Tip #1 Energy Savings in the Office

• Taking a walk or running an errand at lunchtime? Activate the "sleep" feature on office equipment when not in use. Make sure to always turn off computers, power strips, printers and copiers at night and on the weekends.
• If task lighting or daylight allows, use wall switches to shut off ceiling lights in your area.
• Use the stairs instead of the elevators; you’ll get the added bonus of a little exercise. Also, try to use the manual doors instead of the electric doors when entering and exiting the building. Visit the web site www.energyideas.org to view even more energy saving tips at the office.

Tip #2 Energy Savings Inside Your Home

• The average home contributes approximately 22,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually. To assist in reducing pollution and saving on your home energy bills, ENERGY STAR has developed the Home Improvement Toolbox. This interactive web site provides practical advice for homeowners to make energy saving and cost-effective upgrades to their homes. Some suggestions you will find in this web site are:
  • Home Energy Yardstick: Compares your single-family home’s energy performance to similar houses. Enter your home’s size, age, zip code, number of people in home, and your cost of energy per year.
  • Home Energy Advisor: Provides recommendations and upgrades to help you save energy.
  • Home Doctor: "Prescribes" remedies for common home symptoms, including high-energy bills, mold, drafty rooms, dust and ice dams.
• Buy compact fluorescent lamps to replace incandescent bulbs. A typical Energy Savings compact fluorescent lamp lasts up to ten times longer than an equivalent incandescent bulb and uses 75 percent less energy.
• Use programmable thermostats to automatically coordinate the temperature of your home with your daily, weekly and weekend patterns. For each degree you lower your thermostat in the winter, you can save approximately three percent on your heating bill.

Tip #3 Energy Savings For Your Commute

• Drive a fuel-efficient car (rated 32 miles-per-gallon or more) to replace your most frequently used automobile. If shopping for a new car, look for the label that identifies Granite State Clean Cars, a program to identify less polluting, and more fuel-efficient new cars.
• Want to get better gas mileage for your vehicle? Here are some suggestions.
  • Lower your speed: You can improve your gas mileage by about 15 percent by driving at 55 mph rather than 65 mph.
  • Regular maintenance: Check your owner’s manual for recommended maintenance
  • checkups. Dirty spark plugs or a faulty oxygen sensor will cut gas mileage.
  • Tires: Even tires that are only 4 or 5 psi (pounds per square inch) below recommended
  • inflation pressure reduces gas mileage by ten percent. You can save $90 per year on
  • gasoline costs by keeping tires properly inflated.
  • Excess Cargo: Storing excess cargo in your vehicle (golf clubs, books, and sports
  • equipment) will slow you down. Every 100 pounds of weight actually reduces fuel economy by two percent.
• Looking to save money on gasoline and the daily wear and tear on your car? For information on the NH DOT Rideshare program, call 1-800-462-8707. This program coordinates over 25 Park and Ride locations around the state.

Tip #4 Energy Savings Through Water Conservation

Did you know that saving water also saves energy? The energy it takes to move and heat water is a great source of expense for homeowners and businesses. DES fact sheets on Water Conservation at Home and Water Efficiency Practices offer tips we could all use, especially since some of the state’s ground water levels have not fully recovered from the recent drought conditions.

• The energy used in your home to make hot water can take 14 percent of your home energy budget. Try to:
  • Set your hot water heater at 120 degrees, which is hot enough for most household needs.
  • Wrap your hot water tank in an insulating "blanket" if it feels warm to the touch.
  • Use cold or warm water for laundry when possible.
• Install low-flow showerheads, which can reduce water usage by 25 percent to 75 percent, without sacrificing the quality of the shower. A family of four, using a low-flow showerhead, can save 20,000 gallons of water per year.
• When washing your car at home, turn off the hose between rinses to conserve water. If using a commercial car wash, patronize one that that recycles its water.

Tip#5 Energy Savings Through Landscaping

In addition to adding aesthetic value to your home, landscaping can be effective in providing shade and reducing your overall home energy bill. It is possible to achieve as much as a 30 percent reduction in cooling and heating costs through effective landscape planning. Visit the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network for more landscaping tips.

• The orientation of your house and the surrounding landscape can significantly lower your energy bills. A well-oriented, well-designed home admits low-angle winter sun to reduce heating bills, rejects overhead summer sun to reduce cooling bills, and minimizes the chilling effects of winter winds.
• Trees that lose their leaves in the fall (i.e., deciduous) are the most effective at reducing heating and cooling energy costs. Deflect winter winds by planting evergreen trees and shrubs on the north and northwest sides of your house.
• When using outdoor lighting for decoration and security, try using photovoltaic (PV) modules that convert sunlight directly.
• Water your lawn more deeply (about one inch) and less frequently (about once per week) to encourage deep root growth, which allows grasses and shrubs to better withstand dry spells.