Ways to save energy at home.
Since 1970,
NW Natural customers have cut their energy use and carbon emissions in half.
More energy-saving tips
Taking a whole-house approach to energy efficiency will help you get the most out of your monthly bill and keep your home at its peak comfort level. These free and low-cost improvements can reduce your energy consumption and your payments, especially in the cold winter months.
Low-cost home improvements
Low-cost home improvements
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Install high-performance showerheads and faucet aerators in all sinks. You can efficiently heat water and maintain water pressure.
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Service natural gas appliance and equipment annually. NW Natural Preferred Contractors can do this for you.
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Cover hot water pipes with insulation. Do the same with the first six feet of cold water pipes, too.
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Maintain caulking and weather stripping. Fix when you see cracks, and use around windows and doors.
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Fix dripping faucets. Any plumbing issues should be addressed immediately.
Free fixes
Free fixes
Keep furnace filters clean.
- A dirty filter slows air flow, makes the system work harder and wastes energy.
- Recommendation: Change your furnace filter once a month during the fall/winter season (for standard filters).
Adjust vents.
- Make your adjustments based on the season and room location.
- For example, heat rises, so upstairs rooms need less of it.
- Recommendation: Don't close more than one or two vents in an average-sized house.
- Restricting airflow can shorten the life of your furnace.
Limit use of ventilation fans.
- Use kitchen, bath and other fans only as needed, especially in winter.
- Recommendation: Never keep fans on for more than an hour. They can blow away a houseful of warm air.
Wash dishes and clothes with full loads only.
- Recommendation: Scrape food residue off plates instead of using water to rinse.
- Wash clothes with cold water.
Use draperies, awnings, blinds or shutters on all windows.
- It slows the loss of heat through the glass.
- Recommendation: In winter, keep window coverings open on sunny days and closed at night to insulate against cold outside temperatures.
Close dampers when not using your fireplace or woodstove.
- Recommendation: Wait until the fire is completely out, which could take several hours.
Upgrades
Upgrades
Save up to 30%* on:
- Heating and cooling costs when you seal air leaks and upgrade insulation in your home.
- Recommendation: Hire a contractor to pinpoint air leakage.
Save up to 15% on:
- Heating costs when you upgrade from a standard efficiency to a high-efficiency gas furnace.
- Recommendation: High-efficiency natural gas furnaces with a minimum 90% AFUE rating provide bigger energy savings.
Save up to 12% on:
- Household energy bills when you upgrade leaky windows.
- Recommendation: Look for high-efficiency windows that reduce condensation, and decrease drafts and air leaks.
Save 3%* on:
- Energy use with each degree you reduce the heat on your thermostat.
- Recommendation: Use a programmable thermostat that automatically reduces the heat at night or at times of day you're not home.
Save 3-5%* on:
- Energy costs with each 10-degree reduction in water temperature.
- Recommendation: Keep water heater temperature at 120 degrees, or 140 degrees if your dishwasher doesn't pre-heat water.
*Percentages agreed upon by Energy Trust of Oregon and NW Natural.