Create a More Efficient Home With These Energy-Saving Tips

When you flip a light switch, take a hot shower, or crank up the heat on a chilly day, you probably aren’t thinking about the energy it takes to make those things possible. Keeping your home safe and comfortable comes at a cost — not just to you, but also to the environment.

It only takes a few efficient upgrades and adjustments to significantly lower your energy usage. Here’s how to help make your home more efficient throughout the year. 

Tips to Save Energy All Year Round

From sunny days to cold winter nights, these tips can help you save energy during any season. 

Switch to LED Lights

If you use incandescent lighting in your home, switching to LEDs can have a major impact on your energy usage — and the amount of bulbs you have to change. According to energy.gov, LEDs use up to 75% less energy than incandescent lighting and last up to 25 times longer. 

For an even bigger upgrade, opt for smart LED bulbs from Ring and connect them to your Ring Alarm, Amazon Echo, or Ring Bridge. In addition to saving energy, you’ll be able to turn lights on and off from the Ring App, control brightness, and set lighting schedules. For example, if you forget to turn the lights off when you leave for work, you can do it remotely when you get to the office, so you don’t use unnecessary energy when nobody’s home. 

Under-cabinet lighting, mounted fixtures, and recessed lights also come in LED form, allowing you to replace all the incandescent lights throughout your home. With a smart switch or dimmer that works with Ring Alarm and a Ring Protect subscription, sold separately, you can add smart capabilities to hardwired fixtures. Whether you want to turn on a lamp with a Ring smart bulb or LED recessed lighting in the hallway, you can do it all from the Ring App.

Use a Smart Thermostat

In the average U.S. household, over half of the energy consumed goes toward heating and cooling.¹ Switching to a smart thermostat enables you to reduce your energy needs automatically instead of manually adjusting the temperature throughout the day. 

With a Ring-compatible smart thermostat, you can set heating and cooling schedules on the Ring App to reduce energy usage when you’re asleep or away. Your thermostat can also use geofencing to sense when you leave the home and adjust the temperature accordingly. These features can make a big difference. According to energy.gov, adjusting the temperature by just seven to ten degrees for eight hours a day can help save as much as 10% on energy costs each year.

Seal Gaps Around Your Home

Your smart thermostat can heat or cool to your desired temperature, but it can’t keep outside air from seeping into your home. To maximize efficiency, you should check for air loss and seal any gaps with weatherstripping and caulk.

Some gaps are easy to detect, like an old window that releases a cold draft all winter. You can also check for visual gaps in exterior corners and near foundations, outlets, door frames, baseboards, and other areas where gaps commonly form. Using a blower door test, an energy assessor can help identify smaller, less noticeable areas of air loss. 

Add Insulation

Whether you live in a historic home or a new build, there’s a good chance it needs more insulation. Along with air sealing, adding insulation helps your home retain heat and cold air, which can lower your energy bills throughout the year. 

The Zip Code Insulation Program from the U.S. Department of Energy can help you determine where and how to add insulation. If you have access to the areas where insulation needs to go, like attic spaces, you can install it on your own. You may want professional help if your home needs more insulation in hard-to-reach areas, like exterior walls with existing drywall. 

Turn Off Electronics

If you often leave your computer or TV on while not in use, Energy Star points out that you could be wasting valuable energy. Even when those devices are powered down, they still pull energy from your home — which is why it’s best to turn off and unplug your electronics. 

Don’t feel like unplugging your TV, gaming console, and soundbar several times a day? Connect your electronics to a smart plug or outlet that works with Ring. From the Ring App, you can turn the smart plug on and off to remotely cut off power to devices. 

Wash Full Loads

When your dishwasher is half-full, you may be tempted to run it so your favorite mug is clean in the morning. But washing partial loads of dishes or laundry can waste water. While it may be a slight inconvenience, waiting for full loads can help you save over 3,400 gallons of water each year.²   

Conserve Hot Water

There are many ways to conserve hot water in your home, such as taking shorter showers. For even more savings, you can go straight to the source and change the settings on your water heater. Manufacturers often set water heaters to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, but according to energy.gov, 120 degrees is sufficient for most households. Adjusting the temperature can save you $400 or more each year — and it’s a simple project you can do yourself. 

Buy Efficient Appliances

Old and outdated appliances can use significantly more energy than current models. So, if you’re in the market for something new, look for an Energy Star-certified device. Certified products undergo rigorous testing to ensure they meet energy-efficiency standards, which means lower energy costs for you. 

Energy-Saving Tips for Summer

Saving energy when it’s hot and humid can be a challenge. Here are a few easy and efficient ways to beat the summer heat.

Maintain Your Air Conditioner

Keeping your home cool in the sweltering heat isn’t easy. That’s why it’s important to make sure everything is in working order before summer weather strikes. Start by cleaning or replacing your air filters, which according to energy.gov is the most critical maintenance task. Cleaning your evaporator coil can also help improve airflow around your outdoor unit. 

If you notice problems with your air conditioner or want an expert’s opinion, consider hiring a professional for a seasonal tune-up. A service technician can test your system, identify performance issues, and perform repairs before the hottest summer days, so you can avoid a long wait during the busy season. 

Close the Blinds

Keeping the blinds open is a great way to let in light, but it can also raise the temperature indoors. To keep your home refreshingly cool on the hottest days, close the blinds and curtains to keep the heat out. You can also open and close different curtains depending on the sun’s position to block direct sunlight without eliminating all the natural light inside. 

Use Ceiling Fans

Before you lounge in the living room, take a conference call in the office, or read a book in bed, switch on the fan first. Ceiling fans are highly effective at keeping you cool in the summer, and according to energy.gov, they allow you to turn the thermostat up by four degrees without sacrificing comfort. When you leave the room, turn off the fan to conserve energy. 

Fire Up the Grill

As the saying goes, if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen — and fire up the grill. You’ll get to enjoy your favorite foods, from grilled corn on the cob to juicy burgers, without creating heat indoors from the stove and oven. If you don’t feel like grilling on a hot day, consider making a dish that doesn’t require appliances, like a salad or cold sandwich.

Energy-Saving Tips for Winter

You don’t have to sacrifice energy efficiency to stay cozy. Learn how to safely conserve on even the coldest days. 

Inspect Heating Systems

Like your air conditioner, your heating systems need maintenance to work efficiently during winter. Energy.gov recommends replacing filters monthly and upgrading to an energy-efficient furnace if possible. Combined with other energy-saving measures, like insulation and thermostat adjustments, you may save up to 30% on your energy bill.

Let Light In

Hot sunlight may be your foe during the summer, but it’s your friend on a cold winter day. In the morning, open your window coverings to use sunlight to your advantage. Then, when the sun goes down, close blinds and curtains to minimize heat loss through your windows. 

Reverse Your Ceiling Fans

If you leave your ceiling fans untouched during wintertime, you’re missing out on energy savings. By reversing the motor so your fan operates clockwise, you can create an updraft that circulates warm air around the room. 

Use LED Holiday Lights

Like traditional light bulbs, incandescent holiday lights use more energy than LED versions. Trading your old lights for new, efficient strands can help save money and energy during the holiday season. Plus, you can safely string together more strands, and your lights can continue to stay bright for decades. 

Build Your Energy-Efficient Smart Home With Ring

At Ring, we make it easy to upgrade your home with energy-efficient products — without sacrificing convenience. From smart Ring products like LED lights and solar-powered cameras to compatible devices like smart water shutoffs and sensors, you can operate everything in one place on the Ring App. Check out all the products that work with Ring to see how energy efficiency meets whole-home security.