Stake review

Try setting the thermostat at 78 degrees or above during the summer. If you have a ceiling fan, you may be able to raise the temperature to 80 degrees or higher.

Install low-flow fixtures to use less water per minute.

Choose to buy new equipment instead of repairing it if it’s more than 15 years old and has had continuing major repairs. Today's energy-efficient equipment can save enough in operating costs to make up quickly for the initial expense. Consider a heat pump, the most advanced and efficient heating and cooling system available today.

Close your curtains and shades and add awnings over your windows to block direct sunlight and keep your home cool.

Install dimmers to allow control of illumination.

Reconsider glass doors. These doors are poor insulators and will transfer heat quickly.

When cooking on the range, choose pots and pans that evenly cover the heating elements. Use pans with flat bottoms, straight sides and tight-fitting lids that hold heat and permit lower settings.

Program your thermostat to a temperature setting of 68 degrees or lower during the day and even cooler at night while you’re sleeping and snuggled under the covers.

Clean or change your HVAC filters regularly for proper performance. Doing this can save you 5-15 percent in energy costs. Dirty air filters make your AC work harder than it should and reduces air flow. Take note of when to change your air filter along with the size, so you are ready to purchase new ones when the time comes.

Rethink your fireplace. Although a crackling fire in the fireplace can make a room appear to be warm and cozy, fireplaces are often a deterrent to energy efficiency because a lot of the heated air escapes up the chimney. A fireplace designed for providing heat eliminates this problem through a draft which supplies the fire with outside air rather than air from the room.

Zone heat — only use portable electric space heaters in the room or area you are in. Buy models that are thermostatically controlled.

Open drapes on south-facing windows during winter daylight hours to get "free" light and heat.

Opt for cold water when washing clothes as most of the electricity used comes from heating the water.

Check the weather stripping around your garage door and replace if needed.

Try to wash full or larger loads whenever possible. It takes as much energy to wash a single item or smaller load as it takes to wash a full load.

Close all louvers and vents in the attic or foundation walls during the winter - but be sure to open them when the weather turns warm.

Try to keep in-and-out traffic from overworking your cooling system. Each time the door is opened, hot air enters your home.

Use lights with a motion sensor and timer or photocell that will automatically turn on at dusk and off at dawn.

Ensure air conditioning vents are unobstructed and opened to full capacity.

Keep cold wind outside by closing garage doors.

Caulk wherever two different materials or parts of the house meet, like doors, windows, electrical plates and utility ports. Caulk is available in a variety of forms. Select the one best-suited for the part of the house you are improving.

Use fluorescent lighting. It is more economical than incandescent lighting, producing five times more light with the same amount of energy and lasting 10 to 15 times longer.

Use a space heater that is thermostat-controlled to prevent wasted energy.

Use night-lights, which are low wattage, instead of leaving larger-wattage hall or room lights on at night.

Insulate your electric water heater with one of several insulating blankets on the market. The blankets generally have an R-value of 4.5 and fit easily around the tank. You can also stake.comuse paper-backed or foil-backed fiberglass batts. These batts are sold in a variety of thicknesses and are available at most building supply stores.

Use storm doors for added insulation if your primary door is poorly insulated.

Looking for easy ways to help keep your house warm on cold winter days? For added insulation, try throwing a rug down in a drafty room and save your pup time in finding the perfect spot to nap.

Turn off ceiling fans when you leave a room to cut back unnecessary energy usage.

Have your equipment checked by a qualified dealer each year before the heating or cooling season begins. Even the best insulated home will waste energy unless special attention is given to the efficiency of its mechanical equipment.

Purchase an energy-efficient water heater to save energy in the long-term.

Use a bathroom exhaust fan or open a window to remove heat and moisture when the bathroom door is closed. This spares the air conditioner extra work.

Close all louvers and vents in the attic or foundation walls during the winter.

Purchase double-pane windows that offer added insulation. Look for ENERGY STAR® windows, which meet minimum energy efficiency standards.

