Tips for your Home
Can you take a shorter shower? Probably. Can you save gallons of hot water every month? Absolutely. That’s OneThing.
Change all lights to CFLs, check air pressure in car tires, disconnect the hot tub when not in use. That’s a few OneThing’s from Alan B., Newington.
A $10 low-flow showerhead can save you bucket loads of energy. That’s OneThing.
Double it up. Double pane glass windows keep the heat inside and save you a lot. That’s OneThing.
I am going to Home Depot today to switch all my light bulbs over to the CFL Bulbs. And cut down on my shower time. That’s two OneThings from John C., New Haven.
Put a lid on it! Using cooking pots with lids reduces energy use by 20%. That’s OneThing.
My wife and I recently replaced all lightbulbs with energy efficient bulbs. We're also installing ENERGY STAR windows and looking into a better water heater. That’s a few OneThings from Anthony V., Milford
Nag your parents. If they’re being wasteful, give them a few OneThings they can do around the house. That’s OneThing.
Unplug appliances when not using them. Turn off lights when not in room. That’s a couple of OneThings from Emmit R., Waterbury.
Use the right tool for the job. Choose your electric power tool with the lowest horsepower or amps adequate for the work you want to do. That’s OneThing.
Got a fireplace? Use it for romance. But not to heat your home. They can suck warm air right out of your house. That’s OneThing.
Hang clothes outside on the line instead of using the dryer. That’s OneThing from Sherene., Hartford.
Your home’s walls and ceilings might not be insulated and you don’t even know it. Make sure and you could save a few hundred bucks every year. That’s OneThing.
Have your furnace or boiler checked and cleaned annually so you can be sure it’s running efficiently. That’s OneThing.
How cold is too cold? Raise your refrigerator temperature by ten degrees to cut your electric bill and still keep food fresh. That’s OneThing.
Grow summer vegetables in small backyard garden. No shipping from farms to stores - saves gas and is healthier, too. That’s OneThing from Andra, Glastonbury.
Use your kitchen or bathroom exhaust fan to remove excess humidity and keep rooms comfortable. That's OneThing.
Wait til 8! Use your bigger appliances after 8 at night to reduce the energy strain during peak hours. That’s OneThing.
Wash and rinse your clothes on the cold water cycle. That’s fine for most loads and will cost you four times less than the warm water cycle. That’s OneThing.
Wash fruits and veggies in a bowl of water instead of running hot water. That’s OneThing.
Wash laundry during "off peak" hours. That’s OneThing from Jeanne M., Ansonia.
We don't run window AC units unless the house gets to 80 degrees. And, we only run the AC units for napping and sleeping. That’s OneThing from Gayle C., Newington.
We use fans instead of air conditioners and turn them off when we are not at home. That’s a cool OneThing from Lois and Peter C., Norwalk
When cooking, double your recipe and freeze half for later. Reheating uses less energy. That’s OneThing.
When driving, open a window instead of using the A/C. You’ll get better gas mileage. That’s OneThing.
When not in use, leave single level faucets in the "cold" position so your water heater doesn’t kick on everytime you turn on the water. That’s OneThing.
When showering, turn off the water between shampooing and conditioning your hair. You could save up to 50 gallons of hot water per week. That’s OneThing.
When taking a shower: turn on the water, get wet. Turn off the water. Soap. Turn on the water again to rinse. You don't need to keep the water on for a shower-- you can't get any wetter! That’s OneThing from Nora, Hartford.
When you leave a hotel room, switch off the air conditioning, lights, and TV to reduce energy use. It’s not your electric bill, but it is your planet. That’s OneThing.
When you leave a room, turn off the lights. You can save up to 70% of the money you spend on electricity for lighting. That’s OneThing.
You can’t watch TV when you’re fast asleep. But you can waste energy. When watching TV late, set the sleep timer. That’s OneThing.
Your food will still finish cooking if you switch the gas or electricity off a few minutes before the timer dings. And you will save on your energy bill. That’s OneThing.
Unplug the Cell Phone Charger every morning after the battery is good to go. Robert S., Wethersfield.
Unplug the dehumidifier, use energy saving bulbs, unplug the extra refrigerator, use the air conditioner only as needed, and cook outdoors. That’s a bunch of OneThings from Arylene C., Wethersfield.
Use a broom and a little human power, instead of gas powered blowers when possible. That’s OneThing.
Use a reusable water bottle filled with filtered tap water instead of buying bottles of water to stay hydrated. That’s OneThing from Ben F., Groton.
Use a surge protector to control multiple appliances or electronics. You can effectively "unplug" them all with one flick of a switch. That’s OneThing.
