Producing Electricity

• You can produce your own electricity to power your house. To produce your own energy, install a complete renewable energy system that includes solar panels, a small wind turbine system, or a hybrid system of both wind and power systems. If you are connected to the system of a local power provider and produce more energy than you need, you can sell the excess to the local power company. A consultation with a sustainable design specialist will help you determine which systems can provide all your power needs. For new homes, the builder or contractor can incorporate this into your home design. For existing homes, expect to pay more than $40,000 in renovation to install your new system.
  
  

Water Heating

• More than 15 percent of the energy you use in your home is for the purpose of heating water. You can reduce your hot water use and lower your water heating temperatures. Purchase insulation to cover your water heater tank and water pipes. Heat traps can also be installed. Timers can shut your tank off automatically during peak hours.
  
  

Insulation and Air Sealing

• Heating and cooling costs will go down if you insulate your home. Older homes have little to no insulation. Hire a home energy auditor to give you advice on the amount of insulation that you need. Ask the home energy auditor to also identify areas of your home that could benefit from air sealing. After you've detected air leaks, caulk and weatherstrip those locations.
  
  

Appliances

• Some of your appliances and electrical equipment draw the same amount of electricity when they are powered off as they do when they are powered on. Replace all your old appliances with Energy Start qualified products. These are products approved and suggested by the Environmental Protection Agency.
  
  

Lighting

• The U.S. Department of Energy says that lighting eats up 10 percent of household electricity use. Daylighting and LED lights can reduce light energy use by as much as 75 percent. Artificial light not only uses up energy, it also affects your health, comfort and mood. If you're building a new home, focus on adding large south and north facing windows. These windows allow in the least heat in the summer but provide ample daylighting so that you don't have to use up electricity. For older homes, consider renovating and adding energy efficient windows.