Reply #14: Simplest things first

[sui generis]

Insulation insulation insulation. Are you slab / pier & beam / basement? Can you get into your crawlspaces and attic? Can you shade your western exposures (awnings, trees/bushes) in summer and cover your windows when not at home? Seal your fireplace when not in use, all seasons. A folding glass screen is sufficient, but a flue alone is not. Window replacement or insulating curtains, door and door seal replacement are two other big savers, and basically doing whatever you can to preserve the season's comfort temperature inside the house. Change your clothing habits - in the winter, wear more layers and in the summer take it off, enjoy your shorts & t-shirts and light fabrics.

I'd start with all those pieces - roll out new insulation or scatter cellulose (if code permits) in hard to reach areas.

Next: insulate your water heater and wrap your pipes. Lower your water heater temperature a notch or two if it's set on max. Change out your thermostat for a programmable one and program comfort for the times of day when you are at home and awake; use energy-saver recommendations for your away and asleep times. Also, buy a NEW oscillating floor fan for large rooms and use it on low setting - it helps circulate air and keep room temperatures constant. Where feasible, use new or good quality ceiling fans with reversible switches - DOWN for winter and UP for summer.

All of these are very affordable quick fixes.

Next - replace energy inefficient appliances - look for your SEER ratings on AC and other appliances and upgrade as you find good deals. Bargain new is always better than bargain second hand if you can go that route for replacement appliances. Old refrigerators and old deep freezers are enery pigs - you will do better in the long run to replace anything you have that's older than 7 - 10 years as you are able to.

Finally, don't run dishwasher daily - a quick handwash & stack as you go for light dinners throughout the week is MUCH more efficient than running dishwasher daily, and rinse first and use your quick cycle and "air dry" settings on dishwasher when you do use it. For clothes, always do full loads, drip dry whatever you can when/if feasible, or else damp dry heavy loads like jeans and comforters and let them finish dry over bathroom shower rod or on hangers.

My partner and I live in a 55 year old house that we've updated and generally don't have income worries, however, we still take care not to use more energy than necessary out of principle.