Saving energy doesn’t mean you need expensive solar panels or fancy smart home gadgets. Most of the time, the biggest changes come from simple home energy efficiency habits you can start today. When you make small changes in how you use energy around your house, you can cut your electricity bills, help the environment, and make your home more comfortable.
This guide shows you easy, proven ways to use less energy without spending lots of money or changing your whole lifestyle. These tips come from energy experts, environmental scientists, and real families who have successfully cut their energy use in half.
Quick Summary
- Changing your thermostat settings, using fans the right way, and working with natural heating and cooling can lower your heating and cooling costs.
- Washing clothes in cold water, running full dishwasher loads, and unplugging devices help reduce energy use.
- Taking care of your HVAC system, doing energy checks, and watching your energy use stops waste and makes appliances last longer.
How Your Home Uses Energy: A Breakdown of Energy Consumption
Before we talk about specific home energy efficiency habits, it helps to know where your home uses the most energy. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says that in 2020, the average American home used about 10,715 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity each year. Here’s where that energy went:
- Air conditioning: 19%
- Space heating: 12%
- Water heating: 12%
- Other appliances: 57%
This breakdown helps you focus on the changes that will save you the most money. Now let’s look at simple daily habits for each area where your home uses energy.
Heating and Cooling Home Energy Efficiency Habits That Save Money
Heating and cooling your home uses more than half of the energy used in U.S. homes. This means that changing how you heat and cool your house can lead to big energy savings. Even small changes in these areas can make a huge difference in your monthly bills.
1. Learn to Control Your Thermostat Like a Pro
The simplest yet most effective energy-saving habit is proper thermostat management. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can save up to 10% annually on heating and cooling costs by turning your thermostat back 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 hours a day from its normal setting.
Here’s what this looks like in real life:
Winter thermostat settings:
- Set your thermostat to 68°F when you’re awake and home
- Lower it when you’re sleeping or away from home
- Each degree you lower the temperature can save 6-8% on your heating bill
Summer thermostat settings:
- Set your thermostat to 78°F when you’re home during the day
- Raise it higher when you’re away from home
- Each degree you raise the temperature can save 6-8% on your cooling bill
A study from Energy Star found that families who used programmable or smart thermostat the right way saved an average of $180 per year on energy costs. Furthermore, smart thermostats can learn your schedule and adjust automatically, making it even easier to develop good home energy efficiency habits.
The key is consistency. Many people make the mistake of constantly adjusting their thermostat throughout the day, which actually uses more energy. Instead, set it and leave it alone. Your home will reach the right temperature and stay there using less energy overall.
2. Use Fans the Smart Way to Feel Cooler
Fans use much less electricity than air conditioners, making them perfect tools for better home energy efficiency habits. A regular ceiling fan uses about 30-60 watts of power, while a central air conditioner can use between 1,500 to 5,000 watts. That’s a huge difference!
Using ceiling fans lets you raise your thermostat setting by about 4°F without feeling any warmer. This happens because the moving air helps sweat evaporate from your skin, which makes you feel cooler even when the actual temperature is higher.
Fan basics for better energy efficiency:
- In summer, set ceiling fans to spin counterclockwise (when looking up at them) to push air down
- In winter, reverse the fan direction to clockwise at low speed to gently move warm air around
- Always turn off fans when you leave a room—fans cool people, not empty spaces
- Use table fans or floor fans to create personal cooling zones instead of cooling whole rooms
One important thing to remember: fans don’t actually lower the temperature in a room. They just make you feel cooler by moving air across your skin. This is why turning them off when you leave saves energy without making the room any warmer.
3. Optimize Natural Heating and Cooling
Using natural heating and cooling is one of the smartest home energy efficiency habits you can develop. About 30% of energy loss from heating and cooling systems comes through windows, which means your daily window habits can make a big difference.
Summer window habits for staying cool:
- Open windows during cool mornings and evenings to let fresh air in
- Close windows and blinds during the hottest part of the day (usually 10 AM to 4 PM)
- Use light-colored curtains or blinds to reflect heat away from your home
- Consider window films that block heat but still let light through
Winter window habits for staying warm:
- Open south-facing curtains during sunny days to let solar heat warm your home
- Close all curtains at night to keep heat from escaping through windows
- Check for drafts around windows and use weatherstripping to seal gaps
- On sunny winter days, opening curtains can raise your room temperature by 10-15 degrees
These simple habits cost nothing but can reduce your heating and cooling costs by 10-20% throughout the year. The best part is that once you get used to opening and closing curtains at the right times, it becomes automatic.
Water Heating Efficiency Habits
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, water heating typically accounts for about 18% of a home’s total energy use. Water heating is the second-largest energy expense in most households, after heating and cooling. This can vary slightly depending on the size of the household and the type of water heating system used.
