When you think about making your home more energy efficient, you are most likely thinking huge expenses like new insulation, HVAC and hot water system upgrades, window replacement, brand new ENERGY STAR™ appliances, and maybe even solar systems that produce electricity or hot water. If the budget is tight (not uncommon in these times of soaring fuel prices) that’s probably reason enough for you to postpone energy-efficient improvements altogether.

 

But don’t let go of your dream to make your house greener and more energy efficient just yet. What you might not have considered is that, when it comes to saving energy, every little bit helps. There are very affordable energy saving products and devices that you can purchase and install right now and will have a positive impact on lowering your home’s energy consumption.

Below, is a list of 10 products that, for under $100 each (many of them for under $50), will help you save energy in just about every room of your home.

You’ve probably heard it so many times that it seems like a  cliché but the truth is that CFLs are 75% more efficient than old-fashioned  incandescent lights. Replacing a single 100 watt incandescent bulb with a 23 watt CFL (which provides equivalent luminosity), will save a total of  770 kilowatt hours over the life of the CFL.(about 10,000 hours). Depending on electricity rates where you live that can save you between $84 and $154 over the life of the bulb.

 

2 – Dimmers

Almost any wall-mounted light switch can be replaced with a dimmer switch that saves energy by reducing the amount of electric current that goes to the light bulb. Unlike old fashioned dimmers, which converted the unused energy into heat at the switch, a modern dimmer has a “Triac Switch” that cuts the flow of power to the light fixture. When the lights are dimmed, the dimmer quickly switches the power on an off, up to 120 times per second. The human eye doesn’t register this quick flickering; all you can see is constant light. Yet, the dimmer is saving energy, by not using the power that old dimmers would have. By dimming your lights an average of 50%, you can cut the energy consumed by them up to 40%. You’ll also save money because dimming lights can make them last 20 times longer.

 

Note: Keep in mind that not all CFL bulbs work with dimmers. Dimmable CFL bulbs are sold in clearly marked packages. Look for them when you shop.

 

3 – Motion Sensors

A motion sensor switch saves energy by turning off a light automatically if no motion is detected for a specific amount of time. These switches are popular on outdoor lights for safety and security reasons, but homeowners interested in saving energy have started using them indoors as well. If you’re tired of yelling “don’t forget to turn out the lights!” or if you lose sleep thinking about lights left on overnight or in an empty house, these switches will reduce stress as well as energy use. Some motion sensor switches are designed to screw into a standard light fixture; others are incorporated into a wall-mounted light switch. Garages, basements, storage rooms, bathrooms and any other room in which you do not spend a lot of time are good candidates for these energy-saving  switches.

 

4 - Smart Strips

Computers, DVRs, DVD Players, TVs, printers, coffee makers, and cell phone chargers are all devices that consume energy in standby mode –when they’re not in use, but still plugged in. Power consumption in  standby mode is referred to as a “phantom load” because it’s easy to overlook. Depending on the number of gadgets you have in standby mode around the house, these “resting” devices can account for an increase of up to 5% in your energy bills!

 

One way to cut down on phantom loads is to plug “related” devices (like a TV and DVD player, or a computer and printer) into a “smart” electrical outlet strip that will automatically turn off multiple devices with a single device or switch is turned off. So-called “smart strips” are affordable, and many offer the additional benefit of protecting plugged-in devices from power surges with a built-in fuse or circuit breaker.

 

5  - Pipe and Water Heater Tank Insulation:

Conventional tank-type water heaters waste a lot of energy through what we call stand-by heat loss. The heating element (which can be electric, gas or oil) operates until water in the tank reaches a preset temperature (typically between 120 and 140degrees F); then it shuts off. But if the tank doesn’t have adequate insulation (and some older tanks have none!), the water cools off quickly, forcing the heating element to turn on again. Standby heat loss causes this heating and reheating cycle to repeat, 24/7, whether you are home or not, using hot water or not. If you can’t afford upgrading to a tankless water heater, tank insulation will keep the water from cooling so quickly, saving energy. Installing pipe insulation on hot water lines will prevent heat loss through pipes.

 

6 - Eco-Friendly Shower Heads, Flow Regulators and Faucet Aerators:

Using water sensibly is a great way to save energy and help your community and planet. You can do this by adding inexpensive eco-friendly fixtures such as water- saving shower heads and faucet aerators. The best models use pulsing or aerating technology to duplicate the soaking sensation of a high-flow fixture, but with flow rates as low as 1.5 gallons per minute. Replacing shower heads and faucet aerators is a task you can complete with a pair of adjustable pliers and some Teflon™ tape, and it’s definitely worth doing. On a National level, the electricity consumed annually to process drinking and wastewater is enough to power 4.5 million homes for an entire year. 

 

7 - Dual-Flush Conversion Kits for Toilets

Dual flush technology saves a lot of water, because instead of emptying the entire toilet tank every time you flush, it will flush half of the tank for most uses and only flush the full tank as necessary.

 

You no longer need to fork over $250 or more to upgrade your toilet to a dual flush model. You can now convert your existing toilet into a dual flush by installing an inexpensive retrofit kit. A dual-flush retrofit beats the bottle (or brick) in the tank trick because you can actually use full flush when you need it.

 

8 - Weather Stripping

Eliminating air leakages is the best way to make sure that the air that you pay to cool and heat remains where it belongs: in the living area of your home. While the best approach would be having the whole house checked for air leaks with a blower door test,  and then professionally air sealed, you can curb some of the energy loss and significantly improve comfort by adding new weather stripping  around doors and windows. Different types of weather stripping are available at home centers and hardware stores.

 

9 - Storm Windows

A single energy-efficient-replacement window can cost anywhere between $300 and $1,000 for standard sizes. Custom windows can get even more expensive and these prices don’t include installation costs. If your house has many windows, the final cost can be much more than you are willing to invest.

 

However, provided that your existing windows, are still sound and in good working order (no rot, mold, or corrosion) a combination of caulking, weather stripping and a good storm window, which costs round $50 , may be all you need.

 

10 - Programmable Thermostats

Did you ever drive to work on a winter morning wondering if you forgot to turn down the thermostat? Programmable thermostats are incredibly affordable devices that put your home heating and cooling system on cruise control.

 

A programmable thermostat automatically sets the temperature according to your family’s habits and schedule. For example, in the winter a programmable thermostat can automatically turn down the temperature when everyone leaves the house, and then call for a warmer temperature just before you and your family come back.

 

It is important to remember that, although all of the products above have the potential to save energy and money on utility expenses, when it comes to real energy savings, nothing beats having a home energy audit performed by knowledgeable professionals.

 

A home energy checkup will help you detect the areas in which energy is being wasted and come up with a plan to improve efficiency and decrease consumption. Expertly executed energy-efficient retrofits enable homeowners to enjoy savings ranging anywhere from 25% up to a whopping 50% or 60% in their next bill.