Warming foods, plates and platters with the oven's stored heat after baking, requires no energy. If the food must be kept warm for an extended period of time, set the oven no higher than 140° to 200°. A food warmer built into a range usually requires less energy than an oven or surface unit when keeping food heated.

Cook by time and temperature. Precise timing eliminates repeated opening of the oven door to check on cooking progress. Each time the door is opened, the temperature drops 25° to 50°.

Use an electric blanket at night. An electric blanket is more economical than heating the entire house all night long. Another option - swap out your bedding to flannel sheets or heavier blankets.

Set your AC fan to the "auto" rather than the "on" setting. Using the "on" setting can increase energy costs and make the AC work harder to maintain your desired temperature.

Seal any cracks, gaps, holes or other similar areas where there may be a draft.

Grill outdoors in the warmer months. You’ll save energy on your appliances, and your AC won’t have to work as hard to keep the kitchen cool.

Replace traditional incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs — especially recessed lighting, kitchen fixtures and lights operated for more than two hours per day.

Consider replacing incandescent lights in outside locations with lights that consume less energy and have a longer life.

Close blinds and shades during the day to prevent heat buildup and consider applying window film to minimize heat from the sun.

Use natural lighting early in the day and late in the afternoon to reduce your energy usage.

Hang laundry outside to dry during the warm weather. Running the dryer raises the overall temperature of the house and requires a great deal of electricity.

Use carpets and rugs to help insulate your floors and contain heat. Thick, wool rugs are the best at keeping warmth in, but even thin rugs help with how the temperature feels around your home.

Set the thermostat and then forget it. If you change the temperature often during the day, you are more likely to waste energy.

Set the thermostat and then forget it. If you change the temperature often during the day, you are more likely to waste energy.

Use your hot water efficiently each month. Your water heater is the second-largest energy user in your home.

Make sure the insulation in your attic is 10-12 inches deep to help keep your home comfortable, and if you have a crawl space or basement, use an insulation wrap to help blanket your living areas.

Don't use too much soap. It will make your washer work harder and may require a second wash to remove excess soap. Avoid a second wash by using a presoak product on heavily soiled fabrics.

Save time and energy by using one oven to prepare the entire meal. A pie or cake can go into the oven as a main dish is removed.

Strategically place carpet and rugs in high-traffic areas/rooms of the home. They will help keep bare feet warm.

During the summer, try setting the thermostat at 78° or above. If you have a ceiling fan, you may be able to raise the temperature to 80° or higher.

Add insulation to your attic. Increasing attic insulation can save up to 30 percent on your heating and cooling costs.

Use weather stripping around areas where frequent movement occurs, like doors and windows. You have some choices to make when it comes to weather-stripping. You may need spring metal, rolled vinyl or adhesive backed weather-stripping, depending on the type of windows and doors you have. Weather-stripping can be purchased by the Stake reviewfoot or in kit form, and there is a special kind for double doors, which often are hung with a substantial gap where they meet, so the doors can swing freely.

Clean range-hood grease filter to ensure proper ventilation.

When cooking fresh or frozen vegetables, use only enough water to produce steam and prevent sticking. Reduce to simmer and cover tightly, so vegetables retain vitamins and minerals - and taste better, too.

Buy the right size of heater for the room or area you plan to heat.

Install ceiling fans in all rooms that need cooling or use portable fans.

If you’ve got a programmable thermostat, set it to automatically increase about 10 or 15 minutes before your alarm goes off in the winter, so you can start your day without shivering.

Try to use natural ventilation when the weather is nice rather than turning on the AC.

Set ceiling fans to run counterclockwise in warmer months to help cool rooms.

Make it a habit to turn off lights that are not being used. It’s a good way to avoid wasted energy.

Use a slow-cooker or crockpot to cook stews and other single-dish meals. You'll save energy, time and effort.

Change air filters more frequently if you have pets.

Get your duct system inspected and repaired if necessary.

Use ventilated awnings and other shading devices to prevent heat from entering windows exposed to direct sunlight.

Ensure air conditioning vents are unobstructed and opened to full capacity.

