North Carolina
Cooperative Extension
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E-Conservation Program For Consumers
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Automatic and Programmable Thermostats
Being careful about your home’s temperature can offer major utility cost savings. Programmable or automatic thermostats can do much of that temperature regulation for you.
Does Your Home Need More Insulation?
A cozy home is a less expensive home when insulation is doing its job.
Energy Efficient Water Heating
Several measures can help you decrease water-heating costs in your home.
Energy Efficient Window Technologies
A review of the basics of window heat transfer will help you understand how heat gains and loses affect your home, your comfort, and your utility cost.
Energy Savers—Home Energy Audit
A home energy audit is the first step to assess how much energy your home consumes, and to evaluate what measures you can take to make your home more energy-efficient.
Federal Tax Credits
To reduce U.S. energy usage and costs, federal and state governments are encouraging Americans to employ more energy efficient systems in their existing homes. Furthermore, North Carolina offers incentives to outfit existing homes with systems relying on renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind.
Fluorescent Lighting
While compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are initially more expensive, you should see a quick return on your investment when you replace your most frequently used incandescent light bulbs with CFLS.
LED Lighting
Advances in lighting technology are making some other everyday light sources considerably more energy efficient. LED (light-emitting diode) lights are becoming increasingly popular and more readily available.
Weatherize Your Home—Caulk and Weather Strip
Properly sealing your home can ensure a warm, comfortable environment in the winter and a cool, pleasant environment in the summer – all while reducing the cost of power bills and reducing demand on energy resources
What About the Air Conditioning System?
The size, efficiency and placement of an air conditioning system are all important.
What About Using Ceiling Fans?
Ceiling fans create a breeze, so room occupants feel cooler and more comfortable.
What About the Ductwork?
Air distribution or duct systems are designed to supply rooms with air that is “conditioned”—that is, heated or cooled by the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment—and to recirculate or return the same volume of air back to the HVAC equipment.
What About the Heating System?
Understanding how your heating system is the first step to energy efficiency.
What About Insulation?
Properly insulating your home will not only help reduce your heating and cooling costs but also make your home more comfortable.
What About the Laundry Area?
The laundry room can be a big consumer of energy—more than 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) a year—and water—and a big producer of unwanted heat and humidity in summer. It makes good sense to think about both the location and the appliances in it if you want to run an energy-efficient laundry.
What About the Water Heater?
Water heating is the third largest energy expense in your home, after heating and cooling; it can account for 15–25 percent of your utility bill.
What About Windows?
If you are in the market to buy new windows, here are a few tips that you will need to maximize your energy dollar.
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