4. Take Smarter Showers to Save Energy and Water
A 10-minute shower with a regular shower head uses about 25 gallons of water. Most of that water needs to be heated, which uses a lot of energy. By changing your shower habits, you can save energy and water at the same time.
Daily shower habits that save energy:
- Take shorter showers (try to keep them under 5 minutes)
- Install low-flow showerheads that use less than 2.0 gallons per minute
- Turn down your water heater to 120°F (most are set higher than needed)
- Take lukewarm showers instead of very hot ones when possible
- Turn off the water while you soap up, then turn it back on to rinse
Many people don’t realize that their water heater is set too high. Most water heaters come from the factory set at 140°F, but 120°F is hot enough for most uses and much more energy efficient. Turning down your water heater by just 20 degrees can save you 6-10% on your water heating costs.
If you have teenagers in your house, consider setting a timer for 5-minute showers. Make it a family challenge to see who can take the quickest shower while still getting clean. This turns energy saving into a fun game instead of a chore.
5. Change Your Laundry Habits to Use Less Energy
Washing machines use a lot of energy, mostly because they heat water. The Alliance to Save Energy reports that washing clothes in cold water can reduce energy use by up to 90% compared to using hot water. This is one of the easiest home energy efficiency habits to start today.
Energy-saving laundry habits:
- Wash full loads only (but don’t pack clothes so tight they can’t move around)
- Use cold water for most loads (modern detergents work great in cold water)
- Air-dry clothes when possible, especially in summer
- Clean the lint filter after every dryer load
- Run multiple dryer loads back-to-back to use the heat that’s already built up
A family that does 5 loads of laundry each week in cold water instead of hot water can save about $60-$100 every year. That might not sound like much, but it adds up over time. Plus, cold water is actually better for many types of clothes because it prevents colors from fading and keeps fabrics from shrinking.
When you do use the dryer, try to dry similar types of clothes together. Heavy items like towels and jeans take longer to dry than light items like t-shirts and underwear. By separating them, you can avoid over-drying some clothes while others are still damp.
Smart Appliance Home Energy Efficiency Habits
Energy-efficient appliances represent about 13% of household energy consumption, but their impact varies dramatically based on how we use them. These home energy efficiency habits can help you get the most out of your appliances while using less energy.
6. Keep Your Refrigerator and Freezer Running Efficiently
Your refrigerator runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, making it one of the biggest energy users in your home. Small daily habits can help it run more efficiently and use less energy.
Refrigerator best practices:
- Keep your refrigerator temperature between 35-38°F and your freezer at 0°F
- Let hot foods cool down before putting them in the refrigerator
- Keep your refrigerator and freezer about 2/3 to 3/4 full (not too empty, not too packed)
- Clean the coils on the back or bottom twice a year
- Check door seals by closing the door on a dollar bill—if you can pull it out easily, the seal needs replacing
Why these habits work: When you put hot food directly into the refrigerator, it has to work much harder to cool everything down. This uses more energy and can even warm up other foods. The same thing happens when your refrigerator is too empty—it has to work harder to maintain the right temperature because there’s not enough thermal mass.
Keeping your refrigerator properly full but not overcrowded helps it maintain steady temperatures with less energy. The food and drinks act like thermal batteries, holding onto cold temperatures even when the door opens.
7. Cook With Energy Efficiency in Mind
The way you cook can have a big impact on your energy use. The EPA says that microwave cooking uses about 80% less energy than conventional ovens. This doesn’t mean you have to microwave everything, but it does mean you should think about which appliance is best for each cooking task.
Energy-efficient cooking habits:
- Match pot size to burner size (small pots on small burners, large pots on large burners)
- Use lids on pots to keep heat in and cook food faster
- Cook multiple things at once when you use the oven (batch cooking)
- Use smaller appliances like microwaves, toaster ovens, and pressure cookers for smaller meals
- Defrost frozen foods in the refrigerator overnight instead of using the microwave
One of the biggest energy wasters in the kitchen is using a large oven to cook small amounts of food. For example, if you’re just reheating leftovers or cooking for one person, a toaster oven uses much less energy than heating up your full-size oven.
Pressure cookers are especially good for saving energy because they cook food much faster than regular pots. They use steam pressure to cook food at higher temperatures, which can cut cooking time by 50-70% for many dishes.
8. Load Dishwashers Strategically
Modern dishwashers actually use less water and energy than washing dishes by hand, but only when you use them the right way. ENERGY STAR certified dishwashers use less than 4 gallons per cycle, while hand-washing the same amount of dishes can use up to 27 gallons.
Dishwasher efficiency habits:
- Only run the dishwasher when it’s completely full
- Don’t pre-rinse dishes (just scrape off food scraps)
- Use the energy-saving or eco-wash setting
- Let dishes air-dry instead of using the heated dry setting
- Load dishes properly so water can reach all surfaces
Many people waste time and energy by rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Modern dishwashers and detergents are designed to handle food residue, so a quick scrape is usually all you need. Pre-rinsing actually wastes water and energy while making your dishes less clean because the dishwasher sensors can’t detect how dirty they are.
