{"id":23413,"date":"2025-12-15T16:06:56","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T16:06:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/chariot-university\/tips-make-home-more-energy-efficient\/"},"modified":"2025-12-16T21:30:22","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T21:30:22","slug":"tips-make-home-more-energy-efficient","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/chariot-university\/tips-make-home-more-energy-efficient\/","title":{"rendered":"Help the Environment &#038; Your Electric Bill: 30 Ways to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\n.chariot-article {\n  max-width: 800px;\n  margin: 0 auto;\n  padding: 40px;\n  font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \"Segoe UI\", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, sans-serif;\n  font-size: 18px;\n  line-height: 1.8;\n  color: #333;\n}\n.chariot-article h1 {\n  font-size: 2.5em;\n  font-weight: 700;\n  line-height: 1.2;\n  margin: 0 0 30px 0;\n  color: #1a1a1a;\n}\n.chariot-article h2 {\n  font-size: 1.8em;\n  font-weight: 600;\n  line-height: 1.3;\n  margin: 50px 0 20px 0;\n  color: #1a1a1a;\n  border-bottom: 2px solid #f7931e;\n  padding-bottom: 10px;\n}\n.chariot-article h3 {\n  font-size: 1.4em;\n  font-weight: 600;\n  line-height: 1.4;\n  margin: 40px 0 15px 0;\n  color: #333;\n}\n.chariot-article h4 {\n  font-size: 1.2em;\n  font-weight: 600;\n  margin: 30px 0 10px 0;\n  color: #444;\n}\n.chariot-article p {\n  margin: 0 0 20px 0;\n}\n.chariot-article img {\n  max-width: 100%;\n  height: auto;\n  border-radius: 8px;\n  margin: 30px 0;\n  display: block;\n}\n.chariot-article figure {\n  margin: 30px 0;\n}\n.chariot-article figcaption {\n  font-size: 0.9em;\n  color: #666;\n  text-align: center;\n  margin-top: 10px;\n  font-style: italic;\n}\n.chariot-article ul, .chariot-article ol {\n  margin: 20px 0 20px 30px;\n  padding: 0;\n}\n.chariot-article li {\n  margin-bottom: 12px;\n  line-height: 1.6;\n}\n.chariot-article a {\n  color: #f7931e;\n  text-decoration: none;\n  border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;\n  transition: border-color 0.2s;\n}\n.chariot-article a:hover {\n  border-bottom-color: #f7931e;\n}\n.chariot-article blockquote {\n  border-left: 4px solid #f7931e;\n  margin: 30px 0;\n  padding: 20px 30px;\n  background: #f9f9f9;\n  font-style: italic;\n  color: #555;\n}\n.chariot-article strong {\n  font-weight: 600;\n  color: #1a1a1a;\n}\n.chariot-article em {\n  font-style: italic;\n}\n.chariot-article hr {\n  border: none;\n  border-top: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\n  margin: 40px 0;\n}\n.chariot-article table {\n  width: 100%;\n  border-collapse: collapse;\n  margin: 30px 0;\n}\n.chariot-article th, .chariot-article td {\n  padding: 12px 15px;\n  text-align: left;\n  border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\n}\n.chariot-article th {\n  background: #f5f5f5;\n  font-weight: 600;\n}\n@media (max-width: 768px) {\n  .chariot-article {\n    padding: 20px;\n    font-size: 16px;\n  }\n  .chariot-article h1 { font-size: 2em; }\n  .chariot-article h2 { font-size: 1.5em; }\n  .chariot-article h3 { font-size: 1.25em; }\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"chariot-article\">\n<p>Energy efficiency<br \/>\nis essential if you want to be a responsible energy customer in the 21st<br \/>\ncentury. Not only will lowering your energy usage shrink your home\u2019s utility<br \/>\nbill, but you\u2019ll also help the environment by reducing your carbon footprint.<br \/>\nIt\u2019s truly a win-win outcome! <\/p>\n<p>However, the concept<br \/>\nof \u201cenergy efficiency\u201d can be nebulous. While lowing your carbon footprint and<br \/>\nelectric bill are objectively good outcomes, it\u2019s easy to get confused by what<br \/>\nyou\u2019re supposed to do to benefit. We regularly hear questions like:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>How do I actually use energy more effectively in<br \/>\neveryday life? <\/li>\n<li>How will making these changes to my home and<br \/>\nenergy usage habits help the environment? <\/li>\n<li>Does energy efficiency really make a difference?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Those are good<br \/>\nquestions! You should want to better understand the bigger reasons behind what<br \/>\nyou do, especially when those actions are purported to be important and<br \/>\n\u201cworld-changing.