Some washers do not make efficient use of hot water. This is especially true of older models, and in homes with large numbers of people and laundry.

Traditional incandescent light bulbs consume a lot of electricity; wasting much of it. This is especially true in large homes, and in homes with large numbers of occupants. Newer bulbs, such as LED consume one fifth of the energy used by traditional bulbs. Switching to LED bulbs is one of the lowest cost ways to get huge savings on your electricity bill.

A programmable thermostat will reduce the amount that your heating and/or cooling system runs unnecessarily, such as when the house is predictably unoccupied or at night when occupants are asleep. Be sure to update your settings as your schedule changes.

A five minute shower shortened by a minute will save 20% of the energy needed.

A smart power strip ensures that electronic devices are off when a main device is turned off.

Unwanted air and water leaks may cause significant increases in your home's heating and cooling costs, and may even result in permanent damage and require substantial repair spending.

Most PCs, monitors and peripherals have low-power/sleep modes for when they are not being used. Many devices are not properly set to enter these modes automatically, especially PCs; when properly set, you can save large sums annually while still avoiding having to reboot your equipment daily.

Using the dishwasher with only full (or near full) loads of dishes saves substantive amounts of washing energy, water heating energy and water.

Using the washing machine with only full (or near full) loads of laundry saves substantial amounts of washing energy, water heating energy and water.

Dirty filters restrict the airflow of your heating and cooling system, making your system less efficient and increasing the system's energy demand.