Especially if your local grid is powered by coal or other fossil fuels, energy conservation is key. Remember that you’ll have the greatest gains if you focus on heating and cooling.

• Buy energy-efficient appliances. For helpful information, see information at www.energy.gov.
• Use a home energy monitor to identify what’s sucking down the most energy, so you can make changes where they’re most useful.
• Hang clothes outside to dry, or inside if the weather is bad or you don’t have access to appropriate outdoor space. In the US, clothes dryers represent 4% of an average home’s total energy use.
• Reduce the energy used to heat water: Take shorter showers, wash clothes in cold water whenever possible, and lower the temperature of your water heater when you’re away for more than a few days. Consider installing an on-demand water heater, which uses energy to heat water only when you need it.
• Use the dishwasher instead of hand-washing dishes, and run it only when it’s full. Turn off heated dry in the dishwasher and let your dishes air dry.
• Run only full loads in the clothes washer.
• Turn off lights and gadgets when you’re not using them. Use smart power strips to eliminate standby power use (also called “vampire energy”).
• Use hand tools—brooms, manual lawnmowers, and screwdrivers—instead of power tools when possible.
• Change light bulbs to LED.