Lighting and Electronics Energy Habits
While lighting only accounts for about 15% of home energy use, it is one of the easiest areas to improve through daily habits. Plus, the habits you develop around lights often carry over to other areas of energy use.
9. Master Lighting Efficiency
The most basic energy-saving habit—turning off lights when you leave a room—can significantly reduce your lighting energy use. It sounds simple, but many families waste hundreds of dollars each year by leaving lights on in empty rooms.
Daily lighting habits that save energy:
- Use natural light from windows whenever possible during the day
- Turn off lights every time you leave a room, even if you’re only leaving for a few minutes
- Use task lighting (like a desk lamp) instead of lighting up an entire room
- Replace old bulbs with LED lights, which use 75% less energy and last 25 times longer
- Use dimmer switches to reduce energy use when you don’t need full brightness
A typical family that switches entirely to LED lighting can save about $225 in energy costs every year. LEDs also produce less heat than old incandescent bulbs, which means your air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard in the summer.
One trick that helps families remember to turn off lights is to put sticky notes near light switches for the first few weeks. After that, turning off lights becomes an automatic habit that doesn’t require any thought.
10. Stop Phantom Power from Draining Your Energy
Standby power, also called “phantom” or “vampire” power, happens when devices use electricity even when they’re turned off. This accounts for 5-10% of residential electricity use. The Natural Resources Defense Council found that the average American home has 65 devices constantly drawing power, costing families about $165 per year.
Habits to reduce phantom power:
- Unplug phone chargers, laptop chargers, and other electronics when you’re not using them
- Use smart power strips that automatically cut power to devices in standby mode
- Turn on sleep or power-saving modes on all your devices
- Unplug small appliances like coffee makers, toasters, and microwaves when you’re not using them
- Unplug electronics when you go on vacation
Smart power strips are especially helpful because they can tell when your main device (like a computer) is turned off, and they automatically cut power to connected devices (like monitors, printers, and speakers). This makes it easy to eliminate phantom power without having to unplug everything manually.
Some of the biggest phantom power users include cable boxes, game consoles, printers, and audio systems. These devices can use 10-20 watts even when they’re “off,” which adds up to significant costs over time.
Home Maintenance Habits for Long-Term Efficiency
Taking care of your home’s systems and appliances prevents energy waste and makes everything last longer. These maintenance habits might take a little time upfront, but they save money and energy for years to come.
11. Keep Your HVAC System in Top Shape
Regular HVAC maintenance can significantly improve your system’s efficiency. For example, sealing and insulating ducts can improve heating and cooling efficiency by up to 20%. Also, fixing airflow problems by cleaning and adjusting parts can reduce system inefficiency by up to 15%.
HVAC maintenance habits you can do yourself:
- Replace air filters every 1-3 months (check them monthly and replace when dirty)
- Keep outdoor units clear of leaves, grass, and debris
- Clean air vents and registers regularly with a vacuum
- Make sure furniture and curtains aren’t blocking vents
- Schedule professional maintenance twice a year (spring and fall)
Why clean air filters matter: A dirty air filter makes your HVAC system work much harder to push air through your home. This uses more energy and puts extra wear on the system. A clean filter allows air to flow freely, which means your system can heat or cool your home more efficiently.
Check your air filter every month by holding it up to the light. If you can’t see light coming through clearly, it’s time to replace it. In homes with pets or during times when you’re using the system a lot, you might need to change filters more often.
12. Take Care of Your Other Appliances
Small maintenance habits help all your appliances run efficiently and last longer. When appliances work properly, they use less energy and are less likely to break down.
Appliance maintenance habits:
- Clean refrigerator coils every 3 months (they’re usually on the back or bottom)
- Empty vacuum bags or containers when they’re half full
- Clean scale buildup from coffee makers and kettles once a month
- Clean dryer vents and ducts once a year
- Wipe down appliance seals and gaskets to keep them working properly
When appliances are well-maintained, they don’t have to work as hard to do their jobs. For example, when refrigerator coils are covered with dust, the refrigerator has to run longer to keep things cold. Clean coils let heat escape easily, so the refrigerator can maintain proper temperatures with less energy.
Building Better Energy Awareness Home Energy Efficiency Habits
The most important home energy efficiency habits involve paying attention to how your family uses energy. When you understand your energy patterns, you can make smarter decisions about when and how to use energy.
13. Monitor Your Energy Usage
Research from Oxford University shows that using an energy monitor can help households reduce their electricity use by 5-15%. Many utilities now offer free energy monitoring tools through their websites or apps.
