10 Cost-Effective Tips for Energy Efficiency

1. Replace incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent or LED lights; the cost of one compact fluorescent bulb will repay itself three times over in energy savings
2. Apply caulking and weatherstripping to doors and windows to make your home air tight 
3. Install low flow taps, showers and either composting or dual flush toilets.
4. Choose Energy Star certified appliances, windows and TCO-certified electronics.  Choose washing machines that are front-loading to save water and refrigerators with freezers on the bottom to save electricity.
5. Landscape strategically with native plants to create a low-maintenance garden that shades windows in the summer and keeps heat close to the building in winter 
6. Insulate your hot water heater, lower its thermostat and drain a pail of water from it every three months to remove sediment that impedes heat transfer.  Consider replacing your hot water heater with a tankless version so that you aren't storing hot water that needs to be constantly re-heated
7. Wash full loads of clothes in cooler water, and let clothes hang dry
8. Insulate the insides of your walls with natural wall finishes, and add extra insulation to crawlspaces, basements and exterior walls  
9. Consider integrating renewable energy systems and positioning windows to benefit from passive solar energy
10. Do an EnerGuide energy assessment of your home to determine personalized strategies for increasing energy efficiency in your home, or look into government incentive programs that can help fund your eco-renovation