Use a Timer: If you have a timer on your air conditioner set it to turn off when you leave and then to turn back on a couple minutes before you return to your house. This saves the air conditioner from working while you aren’t home therefore saving you money and energy.

Seal the Unit: Once a room air conditioner is in place, seal the space around it with rope caulk or some other sealant to prevent warm outside air from leaking in.

Close the Fresh-Air Vent: Make sure the fresh-air vent is closed when the room air conditioner is operating so you aren’t cooling outside air. Open the vent when the outside air is cooler to let in fresh air.

Use Fans With Your Air Conditioner: Fans are a great way to circulate air around your room. You can use a fan to spread the cool air that your air conditioner is creating so that the room cools down faster.

Maintain the Furnace: Clean your furnace filters monthly or replace if necessary. A clean unit runs more efficiently.

Use the Microwave: Cook using your microwave oven rather than your standard oven or range. The big oven creates more heat so using the the microwave oven creates less heat and humidity in your home.

Turn Off Electronics you are not using: Don’t leave electronics, such as televisions, stereos and computers, on if you don’t need them because they produce heat. Not only that but they waste energy so if your not using it turn it off.

Keep Vents Clear: If you have furniture in front of the air vents consider moving them out of the way. This allows the cool air to move out into the rooms and keeps your air conditioner from running more than necessary.

Keep the Air Conditioner Out of the Sun: When looking for a place to put your air conditioner make sure its in a location that is out of direct sunlight. If you can only place it in sunlight find a place where it will be shaded most of the day. Avoid the south and west sides of the house. Placing the air conditioner in direct sunlight causes it to work harder to cool your home.

Purchase an ENERGY STAR model: ENERGY STAR room air conditioners cost at least 10 percent less to operate than conventional models. Meaning you save money as well as the environment.

Install a Water Softener: If you have hard water think about installing a water softener to prevent mineral deposits from coating the elements. This helps prolong water heater life and saves energy and money.

Use a Humidifier: Humidity makes you feel warmer in colder months. With the proper humidity level, you’ll be able to turn your thermostat down to a lower temperature, save energy and still feel comfortable. About 20 percent to 40 percent relative humidity is recommended.

Remove Moisture With a Dehumidifier: Use a dehumidifier in the warmer more humid months. Less humidity helps you feel cooler so that way you don’t have to go so cold on the air conditioner setting and you save energy. A dehumidifier works best when air can circulate freely through it so place it away from walls and bulky furniture.

Use ENERGY STAR Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs: ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent light bulbs last longer and use up to 75 percent less energy than standard light bulbs. You can cut your electric bill by $60 per year if you replace the standard bulbs in your five most frequently used light fixtures. Also the newer bulbs not only use less energy but last longer saving you even more money.

Use Natural Lighting: Open curtains and shades during the day instead of using lighting. Consider skylights and solar tubes during remodeling or new construction design. This allows the maximum use of natural daylight.

Rinse in cold water: The temperature of the Rinse water has no effect on cleaning. If you rinse with cold water you can save more energy because you are heating less water.

Place the Washer Close to the Water Heater: When water flows through the pipes it is losing heat. If you place your washer close to the water heater it will have a shorter distance to travel meaning the water doesn’t cool down as much. You can also insulate the pipes between the washer and the heater which will help retain more heat.

Don’t Dry Clothes Excessively: A lot of the older dryers simply dry clothes for a certain time limit. If you are looking to purchase a new dryer look for a model that will actually stop once it senses that the clothes is dry. Drying laundry excessively uses more energy and is harder on your fabrics.

Clean the Lint Filter: After each load clean the filter to keep the dryer running efficiently. Also, periodically check the air vent and hose for clogging. Keeping the air vent and hose free of lint prevents a fire hazard.

Repair Dripping Faucets Promptly: If you have a leaking faucet anywhere in your house make sure to put that at the top of your list for things that need to be fixed. If the faucet leaks hot water, the energy used to heat it is costing you money. (One drop a second can waste up to 48 gallons a week!)

Pick the Right Size: Before buying your new refrigerator or freezer figure out which size best suits your household. If you buy one that’s too big you will be wasting a lot more energy.

Clean Your Unit: Make sure to  clean dust off the condenser coils, fins, evaporator pan and motor once or twice a year doing so will make your unit run more efficiently. You can do this by unplugging the unit and cleaning it with a vacuum cleaner or long-handled brush.

Keep Unit Away From Direct Heat: Place your refrigerator or freezer away from direct sunlight and other heat sources such as ovens or ranges because the heat will cause the unit to use more energy to stay cold.

Do not Place the Unit in an Unheated Space: Don’t place your refrigerator or automatic defrost freezer in a garage, porch or other unheated space because if the temperature drops below 60° F it will be less efficient and cost more money to operate.

Run Full Loads: Always wait until you have a full load before running your dishwasher because running a full loads use the same amount of hot water and energy as smaller loads.

Cook with small appliances: Cooking with your toaster oven, electric skillet and slow cooker for specialized jobs, rather than the range saves more energy because small appliances use less energy.

Use the microwave: Using your microwave oven for smaller meals instead of the regular size will shorten your cooking time which saves energy.

Clean or replace air filters: Replace filters on exhaust hoods, humidifiers, vacuums, etc. Clogged filters impair performance making the unit you are using use more energy to try to run as efficient as it would with a clean air filter

Run cold water for disposal: Cold water saves energy and solidifies grease, moving it more easily through the garbage disposal and pipes while hot water requires energy to warm the water.

Purchase an ENERGY STAR model: If you have been looking to buy a new refrigerator or freezer, look for the ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR refrigerators and freezers can save you hundreds of dollars on your electric bill over the life of the appliance. Remember,, the older your refrigerator the more energy it uses to run. Sometimes up to 3-4 times more then today’s more efficient models.