\u201d At Chariot Energy, we\u2019re big believers in informing all<br \/>\nenergy consumers so they can make the best possible choice for the world. <\/p>\n<p>To that end, we\u2019ve<br \/>\ncollected 30 tips to help make your home more energy efficient. We\u2019ve given<br \/>\nnearly every part of the house some attention, and the suggestions have been<br \/>\nassembled in tiers from simplest to most difficult. The idea is to make you<br \/>\naware of as many tactics as possible so you can implement them according to<br \/>\nyour time, budget, and ability level.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Simple Suggestions<\/h2>\n<p>Think of this<br \/>\nlist as quick hits. Easy wins. Effortless activities. If you\u2019ve ever read an<br \/>\narticle with energy efficiency tips, these tips will seem all too familiar.<br \/>\nThey\u2019re the sort of changes you can easily make to your home to lower your<br \/>\nelectricity bill. <\/p>\n<p>We think of these<br \/>\ntips as a way to show your family the importance of energy efficiency without<br \/>\ntoo much change all at once. Plus, this is stuff everyone can do, so the whole<br \/>\nfamily can feel like they\u2019re contributing to improving the house and the<br \/>\nenvironment.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Switch to LED Light Bulbs<\/h3>\n<p>Every energy<br \/>\nefficiency list starts with this tip because it\u2019s the easiest, most tangible,<br \/>\nand most effective. Compared to traditional incandescent light bulbs, LED light<br \/>\nbulbs use 75% less electricity, use it more effectively, waste almost no energy<br \/>\nas heat, and last 25 times longer. This amounts to $75 in annual savings.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Turn Off the Lights<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, the oldest<br \/>\ntip in the book. If you leave a room and you know you\u2019ll be gone for more than<br \/>\n10 minutes, you should flip that switch.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Unplug Your Electronics<\/h3>\n<p>Turning them off<br \/>\nisn\u2019t good enough. And yes, we do include the chargers for all of your mobile<br \/>\ndevices. Modern consumer electronics have standby settings \u2013 the little red<br \/>\nlight you often see on screens \u2013 that continually draw energy even after you<br \/>\nsmash that \u201cOFF\u201d button. This concept is called \u201cvampire power\u201d because it<br \/>\nsucks your electricity. <\/p>\n<p>If you don\u2019t want<br \/>\nto unplug everything every night \u2013 and why would you? \u2013 you should plug<br \/>\neverything into a single power strip and then flip a single switch before going<br \/>\nto bed each night. The point is to stop wasting electricity when you aren\u2019t<br \/>\nusing it. <\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Install a Programmable Thermostat<\/h3>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1802\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/woman-changing-thermostat-1.jpg\" width=\"1920\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>We aren\u2019t recommending you drop a couple hundred bucks on a fancy smart home device (though you can certainly do so if that meets your needs). We\u2019re talking about a basic thermostat that allows you to enter a few settings and time frames to meet your family\u2019s schedule. When you create a regular pattern for your electricity usage, you can better control your energy bill because you know exactly when and how you\u2019re using electricity. <\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Use Better Thermostat Settings<\/h3>\n<p>When you do<br \/>\ninstall that new programmable thermostat, we encourage you to use the following<br \/>\nsettings:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Summer: 80\u00b0 F during the day if no one is home<\/li>\n<li>Summer: 75\u00b0 F during the day if people are home<br \/>\nand at night when people are asleep<\/li>\n<li>Winter: 62-65\u00b0 F during the day if no one is home<br \/>\nand at night<\/li>\n<li>Winter: 68\u00b0 F during the day if people at<br \/>\nhome\u00a0 <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>OK, we hear you.<br \/>\nThose might seem extreme at first, but if you work toward those parameters<br \/>\nslowly and keep your family\u2019s comfort in mind, you\u2019ll see savings through these<br \/>\nrecommended temperatures.