Use ceiling fans by themselves or with your A/C. The most efficient ceiling fans cost as little as 30 cents a month and can allow you to keep the thermostat setting higher. That’s OneThing.
Use cold water instead of hot water when running your garbage disposal. It saves energy and is better for the system. That’s OneThing.
Use dimmer switches to decrese the amount of energy used. And be sure to turn dimmers completely off – not just down – when you leave the room. That’s OneThing.
Use outdoor lights with a photocell sensor or timer so they automatically turn off during the day. That’s OneThing.
Use pots and pans that match the size of the burner you are using, so you don’t use more heat than necessary. That’s OneThing.
Use recycled paper. Every ton saves trees, water and the energy equivalent of 380 gallons of oil. That’s OneThing.
Use smaller task lighting over desks, tables and workbenches instead of lighting the whole room. That’s OneThing.
Use the dryer once with 2 loads of laundry instead of one. That’s OneThing from Nancy S., Torrington
Use the microwave instead of the oven when possible. It uses less energy and cooks 75% faster. That’s OneThing.
Need a new water heater? Consider a tank-less model. It's more efficient and works just as well for most homes. That’s OneThing.
On cool summer nights, open windows and turn off the A/C. That’s OneThing.
Pick up an aerator for your faucet for a few bucks. It will save hot water yet still feel like a strong stream because of the added air. That’s OneThing.
Place reflective panels between your radiators and the wall to bounce the heat back into the room. It will reflect well on your energy bill. That’s OneThing.
Plan your refrigerator trips so you don’t keep the door open too long and waste energy. That’s OneThing.
Plant trees to shade your house from the sun on hot days. It could save you up to 8% on cooling costs. That’s OneThing.
Preserve hot water with a low-flow showerhead. You’ll save energy and get just as clean. That’s OneThing.
Put computers in stand-by or shut down mode instead of running all day. That’s OneThing from Gayle C., Newington
Put lamps in corners of rooms so light reflects off two walls. Use light colors on walls, ceilings and floors to reflect more light. You’ll use less lights overall. That’s OneThing.
Rather than turning up the heat, put on an extra sweater. That’s OneThing.
Recycle. Recycle. Then, recycle some more. Reusing everything from cloth diapers to ink cartridges means less energy is being used to create more. That’s OneThing.
Recycling just one aluminum can save enough energy to operate a TV for 3 hours. How many cans can you recycle? That’s OneThing.
Rely on free natural light when possible. Keep windows clean and unobstructed. That’s OneThing.
Replace large portion of lawn with a wildflower meadow - less mowing - less gas used and more time to smell the flowers! That's OneThing from Andra, Glastonbury.
Replace old inefficient appliances with ENERGY STAR rated ones. Most pay for themselves in saved energy costs in just a few years. That’s OneThing.
Replace three light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs and you could save $60 per year. That’s OneThing.
Run washes and dishwashers only with full loads of laundry or dishes to save hot water and electricity. That’s OneThing.
Run your dishwasher only when you have a full load to save electricity and hot water. That’s OneThing.
Scrape, don’t rinse dishes before loading the dishwasher. Pre-rinsing can use up to 20 gallons of hot water. That’s OneThing.
Set your refrigerator to 40ºF and the freezer to 5ºF to save up to 5% of energy consumption. That’s OneThing.
Shade your air conditioning condenser. It works more efficiently in a cooler environment. That’s OneThing.
Shut off electric stove and oven several minutes before food is done, and use the retained heat. That’s OneThing from Lorraine Z., Stamford.
Shut off your coffee pot as soon as your coffee is done and store the excess in a thermos to keep it hot. That’s OneThing from Kerri M., Wolcott.
Skip the pre-wash cycle on washing machines and dishwashers. Most of the time you don’t need them. And you certainly don’t need the added energy costs. That’s OneThing.
Skip the snow blower and grab a shovel every once in a while. More exercise is good. Less gas and oil is better. That’s OneThing.
Stay warm and save money. Installing storm windows can reduce your room's heat loss by up to 50%. That’s OneThing.
Steam your veggies instead of boiling. You’ll use less energy and retain more vitamins. That’s better for you. That’s OneThing.
Switch off and unplug appliances when they are not in use. Save up to 10% on your electricity bill and avoid wasting energy. That’s OneThing.
Take a "Navy shower" - Wet down, turn the water off, soap down, turn the water back on and rinse off. Save water and, save energy on heating the water. That’s a OneThing order from Joe F., Terryville.
Take a shower, not a bath. A shower can use 5 to 10 times less hot water. That’s OneThing.
Take food out of the freezer early and let it defrost at room temperature instead of using energy in the microwave or oven. That’s OneThing.
