Efficiency Checklist

Location:
-Do not live on previously undeveloped land whose elevation is lower than 5 feet above the elevation of the 100 year flood as defined by FEMA.
-Do not live within 100 feet of any wetland.
-Do not live within 50 feet of a water body, defined as seas, lake, river streams etc.
-Minimize the use of a car by carpooling and/or use commuter rail or bus service when available.
-Live in a neighborhood that's ½ mile of at least 10 basic frequently-used services and with pedestrian access between the home and services (such as pharmacy, post-office, school, church, hardware store, supermarket, local hang-outs, etc.).
-I know this is a tough one in the US, but consider living smaller rather than bigger...... Adopt a less-is-more philosophy. Building bigger means; you'll use more energy, now and later.
-In areas with an average wind of over 25 mi/hr, consider a windmill to generate electricity.

Cooling:
-Provide good air flow to outdoor cooling equipment by keeping the coils clean and the (fan) equipment clear of tall grass, leaves and other debris. Provide at least 2 feet of clearance on all sides of the equipment and 5 feet of clearance at the top. (it might not be a bad idea to have the AC equipment checked and cleaned every year, especially in the South)
-Check that a clothes dryer is not vented (hot air) within 10 feet of the outdoor unit.
-Operate the cooling equipment wisely. (A house does not suddenly have to become a freezer in the summer.) A higher setting saves money.
-Reduce moisture levels inside the home. Air conditioners and heat pumps dehumidify the air as well as cool it. Much of the excess humidity inside the home comes from humid outdoor air leaking inside. Sealing unwanted air leaks, such as holes around plumbing and wiring, helps lower interior moisture levels and reduce air conditioning costs. For some houses, air leaks can contribute to over 30% of cooling costs. (See "Insulation")
-Shade windows by installing overhangs or awnings. Any home (and in particular a home in the south) requires an overhang to regulate solar gain.
-In the warmer climates, plant shrubbery in front of your South facing window to soak up some heat.

Duct Sealing and Insulation
All ducts running through exterior spaces, such as attics and crawl spaces, should be thoroughly sealed and insulated. Improperly sealed ducts can penalize a system up to 30%. Ducts should be sealed with duct sealing mastic (and not duct tape of any kind). Most energy codes require minimum duct insulation levels of R-6. Duct insulation can have a major impact on the comfort of your home by keeping the air in the ducts much closer to the temperature that the system is designed to supply.

Insulation:
Keep your foundation or basement dry! Moisture will act as a temperature wick, reduces the R-value of insulation and creates mold.
If windows are old, drafty and show moisture, replace them with efficient windows and remember that not all windows have to be "openable".

Ventilation
Removing moisture and other pollutants at the source is the best way to maintain good IAQ. Extremely quiet and highly durable fans are now available to remove moisture from bathroom showers and kitchens; this is many times better than making the air conditioning work harder. Use fans which vent to the outside.

Mold
Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. If you clean up the mold, but don't fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold persist.
Fixing Mold Problems
-Fix plumbing leaks and other water problems as soon as possible. Dry all items completely.
-Scrub mold off hard surfaces with de detergent and water, and dry completely.
-Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be thrown away if they become moldy.

AC:
Choose equipment that is properly sized and has a good efficiency rating. Insist that equipment be sized according to the Air Conditioning Contractors Association of America (ACCA) Manual J, or similar procedures. Do not accept simple rule-of-thumb methods for sizing equipment such as so many tons of air conditioning per square foot of living area. A house's heating and cooling needs vary dramatically according to orientation, shade, window area, air leakage, and insulation levels. Proper sizing is particularly important for air conditioning in the Southeast. Units that are too large cycle on and off quickly and do not run long enough to remove moisture from the air. Remember, comfort is a function of both temperature and humidity.

Hot water Heater (DHW) -Have a solar collector installed to pre-heat the water you use. These are very efficient and offer immediate payoff.
Consider the following factors when buying a water heater (DHW):
" Fuel availability, including natural gas, electricity, oil, and propane
" Cost-equipment, installation, and expected annual fuel cost
" Capability-system capacity, including first hour rating (FHR)
" Longevity-expected equipment life
" Safety, including possible combustion gas back-drafting concerns

Improving Water Heater Efficiency
-With any DHW system, methods for reducing hot water costs start with lowering the thermostat.
-The greatest inefficiency of an electric hot water heater lies in the heat it loses during the time is sits around waiting for us to turn on the hot water tap. (This is called standby loss). Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees F (130 degrees if you have a dishwasher that doesn't have a temperature booster).
-Installing water heater insulating "jackets" of R-11 or higher can be cost effective in reducing standby losses on storage-type units, especially older or poorly insulated ones. Greater benefits are achieved when the hot water tank is installed outside of conditioned space (e.g., garage). For safety, however, never block any controls, valves, or airways for combustion or exhaust.
-If your tank is older than 5 years, check for excessive standby loss by placing the palm of your hand against the side of the tank. If you feel a noticeable warming of your hand, chances are wrapping the tank will help.
-If your hot water tank is older than 12 years, consider replacing it with an energy efficient model. (Look for an Energy Factor of .91 or greater.) The average life for electric water heaters is about 14 years.
-For electric water heaters, install a timer that can automatically turn the hot water off at night and on in the morning. A simple timer can pay for itself in less than a year.
-Install a heat trap above the water heater. (This is a simple piping arrangement that prevents hot water from rising up in the pipes, thereby minimizing standby losses.)
-Install low flow showerheads and faucet aerators.

Transportation:
-Use a small map of your town (can be made via Google Maps), pin it on a piece of board or insulation and use colored pins to plan your trips in town. (I use Red pins for location I "have to" visit that day. Blue that I should visit soon.)
-Check into public transportation. Most big cities have it in place, but now some small and larger towns start implementing and improving their public transportation system.

Lighting:
- Install fluorescent light fixtures for all ceiling- and wall-mounted fixtures that will be on for more than 2 hours each day (including fixtures in the kitchen, living room, bathrooms, halls, bedrooms, and other higher-demand locations).
- Use CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lighting) in portable lighting fixtures that are operated for more than 2 hours a day.
- Use light wall colors to minimize the need for artificial lighting.
- Use fluorescent, HID, or low-pressure sodium lights unless incandescent lights are automatically controlled to be on for just a few minutes each day.
- Make sure outdoor light fixtures have reflectors, deflectors, or covers to make more efficient use of the light source and help reduce light pollution.
- Reduce light levels where there are no visual tasks. Provide minimum light necessary for safety, and aesthetics.
- Reduce light levels for visual tasks where those levels are currently excessive.

Miscellaneous
-Use a cloth line for drying cloth and air dry dishes. Heat takes a tremendous amount of energy.
-Recycle !
-Install a water barrel.