10 Energy-Efficient Moves to Do in a Weekend

Replace your showerhead

Estimated time: 15 minutes

Estimated cost: $10 to $60

Install a new WaterSense-labeled showerhead, and you could save more than 2,700 gallons of water annually, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Using less hot water will cut your energy bills, and your local utilities may provide a rebate, too. The EPA vouches that models labeled WaterSense still provide a satisfying shower.

Your showerhead is a water-waster if it fills a gallon bucket in 20 seconds. To find out how much water and money you could save in your home with water-saving improvements, use the WaterSense calculator at EPA.gov.

Add aerators to your faucets

Estimated time: About 5 minutes per faucet

Estimated cost: $2 to $10

You can save another 700 gallons of water annually simply by replacing a standard aerator, which delivers more than 2.5 gallons per minute, with a low-flow one, with a flow of 0.5 to 1 gallon per minute. The low-flow aerators will cut water and energy usage while maintaining adequate water pressure.

Unsure whether your faucets are water wasters? Put a quart container under the sink faucet and let it flow. If the container fills in less than five seconds, get busy. In the kitchen you might want greater flow, say 2 to 4 gallons per minute, for filling a pot or the sink.

Install a water-efficient toilet

Estimated time: One hour

Estimated cost: $200 or more

EPA estimates that a family of four that replaces a home's older toilets with WaterSense-labeled models will, on average, save more than $140 annually on their water bill and $2,900 over the toilet's lifetime. And be sure to check whether your water utility or local government offers a rebate for a more efficient toilet.

The best efficient toilets cost from about $325 on up, according to Treehugger. These aren't the low-flow toilets of the past that had, politely put, "performance issues." Some come with two levels of flushing and creative ways of spraying water under pressure to drive efficiency. The DIY expert, Ron Hazelton, offers helpful installation tips. If you still don't feel comfortable, you can always hire a contractor for an average price of about $375, according to the home improvement site, Angi.

Switch to LEDs

Estimated time: 15 minutes

Estimated cost: About $1.50 and up

As the days get shorter, you’ll keep on the lights longer. Now’s a good time to switch from traditional incandescent light bulbs to light-emitting diode (LED) lights. LEDs last up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs, and they may use 90% less energy. They now come in many different hues and in softer colors. 

You can buy LED bulbs in bulk and switch out most of the single-bulb incandescent or CFL lights in your house. For about $30 you can get a 24-pack of Sylvania LED 60W bulbs. Or consider setting up a "smart light" system.

Hot tip: If you get an energy audit, you may get free LED bulbs installed throughout your home.

Start with your five most frequently used fixtures and you can save about $45 annually. Don’t forget about your hardest-to-reach locations, too. Don’t want to climb a ladder? Use the Bayco 11-foot Light Bulb Changer ($37).

Install a programmable thermostat

Estimated time: A half hour

Estimated cost: $25 to $250

With a programmable thermostat you can preset temperatures for your home that will automatically reduce heating and cooling when you don’t need them as much. Energy Star says an average household can save about $180 annually on their energy bills by properly setting their programmable thermostat and maintaining those settings.

This is a low-voltage wiring installation that will involve 2 to 10 wires. If you don’t feel comfortable following the instructions, a heating-and-air-conditioning contractor will probably charge you about $110 to $265 for installation.

Build or install an insulated attic hatch

Estimated time: Several hours

Estimated cost: $50 if DIY; $50 to $240 for ready-made models

If your attic entry is uninsulated, then your home may gain heat in summer and lose it in winter, jacking up your energy bills. Adding or updating attic insulation around the entry hatch can help. This job is a little more involved than simply laying down insulation; you'll need to know the correct "R-value" for your area. For do-it-yourself instructions, read the guide from the Insulation Institute. I

Keep in mind that depending on the age of your home, you may encounter old, hazardous insulation materials, such as asbestos, or insulation contaminated with mold. If you are uncertain about what might lurk in your attic insulation, it's best to call a professional.

If you have a big insulation job such as an entire attic, keep in mind that as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, homeowners may qualify for up to $1,600 in tax credits for insulation, air sealing, and ventilation.

You also have your choice of several, ready-made products. Check out: Battic Door Home Energy Conservation Products, The Energy Guardian Kits, the Attic Tent and the Draft Cap.

Stop chimney drafts

Estimated time: 15 minutes

Estimated cost: $65 for ready-made draftstopper

Even with the damper closed, in winter your home’s heated air goes up the chimney and in summer hot outdoor air comes down. When you’re not using it your fireplace, plug the flue with a chimney balloon like the Draft Stopper from Battic Door Energy Conservation Products.

For a really cheap alternative, you can make one out of an old seat cushion or a pillow placed in a heavy plastic bag. Stuff the cushion into the flue and tie a long tail to it, so you don’t forget about it the next time you make a fire.

Drain sediment from your water heater

Estimated time: 15 minutes

Estimated cost: $0

To ensure your water heater’s performance and longevity, drain it annually to get rid of accumulated sediment -- sand, minerals or other non-soluble stuff that settles at the bottom of the tank. A good tip-off that you need to do this? The heater sounds like a coffee pot, making bubbling or burping noises.

The basic strategy: Attach a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the rank and run it outdoors or to a utility tub.

Replace your washing machine hoses

Estimated time: 10 minutes

Estimated cost: $15 to $45

Washing machine hoses don’t last forever, regardless of the material they’re made from — reinforced rubber of stainless-steel reinforced (even those touted as "burst-proof"). A broken one can deluge your home with hundreds of gallons of water per hour, and your homeowners insurance probably won’t cover the flood.

Check the hoses frequently for rusting, bulging, cracking, fraying and leaks — signs that you should replace the hoses now. Otherwise, State Farm recommends that you replace them every three to five years. While you’re at it, check the hoses leading to water heaters, dishwashers and refrigerator ice-makers.

Add insulating window treatments

Estimated time: One hour for drapes; half hour per blind

Estimated cost: $10 to $300 and up

You can increase your comfort and cut your energy bills this winter with thermal window coverings. Duette Architella honeycomb shades, by Hunter Douglas (from $300 per blind), more than doubles the insulating value of a double-paned, low E window (when "inside mounted" and fully recessed within the window casement).

Other options: Deconovo sells thermal curtains with reflective backings for about $25 for two panels.