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Exterior

Aug 5, 2012

The door leading from the outside or garage into the house is a common area for air leakage. By installing a door sweep to seal the gap here, you can prevent conditioned inside air from escaping while blocking outside air from getting in. This helps keep the indoor living space comfortable and energy bills low.

Car

  • Leave your car at home and use public transit, walk or bike whenever possible.
  • Combine as many trips as possible to cut down on car usage.
  • Leaving your car at home just 2 days a week will save 1,590 lbs. in greenhouse gas emissions a year!
  • Maximize your car’s fuel efficiency, safety and reliability by keeping it well maintained.
  • Check your tire pressure regularly to avoid wear and tear, and decrease gas mileage.

A/C Unit

When investing in new heating and cooling equipment like a central air conditioning unit, proper sizing and installation is key to maintaining your home’s energy efficiency and comfort.

  • Bigger isn’t always better; oversized equipment can lead to reduced comfort and excessive noise.
  • Oversizing can also shorten equipment life by causing it to turn on and off more frequently than properly sized units.
  • Undersized units can suffer from reduced efficiency and accelerated wear on system components, resulting in early equipment failure.

Pledge to have your cooling equipment tuned by a professional.

Porch Light

The outdoor porch light or post lamp, is one of the most used light fixtures and therefore the perfect place to install ENERGY STAR certified lighting products.

  • Replace standard light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) that fit into existing porch lights.
  • Install a new ENERGY STAR certified outdoor lighting fixture, which uses advanced CFL technology and a motion sensor or photocell, to only turn on at night or when it detects movement.

Pledge to replace light fixtures and bulbs with ENERGY STAR certified lighting products.

Garage

  • If the garage is attached to the house, it can be a significant source of energy loss and should be well sealed.

Thermal Boundary

A home’s exterior (outer walls, ceiling, windows and floor) is known as the “envelope” or “shell” which, when properly insulated by a knowledgeable homeowner or skilled professional, can save you more than $200 a year or up to 10% on total annual energy bills.

  • Hire a contractor who’ll use specialized diagnostic tools to identify and seal hidden air leaks before adding insulation.

Pledge to improve your home’s envelope with caulk, spray foam, weather stripping or by adding insulation.

Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR!

Take the pledge to save energy at home! Join with millions of Americans to take small, individual steps that make a big difference in the fight against climate change.