DIY Network

Energy Efficiency Tips Everyone wants to conserve energy these days. Get some creative ideas to help you go green the easy way. From "Today Show Tips" episode DTST-117

Tankless water heaters, such as this unit from Bosch, save energy and water.

Everyone wants to conserve energy these days, and Today Show Tips offers some creative ideas to help you go green the easy way. You'll save money on your energy bill, too.

• Replace the light bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). They use only 1/3 of the energy needed by incandescent bulbs, and they last for five years. If you swap out the five most-used light bulbs in your house with CFLs, you could save $60 on electricity every year. That more than makes up for the higher price of the CFLs.

  However, many energy companies have rebate programs for CFLs. Sometimes you can buy them for as little as $2.00. Check with your local power company to see if it offers rebates.

• Get a service check on your furnace annually. Check-ups are not only important for safety and efficiency, but they help the furnace last longer, too.

• Upgrade to better furnace filters, and change them regularly. Both indoor air quality and energy efficiency depend on how clean those filters are and how well they work. Look for pleated filters. They cost more (about $10 to $15), but they make a profound difference.

• Put in a programmable thermostat. You'll be able to save as much as 30% on heating and cooling, depending on how well your house is insulated and your heating system. In the winter, program the thermostat so that the house is cooler when no one is home during the day and when everyone is in bed at night. When the weather warms up, set the temperatures higher during the day.
  

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• Caulk all your windows. Experts estimate that tiny leaks around doors and windows let as much heat escape from the house as an open window does, so seal up those leaks and save some money.

  One option is to use removable caulking. When spring comes, you peel it off and open the windows.

• Put film on the windows. A film that blocks the sun's heat from entering or leaving the house will make a big difference in your utility bills. It's easy to install and a lot less expensive than replacing the windows.

• Choose the right kind of exterior doors, including the garage door. Look for insulated fiberglass models. They look like wood, but they are five times more energy-efficient than wood.

• Add weatherstripping to all exterior doors. Weatherstripping is available at any hardware store or home center, and it's another easy way to prevent air leaks.

• When it's time to replace your water heater, get a tankless version. Bosch, Rinnai and Takagi are just three of the companies that make them. Tankless water heaters work only when you need them to; they don't use energy keeping a big tank of water hot. Again, they cost more initially that conventional models, but the long-term savings are significant. The technology has been around for 70 years and is used widely in Europe and Asia. If your plumber says tankless water heaters don't work, it's time to find a plumber who is more up-to-date with technology.

• Pay attention to how much you use ventilation fans during the winter. While it's important to remove excess humidity from the bathrooms and kitchen, the fans also remove heated air. In fact, one can suck all of the heated air from a house in about an hour.

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