total replacement of all your fixtures at one time is a financial burden, try replacing one bulb at a time, perhaps every 30 days. Install CFLs first where the heaviest use occurs, such as the kitchen, bathroom, or hallways. This replacement of incandescent lighting to compact fluorescent lamps can make a difference.

      2. Repair and seal those leaky windows: Use caulk, rope caulk, and storm windows to seal out any cold air. Tighten your window locks. Repair all broken windows. Replace all broken glass. Reglaze any panes where the glazing has deteriorated.

      3. Seal drafts around doors: Use V-seal, caulk, door sweeps, and other weather-stripping products to provide a tightly sealed door.

      4. Seal leaks and holes in your basement: Use expanding foam or insulation to seal all air leaks.

      5. Build a basement under porch partition: Keep cold air from infiltrating through the porch floor and into your basement. Put a door into the partition wall to access the front of your basement.

      6. Seal all leaks into your attic: This includes your attic hatch or stairway to the attic.

      7. Increase the insulation in your attic: If you have R-11 or less in your attic, add insulation up to R-38. Make sure to air seal before you insulate.

      8. Buy Energy Star appliances: When replacing your refrigerator, furnace, air conditioner, dishwasher, ceiling fans, etc., replace the appliance with an Energy Star product. If you're replacing your heater, consider a condensing furnace. EPA's Energy Star website, www.energystar.gov, has listings of equipment and where it is locally available.

      9. Install radiator reflectors and bleed your radiators: Rid air trapped in your radiators by bleeding the lines. If you have a forced air system, replace the filter in your furnace before winter and on a regular basis.

      10. Seal leaky ductwork with mastic: Mastic is for ductwork, duct tape is for packages. Seal any leaky ducts.

      11. Water heater: Turn the setting on your water heater down to 110 degrees. Install an insulating jacket on your hot water heater and install pipe wrap on at least the first 5 feet of pipe leading off the water heater.

      12. Use Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs): Use CFLs instead of incandescent bulbs and save 75% of your lighting cost. CFLs last 8 years on average.

      13. Coat your roof with white, acrylic, elastomeric roof coating: Reduce your air conditioning bill by 22% by applying a white, acrylic elastomeric coating to your roof. These coatings can be applied over existing rolled roofing, modified bitumen (aka rubber roofing), metal, and any seamed roofing material. They also extend the life of your roof by at least 10 years! Go to www.roofcoatings.com for more information on coatings.

      14. Install a Solar Water Heater: Save 50% to 70% on your water heating costs by installing a solar hot water heater. Federal tax credits make solar hot water heating cost effective. Go to www.phillysolar.org to learn more about solar energy.

      15. Conserve Water: Install low-flush toilets, low-flow showerheads, and faucet aerators. Always repair water leaks as soon as they are detected.