Realty Professionals
Conservation Tips and Advice for Realty Pros to Share with
Ohio Homeowners
"Conservation" has become a key word these days. And with the average Ohio homebuyer spending $140,500*, it is more important than ever to practice conservation. Here are some easy – and in some cases, free – tips you can pass on to your new homeowners that can help them save off their annual energy bills. Why not try them yourself? When you see how much you’ll save, you’ll want to share them with your clients.
*Ohio Home Price Tracker, January 2007
Year-Round Conservation Tips
1. Lower your thermostat when you are sleeping or away from home. Or, get an automatic setback or programmable thermostat, which, when used properly, can shave $100 off your annual energy bills.
2. Choose a high-efficiency dishwasher - it uses 25% less energy than a conventional model.
3. Install dimmers and motion sensors wherever possible.
4. Install water-conserving fixtures, such as showerheads, faucets and toilets.
5. Keep your oven door closed! Every time you open the oven door, the oven temperature can drop 25 degrees. Use the oven light or a timer to avoid wasting energy.
6. Repair and weatherize your storm windows.
7. Take showers instead of baths. A five-minute shower will use about 7.5 gallons of hot water; filling a bathtub can use up to 20 gallons.
8. Use compact fluorescent lights. They last up to 10-13 times longer than standard bulbs and use 75% less energy.
9. Wash clothes in the coolest water possible. 80% of the cost to run your washer is used for heating the water.
10. When purchasing new appliances, look for the ENERGY STAR label. The ENERGY STAR rating program, developed through a partnership between the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy in 1996, indicates which appliances are considered energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
Cold Weather Conservation Tips
1. Check your threshold for any gaps between it and the door. Use a bottom seal that can be attached to the bottom of the door - it should brush up against the floor to seal up the threshold. It virtually stops drafts.
2. Correct air leaks around windows, doors and electrical outlets.
3. Install glass doors on the fireplace for added insulation and reduced heat loss.
4. Keep ductwork in good repair with duct tape or duct insulation. Your home could be losing up to 25% of its hot air before it reaches the vents!
5. Make sure rugs and furniture don’t block the air circulation from baseboard outlets.
6. Make sure your ceiling has at least six inches of good thermal insulation.
7. Remove air conditioning window units, or cover them well.
8. Repair weather stripping and caulking.
9. Replace any cracked glass in your windows.
10. Wrap your pipes, to guard against heat loss and prevent them from freezing.
Warm Weather Conservation Tips
1. Change or clean your air conditioning filter monthly during cooling season to improve efficiency and the life of your air conditioner.
2. Clear furniture away from air conditioning vents.
3. Cook on the grill to keep cooking heat outside the home.
4. Install an attic fan - it can cool your attic by nearly 30 degrees!
5. Install reflective window coatings to reflect heat away from your home.
6. Keep your central air conditioner condenser in the shade and reduce your cooling costs by nearly 3%.
7. Make sure the output of your air conditioner is right for the size of your room or house to ensure optimum efficiency and comfort.
8. Open the doors inside your home to improve air circulation and the efficiency of your cooling system.
9. Open windows on cool summer days and nights. A good rule of thumb is not to open windows when the outside temperature is warmer than the inside of your house.
10. Turn the air conditioner thermostat up to at least 78° or higher, or use a programmable thermostat. Turn air conditioners off when no one is home.