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Use Ceiling Fans<\/h3>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img alt=\"Ceiling fan\" class=\"wp-image-1498\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ceiling-fan.jpg\" width=\"1920\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Your ceiling fans will aid you in using those new thermostat settings. In summer, the rotation of the fan should push air down into the room where it can circulate over people\u2019s skin. In winter, the rotation should point air toward the ceiling where it can then settle in the corners and wrap the room in warmed air. <\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Replace Your HVAC Filter<\/h3>\n<p>Changing your air<br \/>\nfilter regularly serves two purposes:<\/p>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It ensures that your family breathes clean air; and<\/li>\n<li>It helps your air conditioner work more effectively since it\u2019s not fighting a clogged filter.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>In general, you<br \/>\nshould change your air filter every month. The only exceptions to this are if<br \/>\nyou use an upper-tier filter wherein you can just rinse the filter for several<br \/>\nmonths before replacing it or if the manufacturer of your HVAC system<br \/>\nrecommends changing the filter every two or three months.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. Use Your Microwave<\/h3>\n<p>You should really<br \/>\nheat as much food as possible in the microwave to save energy. While we love<br \/>\neating excellent homecooked food as the next person, we also know how much heat<br \/>\nthe oven and stove create. And the hotter you make your house, the more you\u2019ll<br \/>\nrun your air conditioner to cool your home.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. Stop Preheating Your Oven<\/h3>\n<p>Not only should<br \/>\nyou reduce your oven cooking in general, but you should also completely cut out<br \/>\nany preheating. Outside of some very specific baking-related situations, you<br \/>\ndon\u2019t need to preheat your oven or adjust your cooking time to account for that<br \/>\npreheating.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10. Turn Down Your Water Heater<\/h3>\n<p>This is pretty<br \/>\nsimple: your average water heater comes from the factory at 140\u00b0 F, which is<br \/>\nhotter than you need it to be, no matter how you\u2019re using water. By reducing<br \/>\nyour water heater temperature to 120\u00b0 F, you\u2019re saving money instantly since<br \/>\nyou\u2019re not overheating your water.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">11. Wash in Cold Water<\/h3>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img alt=\"Clothes washing machine in laundry room interior\" class=\"wp-image-1723\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"748\" src=\"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5-energy-saving-tips-1-1.jpg\" width=\"1142\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>You can cut your electricity usage even further by not heating the water you need to wash clothes. Washing your clothes in warm water all the time shrinks your clothes, fades the colors, and attacks the seams. The only time you really need to use warm water for washing is when clothes are especially soiled by a sticky or oily substance.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">12. Switch to a Green Electricity Plan<\/h3>\n<p>Show your love<br \/>\nfor the environment by signing up for a home electricity plan powered by 100%<br \/>\nrenewable energy. By choosing green energy, you\u2019re declaring to the energy<br \/>\nindustry that you don\u2019t want fossil fuel energy any longer and that you want to<br \/>\nsee increased investment in technology that\u2019s good for the environment. The<br \/>\nmore people that switch to such plans, the lower the price of that electricity<br \/>\nwill become.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Medium Modifications<\/h2>\n<p>With this<br \/>\nsection, you\u2019ll see that the amount of time and money it takes to complete a<br \/>\ntask jumps a bit. Before, we were asking you to change a few habits and<br \/>\ntendencies around the home. Now, we\u2019re talking about some serious effort \u2013 but<br \/>\nit will all be worth it. We promise.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">13. Conduct Energy Audit<\/h3>\n<p>Some energy<br \/>\nefficiency lists walk you through a few exercises you can do to perform a DIY<br \/>\nenergy audit. While those are OK, we greatly prefer that you go to a<br \/>\nprofessional. Not only will they have the most up-to-date tools and technology<br \/>\nto track your energy usage, but they can provide detailed advice on how to fix<br \/>\nwhat might be wrong with your home. Sometimes, investing in outside expertise<br \/>\nmakes all the difference.