1. Replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting with energy-efficient, long-lasting LED bulbs and fixtures. LED lighting costs more up front but quickly pays for itself with energy savings.
2. Replace exterior security lights with motion-sensing lights that turn on when they are needed and turn off when they are not.
3. Wrap the water heater in an R 5.0 insulating blanket and save up to $40 per year in energy costs.
4. Insulate both hot and cold water lines with closed cell insulation to reduce heat loss, prevent freezing and control damage from condensation.
5. Install a programmable thermostat and use it to raise or lower the temperature by 10 degrees when no one is at home.
6. Use the off switch on power strips and unplug appliances when not in use. Seventy-five percent of the energy used by electronics is consumed when they are “off.”
7. Replace faucet aerators and shower heads with low-flow equivalents.
8. Reduce clothes dryer use by hanging clothes out to dry. Install two clothes lines, one inside and one outside, to save money year-round.
9. Plant a tree. A single tree can produce enough summertime shade to reduce the temperature inside a home by 8 to 10 degrees and save up to 25 percent in energy costs.
10. Landscape with native plants. Native plants require less water and create better wind blocks than most other plants.
11. Reduce water usage by installing a water timer that turns the sprinkler off once the watering is done.
12. Repair that dripping faucet or that running toilet to save water and reduce costs.
13. Repair torn or worn screens and open windows to reduce cooling costs.
14. Install a ceiling fan or window fan to help circulate air and reduce the need for additional heating or cooling.
15. Install a tankless hot water heater to save energy and increase hot water availability.
16. Change your furnace filter every 90 days. Use a MERV 8 or better pleated furnace filter for optimal energy efficiency.
17. Caulk and weatherstrip all exterior windows and doors.
18. Replace worn or missing door sweeps on all exterior doors to reduce unwanted heat transfer.
19. Seal HVAC duct joints with mastic and insulate exposed ducting to save up to 30 percent in heating and cooling costs.

— Have a question? Email Linda Cottin at hardware@sunflower.com.