10 Energy Saving Tips and Resources
These energy saving tips can help you reduce your energy bills significantly and improve health and comfort at home.
1. Go-To Resources
ENERGY STAR® provides unbiased resources on how you can save energy. The Department of Energy's Energy Saver also provides information on home improvements, including "Tips on Saving Money and Energy at Home."
Check out All-In Clark County's toolkits for improving resiliency and sustainability in the home.
The Nevada Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) provides up-to-date information and resources, including on available utility and federal incentives. For affordable financing options, check out NCEF's Residential Energy Upgrade Program (RE-UP).
Have any questions? Reach out to us at greenloans@nevadacef.org.
2. Use Certified Contractors
Use a contractor certified in the state of Nevada. Look up certified contractors in Nevada and check out NCEF's vetted contractor network. NCEF vets contractors to ensure they are licensed, insured, and adhere to best practices.
If you are thinking about installing rooftop solar, check out NCEF's rooftop solar guide on how to protect yourself against predatory practices.
3. Conduct a Home Energy Assessment
A home energy assessment, or home energy audit, helps you identify inefficiencies in your home and which fixes you should prioritize to save energy and improve the comfort and safety of your home. A home energy assessment should be your first step before making energy-saving home improvements, and before adding a solar system to your home. A professional home energy assessment by a certified energy auditor is recommended. Find a certified energy auditor near you here and learn more here.
4. Seal Cracks, Gaps, and Holes in Your Home
- Before you tighten a home by sealing gaps and installing insulation, address any moisture problems. Otherwise, you can end up with indoor air quality problems, rot, and mold.
- The most important air leaks to address occur at the highest and lowest points of your home (e.g., attic, basement, crawlspace).
- Before and after sealing, ask your contractor to perform a blower door test to make sure that sealing has been done properly.
- If you use gas, oil, or propane to heat your home or water, your contractor should also perform tests to verify the equipment is working safely now that airflow conditions in the home may have changed.
5. Upgrade to More Efficient Equipment
- Use ENERGY STAR® to find the most efficient equipment and easily compare different products and appliances based on upfront price, ongoing utility costs, size, and performance.
- Consider electrifying your heating and air conditioning, water heating, clothes drying, and stoves to improve air quality in your home and, in many cases, reduce energy costs. Check out Rewiring America's Home Electrification Planner for tips.
- Air sealing and insulation should be performed before replacing the heating or air conditioning equipment. This will reduce the size of the equipment needed and installation costs. Your contractor should calculate your home's heating/cooling requirements in order to select appropriately sized equipment.
- Even the most efficient heating or cooling system will not perform efficiently unless it's properly installed and maintained.
6. Electrify Your Ride
The average Nevadan could save upwards of $3,000 per year in fuel and maintenance costs by driving an electric vehicle (EV). Use this EV cost comparison calculator to see how much you can save. Find EV chargers near you using this map.
7. Insulate Your Attic, Foundation, Basement, and Crawlspace
- Where there is a conditioned basement or crawlspace, the foundation wall should be insulated. This can be done using spray foam, foam board, or batt insulation. If there are vents in the crawlspace wall, these must be sealed as part of the insulation work.
- If you have an unconditioned basement or crawlspace, your contractor should fully install insulation between the floor joists and against the floor above. This can be very difficult with batt insulation. Insulation will work better if it is not compressed any more than necessary. Improper installation can significantly reduce the effectiveness of the insulation.
- Before installing attic insulation, make sure to seal holes, cracks, and gaps between your top-story ceiling and the attic floor. If these gaps are not sealed properly, insulation will not pay off. Moreover, moisture from the house can migrate into the attic and lead to mold, rot, or ice dams on your roof.
8. Seal and Insulate Your Ducts
- Most ducts leak conditioned air, and these leaks are often the largest source of energy loss in a home. Ducts that run through attics, crawlspaces, or unconditioned basements should be sealed to maximize energy savings. Use mastic or the appropriate foil tape—not duct tape. After sealing the ducts, the contractor should conduct combustion safety tests for homes with any non-electric heating and cooling systems.
- If ducts are located in unconditioned areas, they need to be insulated. Often, the best option is burying them inside insulation in the attic or crawlspace. Alternatively, you can have insulation wrapped around the ducts.
9. Install ENERGY STAR Windows and Skylights Correctly
Replacing windows generally is not cost-effective, given their high upfront cost. If you plan to replace windows or skylights for other reasons (e.g., ease of maintenance and operation, appearance, etc.), make sure your contractor properly installs ENERGY STAR windows, including air sealing the opening around the window and providing pan flashing at the sill.
10. Insulate Your Roofs and Walls
- Roof insulation needs to be installed correctly to avoid condensation from forming and causing rot; this typically is not a problem with spray foam-type insulation. In cold climates, contractors need to install an airtight barrier between the house and the insulation. In hot climates, they need to install an airtight barrier between the roof and the insulation.
- When adding wall insulation, have the work verified with an infrared scan of all treated walls.
