Low-Cost and No-Cost Tips for Your Home
Our low-cost tips can save money on your monthly utility bill while only requiring a minimal upfront investment. Some of the projects below may even qualify for a JEA rebate that will help lower your initial investment.
Our no-cost tips will have no upfront costs and focus mainly on behavioral changes that can help decrease your monthly utility bill. Behavioral changes can be as simple as turning off the lights when leaving a room or taking quicker showers. See below for a complete list of energy-saving tips!
Low-Cost Savings Tips
- Repair leaky faucets.
- Install low-flow shower heads.
- Install high-efficiency faucet aerators in kitchen and bathroom sinks.
- Make sure weather stripping on exterior doors and windows seal well.
- Make sure air handler filters are changed monthly or as needed.
- Use ceiling fans to keep the air moving while in the room. Fans can make a room feel at least four degrees cooler.
- Change incandescent/halogen bulbs to LED or compact fluorescent bulbs.
- According to ENERGY STAR, replacing your five most frequently used light fixtures or the bulbs in them with ENERGY STAR qualified lights can save more than $65 a year in energy costs. ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) provide high-quality light output, use 75 percent less energy, and last 6–10 times longer than standard incandescent light bulbs, saving money on energy bills and replacement costs.
- Use motion-sensing light controls to limit run time of exterior light fixtures.
- Install a smart or programmable thermostat.
- Insulate water heaters and supply pipes.
- Plant shade trees on south- and west-facing sides of the building to block sunlight.
No-Cost Savings Tips
- Set your thermostat properly for your home.
- Set the thermostat fan setting to “auto.”
- Save an average of $13 per month by setting your thermostat 2 degrees warmer in the summer and 2 degrees cooler in the winter.
- During warm weather, set your A/C at 78 degrees while you are home and 85 degrees while you are away. Wear well-ventilated clothing and turn the thermostat warmer.
- During cold weather, set your heater at 68 degrees while you are home and 55-60 degrees while you are away. Consider wearing additional clothing such a comfortable sweater for added insulation and turn the thermostat cooler.
- Keep blinds and drapes open throughout daylight hours during cold weather to take advantage of the sun’s warmth. During hot months, use blinds, drapes, shutters, or window film to prevent heat gain.
- Adjust the settings on your computers and monitors so they are able to go in to power-saving mode.
- Use power strips as central turnoff points when you are finished using electronics.
- Unplug battery chargers, such as your cell phone charger, or power adapters when not in use.
- Turn off lights when you are not in the room.
- According to ENERGY STAR®, turning off just one 60-watt incandescent bulb that would otherwise burn eight hours a day can save about $15 per year.
- Turn off outdoor lighting during daylight hours.
- When practical, use sunlight in lieu of artificial lighting.
- Set your water heater to 120 degrees.
- Take shorter showers: A 10-minute shower with a low-flow shower head can use less water than a full bath.
- Wash full loads of laundry using cold water.
- Scrape dishes clean instead of rinsing them before loading in the dishwasher. Only run your dishwasher when it is full and use the air-dry option if available.
- Open and close your refrigerator door as needed. Do not leave your refrigerator door open while loading groceries.
- If you have a second refrigerator that is rarely used, consider getting rid of it. Select your county below for more information on how to recycle your old appliances.