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">14. Buy ENERGY STAR Appliances<\/h3>\n<p>No, we\u2019re not suggesting that you fully renovate your home, as that would be far too cost-prohibitive. We\u2019re merely recommending that you replace your next busted appliance with an ENERGY STAR model.<\/p>\n<p>Such devices use less energy and use it more effectively so that you can recoup your investment long before its time to replace it with a newer model.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">15. Perform Regular Appliance Maintenance<\/h3>\n<p>Like any piece of<br \/>\nmachinery or technology, your home appliances need some periodic upkeep to<br \/>\noperate at peak energy efficiency. This includes:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cleaning the coils on your refrigerator<\/li>\n<li>Defrosting your freezer<\/li>\n<li>Cleaning your microwave<\/li>\n<li>Descaling your water heater<\/li>\n<li>Running a clean cycle on your dishwasher and<br \/>\nwashing machine<\/li>\n<li>Removing all the lint from the dryer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">16. Get an HVAC Tune-Up<\/h3>\n<p>To make a real<br \/>\ndifference in the energy efficiency of your home, you should clean your HVAC<br \/>\nunit with a tune-up from a professional at least once a year. If you live in a<br \/>\nwarmer climate, get it done in the spring; if your winters are harsher, get it<br \/>\ndone in the fall.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">17. Air-Dry Your Clothes<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Clothes on the clothesline\n\" class=\"wp-image-1803\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"1280\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/clothes-line.jpg\" width=\"1920\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<p>This task isn\u2019t<br \/>\nnecessarily difficult to accomplish, but not everyone has the available space<br \/>\nto accomplish it effectively. We simply recommend this one if it\u2019s possible, as<br \/>\nit will lower your energy usage and lengthen the life of your clothes.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">18. Install Low-Flow Devices<\/h3>\n<p>Limiting your<br \/>\nwater usage is an underappreciated part of energy efficiency. The less water<br \/>\nyou have to heat, the lower your electricity bill. Hence, you should first<br \/>\nadopt low-cost options like low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators, but to<br \/>\ntake things up a notch, you can install two-option toilets that discern the<br \/>\ndifference between liquid and solid waste<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">19. Install Weatherstripping<\/h3>\n<p>One of the worst<br \/>\nthings you can do to your HVAC system is to allow air to escape. If your door<br \/>\ndoesn\u2019t have a good seal, then you\u2019re letting out air you\u2019ve already cooled or<br \/>\nheated. That makes your system work harder, which drives up your electricity<br \/>\nusage and wears down the system faster.<\/p>\n<p>To combat this,<br \/>\nyou need to ensure you have good weatherstripping around any door that leads<br \/>\noutside. Obviously, if it\u2019s cracked or dried, it needs replacing, but you can<br \/>\nalso check by placing a piece of paper in the door jamb when closed \u2013 if it\u2019s<br \/>\neasy to pull out, then you need to replace it. Weatherstripping isn\u2019t difficult<br \/>\nto replace, and you can get kits at your local home improvement store.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">20. Caulk Your Windows<\/h3>\n<p>The same<br \/>\nprinciple about letting air escape out your door applies to your window.<br \/>\nExamine your window frames for cracked or dried caulk, and if it\u2019s in poor<br \/>\ncondition, it needs to be filled so your home isn\u2019t leaky. You can purchase<br \/>\ncaulk and a caulk gun for not much money at your local home improvement store.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">21. Increase Your Attic Insulation<\/h3>\n<p>You can also take<br \/>\nthose two previous steps up a notch by increasing the amount of insulation in<br \/>\nyour attic. Industry experts recommend a minimum of R-30, but you might need<br \/>\nmore than that, depending on where you live in the United States. For example,<br \/>\nTexans should get up to R-60 in their home attics.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">22. Install and Use Curtains<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"White interior of cozy bedroom with morning light. Cozy bedroom beside window and sunlight in the morning horizontal background.