Home Energy Checklist

A Quick and Easy Energy
Audit Tool for the Home

Directions:
Energy efficiency in the home saves you money as it prevents pollution and global climate change. This booklet will guide you in increasing the efficiency of your habits and your home. Add your points in each section to determine your home’s overall energy efficiency and learn what else you can do to improve your score. Then, go to our website at www.worldgreen.org/points to report your points and receive recognition for your actions.

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Some Quick and Commonsense Energy Saving Opportunities

Lighting:

Replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs – they are more efficient and will last 6-12 times longer
Consider LEDs for outdoor lighting and holiday lights
Rely more on task lighting, such as a desk lamp, instead of lighting an entire room with ceiling lights

Laundry:

If purchasing a new washer, front-load models are generally much more efficient
Wash full loads
Use cold water for the wash cycle (unless clothes have greasy stains) and always use cold water for the rinse cycle
Air dry clothes!
If looking for a new dryer, choose a model with a moisture sensor that will automatically shut down the machine when clothes are dry
Dry similar types of fabrics together
Because they generate a lot of heat, use the clothes dryer in the morning or evening during hot summer months to increase the energy efficiency of cooling your home

Dishwashing:

Hand-washing dishes tends to be less efficient, so instead use a dishwasher
- Optimize dishwasher efficiency by only washing full loads
Scrape dishes instead of rinsing them prior to putting them in the dishwasher

Cooking:

Use a microwave when possible, it uses a third to half as much energy as an oven
Match the pan size to the element to avoid wasting heat
Glass or ceramic pans conduct heat better in an oven than metal pans
Cover liquids and foods stored in the refrigerator to avoid the release of moisture, as this makes the compressor work harder

Electronics:

Plug TVs, stereos, etc. into a power strip with an on/off switch
- Electronics still consume a significant amount of energy when there are technically “Off”
- Check out the ACEEE data on phantom energy use http://www.aceee.org/consumerguide/electronics.htm
A screensaver on a computer does not save energy, use a setting that puts the screen into sleep mode or manually turn of the monitor instead
Unplug chargers when they are not in use (i.e. cell phone chargers)

Sources:
EPA Energy Savers
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy