Jump to the following topics:

1. Heating the home in the winter. 
2. Cooling the home in the summer.  
3. Lights.  
4. Hot water.  
5. The clothes dryer.  
6. The refrigerator and freezer.  
7. The stove.  

Heating the home in the winter. Keep the thermostat at the lowest comfortable setting (perhaps 68 degrees); a higher temperature might be needed for a baby, an elderly person, or someone who is ill. Instead of turning up the heat, put on warmer clothing such as a sweater. Turn down the heat in rooms that are not occupied. Open the curtains to let in solar heat; close the curtains at night to keep the warmth inside. At night, set the thermostat even lower, and stay warm with heavier blankets (or an electric blanket). Insulate your home, and use weatherstripping and caulking to prevent drafts through outside doors and windows. Install storm windows.

Cooling the home in the summer. Some of these ideas are the reverse of the ideas that were suggested for heating the home. Use your air conditioner at the mildest setting that is adequate, and turn it off in rooms that are not occupied; leave it off at night. Use an electric fan when it is adequate to keep you cool; it uses less electricity than does the air conditioner. Wear lighter clothing. Close any curtains which allow direct sunlight to come in. Turn off unnecessary lights (which generate heat), and switch to fluorescent lights (which create less heat, and use less wattage, than do incandescent lights).

Lights. Turn off lights when they aren't needed. Remove dust from lampshades and bulbs so they will yield more light. Rely on natural illumination: keep drapes open, wash the windows (to let in additional light), and read next to an open window so a lamp isn't needed. Use dimmer switches, or 3-way bulbs, or bulbs with a lower wattage, so you are using only the amount of lighting that you need. When redecorating a home, improve the lighting by using clearer lamp shades (which block less of the illumination), brighter curtains and paint (which reflect more light), and large mirrors.

Hot water. If we cut back on the use of hot water, we are conserving both the water and the electricity or natural gas which heats the water. Showers use less water (about 20 gallons in five minutes); baths consume about 30 gallons. The best option is a quick shower at the minimum acceptable temperature in winter; in the summer, unheated water is adequate (and refreshing). If we want to take a bath, we might fill the tub only partially and get the same enjoyment. Insulate the water heater and hot-water pipes. Use low-flow shower heads and faucets to diminish the amount of water, and repair these items when they leak. Use the dishwasher and clothes washer only when they are full; then use the coolest effective temperature.

The clothes dryer. For maximum efficiency, don't overfill or underfill. Clean the lint screen and exhaust line. When possible, use a clothesline or indoor drying rack instead of the dryer.

The refrigerator and freezer. Set the temperature in your fridge above 40 degrees, and your freezer above zero degrees. Keep the contents of either one to a minimum. Defrost the freezer regularly. Let any hot items cool off before putting them into the fridge or freezer. When deciding what you want, don't leave the door open for a long time. And when you make your next purchase, buy an energy-efficient unit.

The stove. When cooking, use a minimum amount of water; extra water would take longer to heat. Keep the pots covered, and don't lift the lids to peek any more than necessary. Whenever possible, use the range rather than the oven. Thaw foods before cooking. Don't overcook. Use a microwave oven instead of a convection oven.