Take the stairs. It's good exercise for you and less energy for the building. That’s OneThing.
Tell at least 5 people to do OneThing today. That’s OneThing.
The kids each get one towel a week instead of one a day to cut down on the wash. That’s OneThing from Melissa B., Daville.
Thing big. When planning your dream house, consider energy-saving heating and cooling units. Or, the ultimate, an ENERGY STAR® rated home. That’s OneBIGThing.
Tune up your central air system once a year (or your heat pump system) to lower operating costs and obtain the maximum operating efficiency from that unit. That’s OneThing.
Turn off your air conditioner and use a fan instead. Or use the fan function on you’re A/C. It uses about one/tenth of the energy. That’s OneThing.
Turn off your computer when it won’t be used for more than an hour. That’s OneThing.
Turn your thermostat down a degree or two in the winter. And up a degree or two in the summer. You won't notice the difference… until you get your electricity bill. That’s OneThing.
I ask everyone I know to also do OneThing. That is OneThing from Stephen S., Southport.
I have switched over almost all of my light bulbs to the energy efficient cork screws. I have our pool on a timer. I always turn off lights when I am not in that room. That’s a bunch of OneThings from Roxanne T., Terryville.
I installed a small window fan in the bedroom to blow cool air from outside at night, which uses a lot less energy than the central air conditioning unit. That’s OneThing from Andrew D., Woodbridge.
I keep my blinds closed on sunny days to reduce the amount of cooling my air conditioner has to do when I get home from work in the evening. That's OneThing from Julie, New Haven.
I keep my cell phone charger unplugged when not in use. That’s OneThing from Nancy S., Torrington.
I unplug the microwave overnight. This also discourages late night snacking :) That’s OneThing from Paige S., Waterford.
I’m only watching a half hour of the news tonight instead of the hour and a half that I usually do which saves energy. That’s OneThing from Donna W., Coventry.
If you must use incandescent bulbs, stay away from "long life" bulbs, the least efficient type. That’s OneThing.
If you own a waterbed, make it up everyday to keep it covered and reduce heating costs. Or by an insulated mattress pad and ditch the heater. That’s OneThing.
If you want to use your electric oven’s self-cleaning function, do so after baking or broiling so it doesn’t have to heat up from a cold start. That’s OneThing.
If your fridge is more than 10 years old, a new one could save as much as $100 annually in energy costs. That’s OneThing.
If you're going away for a long period of time, use up perishable foods, turn your refrigerator off, and leave the door open. That’s OneThing.
If you're remodeling your home, look into renewable energy sources like solar panels or even personal wind mills. That’s OneThing.
Install a timer on your room air conditioner or central air so you don’t have to cool an empty house all day. That’s OneThing.
Install awnings over exterior windows exposed to direct sunlight to lower your cooling costs. That’s OneThing.
Install ceiling fans - use less energy than air conditioners. That’s OneThing from Andra, Glastonbury.
Install florescent lights and turn them off every time you leave the room. It saves energy and the light bulbs last a lot longer then regular light bulbs. That’s OneThing from Bryan J. W., Groton.
Install motion sensors so lights are on only when they’re needed. That’s OneThing.
Install wall outlet and switch plate gaskets for a few cents and cut down on cold air entering your home and making your heating bills higher. That’s OneThing.
Installing a thermostatically controlled attic exhaust fan can lower inside temperatures in the summertime by as much as 50%, without costly air conditioning. That’s OneThing.
Insulate your water heater and it will work better, saving you energy costs. That’s OneThing.
Insulate your windows and doors to save on heating and cooling energy. That’s OneThing.
Keep the thermostat on your home water heater below 120 ºF. That’s plenty hot and could save plenty of energy. That’s OneThing.
Keep your fridge stocked, but not too stocked. Too full or too empty and it takes more energy to keep it cool. That’s OneThing.
Keep your microwave clean and it actually cooks more efficiently. That’s OneThing.
Let dishes air dry instead of using your dishwashers heated dry function. That’s OneThing.
Let hot food cool before putting it in the fridge to avoid using extra energy. That’s oneThing.
Make one night a week game night. Shut off all TV's, leave the laundry, sit around the table and play board games. This saves electricity and insures quality time as a family. That’s a few OneThings from Melissa C., Waterbury
Make sure your fridge isn’t near a heat source like a window or stove. It takes more energy to keep your food cold. That’s OneThing.
Move your heater thermostat down two degrees in winter and up two degrees in the summer and pocket $100 a year. That’s OneThing.
Mow old school. Manual, rotary blade mowers are back in style. And they use exactly zero gas and oil. That’s OneThing.