Knowing what water temperature to use is key to saving energy while doing the wash. Cold water cleans many fabrics and soils just as well as warm water. Heavily soiled fabrics may require hot water.

Get your air conditioning unit serviced to ensure it’s working efficiently.

Use ventilated awnings and other shading devices to prevent heat from entering windows exposed to direct sunlight.

Consider a “door sweep” for the bottom of doors, especially doors leading to the basement and outside.

Consider installing task lighting over workbenches and desks to eliminate the need for whole-room lighting.

Lamps with three-way switches are a good buy. You can lower the settings when less light is required.

Increase the insulation around your electric water heater to decrease heat lost to the surrounding air. The thicker the insulation you use, the more energy you will save.

Make sure your heating outlets and return air registers are free from obstructions like furniture or draperies. Vents should be cleaned regularly with a vacuum cleaner or broom.

Remember that dark colors absorb heat. You can repel excess heat by using light-colored blinds, shades and draperies on the sunny sides of the house. Make sure the draperies are insulated or lined.

Oven cooking is more economical than surface cooking. When you have both a large and a small oven, use the small one whenever possible.

Switch out your old holiday lights with LEDs, which use less energy and generally last much longer.

Consider investing in one of today’s “smarter” cooking systems. They pair with your smart devices and have automation features to help you cook at the perfect temperature and time, so you’re never overcooking a meal.

Zone heat — only use portable electric space heaters in the room or area you are in. Buy models that are thermostatically controlled.

Consider using a microwave oven, small portable electric frying pan, grill, or toaster/broiler instead of the oven. These small appliances use about 1/3 the power of an oven broiler.

Open all louvers and vents in the attic or foundation walls when the weather turns warm.

If you have a fireplace, keep the flue closed when the fireplace is not in use.

Turn the space heater off when no one is around. Unattended, the space heater wastes energy and is a potential fire hazard.

Perform activities such as mopping and washing dishes in the coolest part of the day. These tasks add moisture - and heat - to your home in the summer.

Ensure outdoor unit for air conditioner is free of leaves and other debris.

Open crawl space and attic vents during summer months to promote ventilation and reduce humidity, decreasing moisture load on your cooling system.

Upgrade your heating and cooling system to a heat pump. Heat pumps utilize electricity to move heat from a cool space to a warm space, making the cool space cooler and the warm space warmer.

Get your air conditioning unit serviced to ensure it’s working efficiently.

Use your kitchen exhaust fan to remove excess heat, moisture and cooking odors. But don't let it run more than 15 minutes after cooking or it will be taking out conditioned air.

Set your ceiling fans to the clockwise direction in colder months to help pull the heated air down to the living areas of your home and keep drafts at bay.

Remember that dark colors absorb heat. You can repel excess heat by using light-colored blinds, shades and draperies on the sunny sides of the house. Make sure the draperies are insulated or lined.

Rethink your fireplace. Although a crackling fire in the fireplace can make a room appear to be warm and cozy, fireplaces are often a deterrent to energy efficiency because a lot of the heated air escapes up the chimney. A fireplace designed for providing heat eliminates this problem through a draft which supplies the fire with outside air rather than air from the room.

Install outdoor and security lights with a photoelectric switch that turns the light on at dusk and off at dawn. It's an investment that pays for itself.

Check out the EPA’s Energy Star® DIY guide to learn about R-Values – the measure of how well each type stake.comof insulation conducts heat – and see if updating your insulation might benefit your bottom line.

Open your drapes or blinds to take advantage of the sun’s rays during the day to help heat your home. Close them on the shaded side of the house and at night.

Make sure every part of your house is insulated. Most older homes don’t have enough insulation, but it can be added to any home. Insulating an attic is usually a “do-it-yourself” project that reaps big energy rewards.

Use a refrigeration appliance with a high-efficiency motor.

Cover all liquids stored in the refrigerator. Moisture can be drawn into the air, making the unit work harder.

Never use more heat than you need. Producing the high temperature air in the dryer is the major energy demand of automatic dryers. Plus, excessive heat can damage some fabrics.