Energy monitoring habits:
- Check your utility company’s online dashboard once a week
- Track your energy use after you start new energy-saving habits
- Look for patterns in when your family uses the most energy
- Notice any unexpected spikes in energy use that might indicate a problem
- Consider buying a home energy monitor for real-time feedback
When you can see exactly how much energy different activities use, it becomes much easier to make good decisions. For example, you might discover that running the dishwasher during peak hours costs three times as much as running it late at night.
Many families are surprised to learn which appliances use the most energy. Sometimes an old refrigerator or space heater uses much more energy than expected, making it worth replacing even if it still works.
14. Do Regular Energy Check-Ups
While professional energy audits give you the most complete picture, you can do simple energy check-ups as a regular habit. These help you catch problems early and identify new opportunities to save energy.
DIY energy audit habits:
- Check for air leaks around windows and doors every few months
- Look at insulation in your attic or basement once a year
- Test windows and doors for drafts when seasons change
- Check all water fixtures for leaks once a month
- Walk around your home looking for energy waste opportunities
One simple test is to hold a lit candle near windows and doors on a windy day. If the flame flickers, you have air leaks that are wasting energy. These can often be fixed with inexpensive weatherstripping or caulk.
15. Switch to Renewable Energy Sources
If possible, adding renewable energy sources can make your home energy efficiency habits even more effective. You don’t have to install expensive solar panels to get started with renewable energy.
Simple renewable energy steps:
- Use solar-powered outdoor lights for pathways and gardens
- Consider a solar water heater if you have good sun exposure
- Look into community solar programs if you can’t install panels on your home
- Use solar chargers for small devices when spending time outdoors
Community solar programs let you buy solar energy even if you rent or can’t install panels. You get credit on your electric bill for your share of solar energy produced at a larger solar farm.
16. Get Your Whole Family Involved
Research shows that families where everyone participates in energy conservation get much better results than families where only one person tries to save energy. Making energy efficiency a family effort creates habits that last and teaches children important life skills.
Family energy awareness habits:
- Set family rules about energy use (like always turning off lights)
- Make energy saving fun with challenges or games
- Share the money you save on energy bills with family members
- Teach children about energy use from an early age
- Have family meetings to discuss new energy-saving ideas
One effective approach is to set a family goal, like reducing your energy bill by 10% in three months. Track your progress together and celebrate when you reach milestones. This makes energy saving feel like a team effort rather than a list of restrictions.
Creating Your Personal Energy Efficiency Routine
The most energy-efficient homes use these habits as part of everyday life, just like brushing teeth or making the bed. Here’s how to build your own routine:
Step 1: Start with the biggest impact
Begin with thermostat management and phantom power reduction, since these can save the most money with the least effort.
Step 2: Connect new habits to existing routines
For example, check your thermostat settings when you lock the doors before bed, or unplug chargers when you plug in your phone at night.
Step 3: Use reminders until habits become automatic
Put sticky notes near light switches or set phone reminders until the new behaviors become natural.
Step 4: Track your results
Keep an eye on your energy bills to see how your new habits are working. This helps you stay motivated and identify which habits make the biggest difference.
Step 5: Add new habits gradually
Don’t try to change everything at once. Add one or two new home energy efficiency habits each month until they become automatic, then add more.
Wrapping Up
Becoming more energy efficient doesn’t mean making huge lifestyle changes or spending thousands of dollars on home improvements. The best way to save energy is through small, simple home energy efficiency habits that you practice every day. These habits add up over time and completely change how your family uses energy.
Start with the areas that use the most energy—heating and cooling, water heating, and major appliances—and you can achieve significant savings with minimal effort. The wonderful thing about energy-efficient habits is that they provide multiple benefits: lower bills, less environmental impact, and a more comfortable home.
Try starting with just one or two habits from this guide and gradually build an energy-efficient lifestyle that works for your family. Remember, the goal isn’t to be perfectly energy efficient right away, it’s about making steady improvements over time.
Every home energy efficiency habit you adopt saves your family money and helps protect the environment for future generations. Small changes really do make a big difference when everyone does their part. For more comprehensive energy-saving strategies, check out our guide on slashing your energy bills.
Frequently Asked Questions About Home Energy Efficiency Habits
Do I need expensive upgrades like solar panels to save energy at home?
No, the biggest impact on energy savings often comes from simple daily habits, not expensive equipment.
What are the top three areas where homes use the most energy?
The primary uses are air conditioning (19%), space heating (12%), and water heating (12%).
How can managing my thermostat save money?
By adjusting your thermostat 7-10 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 hours a day (e.g., lower in winter when away/sleeping, higher in summer when away), you can save up to 10% annually on heating and cooling.
What is “phantom power” and how can I reduce it?
Phantom power is electricity used by devices even when they’re off or in standby. You can reduce it by unplugging chargers, using smart power strips, and enabling power-saving modes.