Steps to Home Energy Retrofits: The Baseload Challenge

Having a more sustainable house can be done without a contractor. Making simple, free everyday behavioral changes can reduce energy bills; however, an energy audit is still recommended to ensure that household energy efficiency is being maximized. These measures not only will lower the amount you spend on your energy bill but also may improve your health.

Saving Energy

1. Unplug devices when not in use.
   • According to ENERGYSTAR, 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned OFF; leaving devices charging when not in use can be a major power drain- especially if the battery is malfunctioning.


2. Turn off computers, televisions, cable boxes, scanners, printers and other electronic equipment when not in use.
   • Plug office equipment into a power strip with a switch that can be easily turned off when not in use


3. Make sure that computers are set to go into sleep mode instead of having a screensaver turn on.
   • Setting a desktop/laptop to sleep mode uses 80+% less energy than leaving it on.
   • Computers in sleep mode will run cooler so the equipment will last longer.


4. Use microwave or toaster ovens to reheat and cook small portions.
   • Microwaves use up to 80% less cooking energy than stoves or ovens and generate less heat.


5. Keep burners on gas ranges clean.
   • Blue gas flames mean good combustion, yellow flames indicate that the range may need cleaning or repair to operate at maximum efficiency.


6. Remember to turn off lights when you leave the room.
   • Turning off one 60-watt incandescent bulb instead of leaving it on for 8 hours a day can save $15 a year.
   • Place small stickers on light switches to remind all residents to turn off the lights when they leave the room.


7. Open up curtains/blinds instead of turning on lights during the day.
   • Many people are more productive when working with natural lighting
   • During the winter leaving the curtains open on sunny days can help warm up a room, reducing heating costs.


8. Put on more weather appropriate clothing BEFORE turning on HVAC units.


9. Ensure flue damper is closed tightly when chimney is not in use.


10. Turn fan on before using air conditioning.
    • Make sure to turn off fan when people are not in the room, fans cool people, not rooms.


11. Clean filters in HVAC units once a month to ensure they are operating at maximum efficiency.


12. Make sure all doors and windows are closed when HVAC system is running.


13. Raise thermostat in the summer and lower it in the winter and make sure to turn the system off if no one will be home during the day.
    • Adjusting thermostat by a few degrees can decreasing heating and cooling load of building by 2-3%.
    • Try leaving a window open and turning off central air units during summer nights. Claremont’s desert environment means that there is a nice cool breeze that should be enough to keep bedrooms comfortable.


14. Wash all clothes on cold cycle instead of warm.
    • Over 80% of energy used by washing machines is for heating water.


15. Let clothes air dry by hanging them up instead of running the dryer twice.
    • Washing clothes of the same fabric together will help to ensure that no clothes get over dried.


16. Air-dry your hair instead blow-drying your hair.


17. Keep refrigerators full.
    • Having a fuller refrigerator means less heat is transferred when it is opened.

Saving Water

1. Garden and water plants only in the evening.
   • Watering during the sunlight hours means more water evaporates so plants get less water.


2. Don’t rinse dishes before washing in the dishwasher.
   • Dishwashers can be too harsh on dishes that have already been essentially cleaned, so it is a waste of water and causes damage to dishes to pre-rinse
   • For extra savings, turn off and open up dishwasher and let dishes air dry instead of making the dishwasher do the work.


3. Take shorter showers.
   • 10 minute showers use less water than a full bath.


4. Fix leaky faucets.
   • Hot water leaking at a rate of 1 drip per second can waste up to 1661 gallons of water over the course of a year and cost $35 in electricity.

General Conservation

1. Have “meatless” Monday.
   • University of Chicago found that if everyone decreased meat consumption by 20%, the decrease in greenhouse gas emissions would be equivalent to all Americans driving fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles.


2. Reduce food waste by planning meals and savings leftovers.
   • 17.5% of solid waste thrown in garbage in US is food waste.


3. Carpool.
   • Leaving cars home just 2 days a week can save 1590 lbs of greenhouse gas emissions each year.


4. Ride bikes when possible.
   • Claremont is a bike-friendly city and you should take advantage of it. Biking to work or the grocery store is not only good for the environment but it is an easy way to get the daily workout out in without breaking your normal routine.


5. Always print double sided.
   • Clicking double sided will automatically reduce paper usage by about 50%! 500 sheets of paper uses 6% of the average tree and consist of 38.9% of the U.S. waste stream.