This page is dedicated to energy saving tips that you can use in your current home or one that you are building.

Appliances:  Always look for Energy Star rated appliances.  Did you know that a family can save about a third on their energy bill and about the same on greenhouse gas emissions by using Energy Star rated appliances.

1 - Keep your fridge away from heat sources such as ovens and dishwashers, also keep them out of direct sunlight.  Set the fridge temperature between 37 and 40 degrees and the freezer around 5 degrees.

2 - Only run your dishwasher when it is completely full.

3 - Front loader washers use far less water and about 60% less energy than standard top load machines.  Use cold water when washing and only run full loads.

4 - When drying cloths try to do your loads back to back so that you can use the heat already in the dryer and only dry full loads.

5 - Adjust your hot water heater to 120 degrees.  This could save you up to $50 a year on electric water heaters and $20 on gas units. 

 Heating and Cooling: 

1 - Did you know that by using ceiling fans you can make a room feel 6 to 7 degrees cooler when it is hot outside and by using the reverse rotation in the winter you can rotate the warm air that gets traped near the ceiling making that room feel warmer.  The most power hungry fans only cost about $5 a month when used for 12 hours a day. 

2 - Change out your old thermostat for a new programmable one.  Adjust the temperature of your home when you aren't there or when your sleeping so that you aren't heating or cooling your home when it is not needed.  Even though these new thermostats can cost up to $100 you will more than make it up over the course of the year by following this tip.

3 - Check all of your windows and doors for drafts.  Caulking and putting new weather stripping around your existing windows and doors will help to keep your cooled or warmed air inside.  If all else fails replace these with Energy Star rated windows and doors.

4 - Check your A/C duct work for rips or joints that are coming apart.  Have an A/C specialist come in and either replace or seal up these damaged areas.

5 - In Florida it is important to pay attention to your windows.  It is a good idea to use white shades, blinds or drapes to reflect the heat away from the house.  You will also want to close these curtains on the south and west sides of your home during the day so that you don't heat up the rooms as much.  Do the opposite when its cold outside. 

Landscaping:

1 - You want to keep plants, leaves and grass from blocking the air flow around your A/C but you do want tree and shrubs to block the sun from hitting your A/C unit directly.

2 - Avoid using unshaded stone, concrete or asphalt on the south and west sides of your home as it will radiate heat to your home.

3 - Vines grown on a trellise can shade the whole side of a house.  Do not grow them directly on the house as it can create moisture problems.  Trees and fences will work well too.

Interior& Exterior:

1 - Replace your existing incandesent light bulbs with CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Light).  These bulbs use about 75% less power than a regular incandescent bulb and last 10 times longer. 

2 - Want to repaint you home?  Use non toxic paints.  Did you know that the air in your house can be more polluted than the air outside?

3 - Do you have an office at home?  Do you leave your computer and printer on all day and night?  Try turning everything off when your work day is over.  Put your office on power strips and turn them off when you leave.  Even computers and printers that go into hybernation mode pull small amounts of energy.