Basement

Courtesy of energystar.gov

The basement is a good place to make energy-efficient improvements. From appliances such as washing machines and dryers to heating and cooling equipment and home sealing, there are important steps you can take to improve your home's energy efficiency, save on energy bills, and help protect the environment.

Retire your old refrigerator!
After heating, cooling, and hot water, your old refrigerator is probably the next largest energy user in your home. New refrigerators are much more energy-efficient than older models. Get rid of the old fridge lurking in the basement. Instead, size your refrigerator to meet your needs, and recycle the old one. If you must have an extra refrigerator or freezer, buy a new, energy-efficient model. Keep your refrigerator/freezer as full as possible, and unplug it when empty. Selling or giving away an old refrigerator means that someone else will inherit an energy waster for years to come. An older model can cost, on average, $90 or more per year to operate. Find out how much your old refrigerator is costing you.

Dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers can remove excess moisture (humidity) from the air in your home. It is common to have excess moisture in the basement. Ideally, the comfortable and healthy range of relative humidity is between 30 and 50 percent. Anything above or below those levels can cause problems.

Some of the most common indications that you may need a dehumidifier are: musty smells, presence of mold and mildew, rotting wood, condensation on windows, and increased allergies (if the air in your home is too moist, it will encourage the growth of mildew, mites, and mold-common allergens). To reduce humidity in your basement, make sure the dryer is not venting inside the basement. Also, be sure to check that the ground next to the foundation slopes away from the house, and outdoor downspouts lead at least 3 feet away from the foundation. If you decide you need a dehumidifier for your home, look for one that's earned the ENERGY STAR. They use less energy, and can save more than $200 in energy costs over the life of the unit. » Learn more about what to look for when purchasing a dehumidifier.

Want other ideas on how to reduce moisture in your home?

Water Heater
Set your water heater thermostat to 120F or lower.

Savings resulting from turning down your water heater temperature are based on two components: reduced standby losses (heat lost from water heater into surrounding basement area); and consumption (from water demand or use in your home). Set too high, or at 140 degrees F, your water heater can waste anywhere from $36 to $61 annually in standby heat losses and more than $400 in demand losses. Set at 120 degrees F, you will save energy and money.

If you have an older water heater, you can improve its insulation by wrapping it with an insulating jacket and save more than $30 per year in excess heat loss. To help keep your hot water from cooling off before it gets to the tap, you can insulate the hot water piping coming out from the water heater for additional savings. Don't forget to turn off electric water heaters and turn down gas water heaters when going away on vacation.

Clothes Washer
Wash your laundry with cold water whenever possible. To save water, try to wash full loads or, if you must wash a partial load, reduce the level of water appropriately.

Hot water heating accounts for about 90 percent of the energy your machine uses to wash clothes - only 10 percent goes to electricity used by the washer motor. Depending on the clothes and local water quality (hardness), many homeowners can effectively do laundry exclusively with cold water, using cold water laundry detergents. Switching to cold water can save the average household more than $40 annually with an electric water heater and more than $30 annually with a gas water heater.

Washing full loads can save you more than 3,400 gallons of water each year.

It's worth investing in a new, energy-efficient clothes washer if you are due for a replacement. Many new models are much more efficient than those manufactured 10-12 years ago. ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers use half the energy of standard washers to clean clothes. They also use less water, and have a better spin cycle allowing for less drying time.

Clothes Dryer
Don't over-dry your clothes. If your dryer has a moisture sensor that will automatically turn the machine off when clothes are done, use it to avoid over-drying. Remember to clean the lint trap before every load. Dry full loads, or reduce drying time for partial loads.

It's easy to over-dry your clothes if one setting is used for various fabric types. Try to dry loads made up of similar fabrics, so the entire load dries just as the cycle ends. Many dryers come with energy-saving moisture or humidity sensors that shut off the heat when the clothes are dry. If you don't have this feature, try to match the cycle length to the size and weight of the load. A dryer operating an extra 15 minutes per load can cost you up to $34 every year.

The lint trap is an important energy saver. Dryers work by moving heated air through wet clothes, evaporating and then venting water vapor outside. If the dryer cannot provide enough heat, or move air sufficiently through the clothes, they will take longer to dry, and may not dry at all. One of the easiest things you can do to increase drying efficiency is to clean the lint trap before each and every load. This step can save you up to $34 each year.

Dryer Vent Sealing
Vents, ducts, or electrical wires often have holes or gaps around them which can allow the air in your home to escape, increasing your energy bill and causing more drafts in your house. Seal small gaps with caulk and holes up to 3 inches in diameter with spray foam. Cover spaces larger than 3 inches with a piece of foam board and seal with spray foam. Learn more in the Guide to Home Sealing (2MB).

Rim Joist Sealing
Seal areas between the sill plate and foundation, in cavities between rim joists and all electrical penetrations, and around pipes (water, and gas) and ventilation ducts that pass outside of the house. Seal with either caulk or expanding spray foam.

The basement is a place where big air leaks are hidden. Sealing these air leaks can make a big improvement in your home's energy use - especially in the winter! For information on how you can seal your home, get the Guide to Home Sealing (2MB).