Install a programmable thermostat.
A programmable thermostat can monitor your house temperature, keeping it warmer or cooler when you’re not there. For example, if you’re away during the day at work, a programmable thermostat can keep the inside temperature warmer than you’d usually keep it, and trigger the A/C only when you get home. Using one properly can save you up to $180 a year.
Replace old appliances.
Your old appliances, such as water heaters, refrigerators, and stoves, could be wasting a lot of energy. Replacing them with Energy Star-qualified products will ensure that your home uses less energy.
Use eco paints on your walls.
Traditional paints contain damaging volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can continue being emitted into your home’s atmosphere for 5 years after painting. Look for paints that are plant-based and water-borne.
If you can’t find plant-based paints, try to find paints that are labeled “VOC-free.” Many large paint manufacturers, such as Benjamin Moore, produce VOC-free paint.