Remove clothing promptly from the dryer and hang it carefully. You'll be able to avoid ironing - a real energy and time consumer - or reduce it to just a touch-up.

Keep dryer vents free of lint. A clogged vent wastes energy.

Keep condenser coils clean and unobstructed for maximum energy savings.

Look for partial-load cycles, rinse-only cycles, mid-cycle turn-offs and other special features when selecting a new dishwasher. These features are designed for better energy use and more convenience.

Operate your dishwasher only when it is at capacity but not overloaded. This will cut the costs of energy, water and detergent.

Replace old refrigerators with newer ones because newer models generally consume less energy.

Locate your dryer where it has access to fresh air. Humid air circulating through your dryer increases drying time and energy costs.

Choose the smallest unit which will meet your needs. A large refrigerator or freezer uses more energy than a smaller one.

Clean gaskets with warm water or a detergent that leaves no residue. A tight-sealing door gasket is critical to the efficiency of your refrigerator.

Be sure your unit is level so that the door seals properly.

Reconsider washing and rinsing dishes by hand. Dishwashers use an average of 15 gallons of hot water per load plus electricity needed to operate the machine. Washing and rinsing by hand three times a day uses more hot water and energy than one load a day in an automatic dishwasher.

Separate loads into heavy and lightweight items. Lightweight items take less drying time and energy demand.

Choose a refrigerator with improved or thicker insulation (polyurethane foam or fiberglass).

Avoid storing your freezer in the garage as high temperatures make the unit work harder.

Load the dishwasher properly. Never block the dispenser or spray arms. If blocked, the water and detergent will not circulate properly and the dishes will not wash clean. Check your owner’s manual for proper loading instructions.

Take advantage of the dryer's moisture sensor, which ends the cycle once your clothes are dry.

Avoid using the heat-dry option, which increases the electricity usage.

Use your dishwasher's "power-saver switch" if it has one to automatically eliminate the drying cycle.

Scrape your dishes after you eat rather than rinsing them, if you're going to run the dishwasher soon. Rinsing them uses lots of water and energy. However, if it will be a while before the dishwasher is run, rinse the dishes to prevent food remnants from drying and sticking to your dishes.

On hot days, wait to use your dishwasher until night. You will avoid adding heat in the house during the hottest time of the day.

Always choose the shortest washing cycle that will clean your dishes, and scrape off heavy food accumulated before loading dishes into the dishwasher.

Locate your refrigerator or freezer away from heating equipment, heater vents and direct sunlight. Provide adequate clearance above, behind and on the sides for good air circulation.

Dry loads of clothes immediately after one another. With the dryer already warm, you won't waste energy bringing it back up to the desired temperature level.

Check the estimated kilowatt-hour usage per month. Use this information to compare energy consumption of different models.

Let foods cool outside the refrigerator or freezer, unless a recipe requires hot foods to be rapidly chilled or frozen. To avoid bacterial growth, food should not be set out more than 20 minutes after cooking is completed.

For best operation, keep your refrigerator's temperature between 37° and 40° and your freezer's setting at 0°. These settings are recommended by the Food and Drug Administration and will prevent rapid bacterial growth.

stake app reviewDon't overload your refrigerator or freezer with food, as this overloads the compressor. Place foods slightly apart on shelves, making sure they do not block the unit's interior air vents.

Clean the lint filter after each use, and you can maximize airflow and efficiency.

Decide what you want before opening the door, and remove several items at once. Opening and closing refrigerator and freezer doors often - or holding the door open too long - causes the unit to use more energy than necessary.

Proper amounts of detergent can eliminate a second wash. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Vacuum refrigerator condenser coils to improve efficiency.

Check your water heater. If your water heater tank is warm to the touch, believe it or not, it may need a blanket. Check with the manufacturer to see if it has an R value of at least 24, and if not, try adding a custom-made insulating blanket, which can reduce heat loss by 25%-45%. They are super easy to install and available at most home improvement or building supply stores.