\n\" class=\"wp-image-1805\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"1280\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/linen-curtains.jpg\" width=\"1920\" title=\"\"><figcaption>Pro Tip: Linen curtains will keep your home cool in the summer time! <\/figcaption><\/img><\/figure>\n<p>While we are big<br \/>\nfans of using your windows to provide lots of natural light so you don\u2019t have<br \/>\nto keep lights turned on all the time, thick curtains can be very useful. They<br \/>\nhelp block out sunlight that can overheat your home in summer, which can drive<br \/>\nup your air conditioner usage. Conversely, they can trap in heat during the<br \/>\nwinter, so you don\u2019t have to run your heater all the time.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ambitious Alterations<\/h2>\n<p>Want to up your<br \/>\ngame even more? Ready to put your money where your mouth is literally and<br \/>\nfiguratively? This final set of energy efficiency tips might entail significant<br \/>\nexpenses, but they also promise increased energy efficiency benefits,<br \/>\nelectricity bill savings, and environmental impact. <\/p>\n<p>With nearly all<br \/>\nof these suggestions, you need to first speak with a licensed professional<br \/>\nbefore you make any purchase. That way, you can choose the right materials and<br \/>\nsolutions for your home and situation. You should then use that licensed<br \/>\nprofessional (or someone they recommend) to complete these tasks since they all<br \/>\ninvolve specialized knowledge, tools, and materials unavailable to your average<br \/>\nhomeowner.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">23. Purchase a New HVAC Unit<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, we know.<br \/>\nThis is a large purchase, but since over half of your home\u2019s energy usage can<br \/>\nbe attributed solely to heating and cooling, an old or faulty HVAC unit can be<br \/>\nthe biggest driver of your high energy usage. Replacing your old system with a<br \/>\nnew one will go a long way toward controlling your usage habits as well as<br \/>\nsimply heating and cooling your home more efficiently.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">24. Upgrade or Repair Your Ducts<\/h3>\n<p>Did you install a<br \/>\nnew HVAC unit but aren\u2019t seeing the drop in energy usage and rise in energy<br \/>\nefficiency you were promised? That might be because your ductwork is shoddy and<br \/>\nin disrepair. You could have a top-rate HVAC system at your home, but if your<br \/>\nducts are cracked, leaky, or rusting out, you\u2019re literally blowing hot air into<br \/>\nyour attic. This hurts your electricity bill and the environment.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">25. Improve Your Wall Insulation<\/h3>\n<p>Your walls can<br \/>\nleak air just like your windows and doors, but they can be harder and more<br \/>\nexpensive to upgrade. But depending upon the age of your home, this tip could<br \/>\nbe both supremely beneficial and supremely costly. Older homes simply don\u2019t<br \/>\nhave as much wall insulation installed, and they\u2019re often not constructed in a<br \/>\nway where new insulation can be added easily. <\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">26. Repair Drafty Doors<\/h3>\n<p>After a while,<br \/>\neven new weatherstripping won\u2019t help your home if the door itself is aged,<br \/>\nbroken, or in disrepair. You might need to invest in a new front and\/or back<br \/>\ndoor to help your home retain air more effectively. A new door will fit the<br \/>\ndoor frame more snugly, and any glasswork will be in top condition so air<br \/>\ndoesn\u2019t leak through the panes.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">27. Install Energy-Efficient Windows<\/h3>\n<p>Once again, the<br \/>\nsame principle applies. No amount of caulk will fix windows that are loose in<br \/>\ntheir frames and jambs. New-school energy-efficient windows are double-paned to<br \/>\nkeep your treated air inside and the outdoor air outside. They are a<br \/>\nsignificant but worthwhile investment, especially if you want to sell your<br \/>\nhome. <\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">28. Install Ceiling Fans<\/h3>\n<p>Honestly, we<br \/>\nrecommend installing a ceiling fan in nearly every room of your home. No, we<br \/>\naren\u2019t talking about your closet, unless you have a luxury walk-in with sitting<br \/>\narea. We\u2019re talking about any room where your family congregates for any<br \/>\nstretch of time. As we discussed before, a ceiling fan will keep your family<br \/>\ncomfortable without needing to overwork your HVAC system.