Dust or vacuum radiator surfaces and vents frequently to cut down on heat loss. If they need painting, use a flat paint which radiates heat better than glossy paint. That’s OneThing.
Every few loads, consider drying your clothes outside on a line. It saves big on energy and talk about "Spring fresh." That’s OneThing.
Fix leaks! Hot water dripping at the tap or in the basement is like throwing money down the drain. That’s OneThing.
Get rid of any room air conditioner that is more than ten years old and you'll save when you replace it with an ENERGY STAR qualified model. That’s OneThing.
Go ahead and use your dishwasher. A full load actually uses less hot water than hand washing. That’s OneThing.
A bright idea -– dust off your light bulbs to increase the amount of light they give off by up to 50%. Then shut off extra lights. That’s OneThing.
Add insulation to at least ten feet of hot and cold water pipes attached to your hot water heater. That’s OneThing.
After your morning pick-me-up, unplug your coffee maker to save energy. That’s OneThing.
Air dry your clothes instead of using the dryer and save yourself $75 a year. That’s OneThing.
Avoid opening your oven door when cooking. It let’s out heat and uses up more energy. That’s OneThing.
Avoid the winter chill and save energy by closing and insulating your windows completely. That’s OneThing.
Before leaving for vacation, unplug all of your appliances and make sure all lights and timers are off. Don't pay for electricity you’re not using. That’s OneThing.
Before you leave your house for vacation, adjust the heating, cooling and water heater temperatures to conserve energy. That’s OneThing.
Bored? Do something that uses only your own energy. Like biking, hiking, shooting hoops or throwing the old football around. That’s OneThing.
Buy a pressure cooker. It cuts cooking time and energy use by 33%. That’s OneThing.
Buy detergents that let you use less hot water to wash clothes or dishers. That’s OneThing.
Buy in bulk when you can. Fewer trips to the store means fewer trips to the gas station. That’s OneThing.
Buy local food. It takes less transportation fuel to get it to the store. That’s OneThing.
Charge your cell phone in the car, using renewable, battery energy, and not electricity. That’s OneThing from Gayle C., Newington.
Chargers can charge up your electric bill. Unplug chargers for your cell phone, digital camera and MP3 player when they’re not charging. That’s OneThing.
Clean or replace dirty air conditioner filters and you could pocket $150 per year in energy savings. That's Cool! That’s OneThing.
Clean your dryer filter and exhaust vent regularly. When clogged with lint, your dryer works harder and uses more energy. That’s OneThing.
Clean your refrigerator, especially the coils on the back. Dust and dirt can strain your compressor and waste energy. That’s OneThing.
Close all closet doors in rooms you’re heating or cooling. That’s OneThing.
Close your fireplace’s damper when not in use. A chimney can draw out as much as 25% of the heated air in your house if the damper is left open. That’s OneThing.
Compost. Recycle. Electric strips. Unplug chargers. That’s a few OneThings from Tracy G., Wethersfield.
Cook with gas or propane instead of electricity when possible. It can use as little as half the energy. That’s OneThing.
Cook your food faster and cheaper. Put a lid on your cooking pots to reduce the energy used by up to 30%. That’s OneThing.
Cover liquids and foods in the refrigerator. Left uncovered, they can release moisture and make the fridge work harder and use more energy. That’s OneThing.
Defrost your freezer. It will run more efficiently and save you cold cash. That’s OneThing.
Do you really need that extra fridge or freezer. Getting rid of it could save you $100s. That’s OneThing.
Do you really need that hair dryer? They use a lot of energy. A lot more than air-drying your hair, that’s for sure. That’s OneThing.
Do your shopping online or compare prices online to avoid multiple trips to the stores, avoiding multiple trips to the gas pump. That’s OneThing.
Don’t leave your TV on just for background noise. Save money on your electric bill and buy a parakeet. That’s OneThing.
Don’t let hot water keep running while you’re shaving or washing. That’s OneThing.
Don’t place lamps or TV’s in front of thermostat sensors. The sensors can feel the heat given off and make the A/C run longer. That’s OneThing.
Don't line oven racks with foil. It blocks heat flow and makes the oven work harderto cook food. That’s OneThing.
Shut the TV and lights off when not in the room. That's OneThing from Fran M., Shelton.
Ride your motorcycle to work. It gets better gas mileage than a car. That's OneThing from Thomas B., Waterbury.
Install Energy Star windows and look into a more efficient water heater. That's OneThing from Anthony V., Milford.
Unplug the microwave overnight. This also discourages late night snacking :). That's OneThing from Paige S., Waterford.
In the shower; turn off the water while you're soaping or shampooing. You don't need to keep the water on for a shower-- you can't get any wetter!. That's OneThing from Nora, Hartford.