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">29. Install a Tankless Water Heater<\/h3>\n<p>Even when you<br \/>\nlower your water heater temperature to 120\u00b0 F, you\u2019re still using lots of<br \/>\nelectricity to keep a full tank heated all the time. But how often do you<br \/>\nreally need all that hot water? Not very often \u2013 just for your shower, a few<br \/>\nloads of dishes a week, and the rare load of extra-dirty clothes.<\/p>\n<p>A tankless water<br \/>\nheater will give you hot water only when you need it, as opposed to sitting<br \/>\naround in a tank wasting electricity. Most new models will help you save over<br \/>\n$100 a year in water-heating costs, which means you\u2019ll start seeing the return<br \/>\non your investment well before the unit needs to be replaced.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">30. Plant Trees Around Your Property<\/h3>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Dad and son planting a young tree\" class=\"wp-image-1804\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"1281\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/planting-trees.jpg\" width=\"1920\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The strategic<br \/>\nplanting of a tree or two can help your home and the environment even more. The<br \/>\nshade from the tree will help moderate your home\u2019s temperature in summer and<br \/>\nwinter, as it blocks sunlight and enhances your insulation. Since trees take in<br \/>\ncarbon dioxide and expel oxygen, you\u2019re lowering the carbon footprint of your<br \/>\nhome.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Energy Efficiency Enhances the Environment<\/h2>\n<p>Everything we\u2019d<br \/>\ntalked about in this post will help your home use energy more effectively. In<br \/>\nturn, this helps you use less energy at home, which will always lead to a lower<br \/>\nelectricity bill. But how does this help the environment? Because anything you<br \/>\ncan do to lower your energy usage will reduce the resources needed to generate<br \/>\nthat electricity. And even if you use exclusively renewable energy sources for<br \/>\nyour home electricity, being more energy efficient shows your respect for the<br \/>\nenvironment and our planet.<\/p>\n<p>Interested in<br \/>\nbecoming more energy efficient, but you\u2019re unsure of where to begin? Just pick<br \/>\na couple of things from the easy list to start, and once you become a pro at<br \/>\nthose, try some new ones while slowly increasing the difficulty level. You\u2019ll<br \/>\nfind that it\u2019s easier to break old habits and create new ones if you give<br \/>\nyourself some space to grow and develop.<\/p>\n<p>Welcome to your new energy-efficient life!<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n<p><strong>Sources<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/energysaver\/save-electricity-and-fuel\/lighting-choices-save-you-money\/led-lighting\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/energysaver\/save-electricity-and-fuel\/lighting-choices-save-you-money\/led-lighting<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/energysaver\/save-electricity-and-fuel\/lighting-choices-save-you-money\/how-energy-efficient-light\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/energysaver\/save-electricity-and-fuel\/lighting-choices-save-you-money\/how-energy-efficient-light<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/energysaver\/weatherize\/insulation\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/energysaver\/weatherize\/insulation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisoldhouse.com\/plumbing\/21019184\/read-this-before-you-buy-a-tankless-water-heater\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.thisoldhouse.com\/plumbing\/21019184\/read-this-before-you-buy-a-tankless-water-heater<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"clear\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Make your home more energy efficient by following these 30 helpful tips, complete with benefits for the environment and your electricity bill.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":23519,"parent":627,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-23413","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23413","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23413"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23413\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/627"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23519"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}