Energy.gov

Energy-efficient strategies don't have to cost thousands of dollars or require a contractor. YOU can change your home energy use with a few simple projects. Energy Saver now has the following DIY projects available on our Do-It-Yourself Energy Saving Projects page.

Each project details level of difficulty, potential energy savings, time to complete, and overall cost. There are also step-by-step instructions to make completing your DIY energy saving project a piece of cake.

Lower Water Heating Temperature

This "easy" water heater project recommends you lower your water heater temperature to 120°F. Lowering the temperature of your water heater can save you $12-$30 annually for each 10° reduction and decreases the risk of scalding. It only takes two hours to complete and doesn’t cost anything!

Insulate Hot Water Pipes

Insulating your hot water pipes reduces heat loss and can raise water temperature by 2°F–4°F hotter than uninsulated pipes can deliver, allowing for a lower water temperature setting. It is rated as a medium difficulty level project, and can save $8-$12 annually. It will take about three hours to complete for a small house and costs about $10-$15 overall.

Insulate Hot Water Heater Tank

Just like insulating your walls or roof, insulating your hot water tank is an easy and inexpensive way to improve energy efficiency and save you money each month, especially if you have an older water tank. It is a medium difficulty level project and can save you $20-$45 annually. It only takes an hour and a half to complete and will cost about $30 overall.

Install Exterior Storm Windows with Low-Emissivity Coating

Storm window installation is one of the most cost-effective solutions for upgrading energy inefficient existing windows. They’re easy to install and cost a fraction of replacement windows. In fact, low-emissivity (low-e) storm windows can lower your utility bill just as much as replacing an entire window. It is rated as an easy project and can save you 10%-35% on your energy bills. It will take 20-30 minutes per window and cost $60-$200 per window.

Seal Air Leaks with Caulk

Air leaks can waste a lot of your energy dollars. One of the quickest energy- and money-saving tasks you can do is caulk, seal and weatherstrip all cracks and large openings to the outside. This "easy" project will cost $3-$30 and only takes one to two hours to complete. It will also save you 5%-10% on your energy bills.

Weatherstrip Double-Hung or Sash Windows

You can use weatherstripping in your home to seal air leaks around movable joints, such as windows or doors, and save big on energy bills. Weatherstripping your windows is an easy project that only takes an hour to complete. It will cost $5-$10 and you'll save 5%-10% on your energy bills.

When you've finished your projects, let us know how it went! We'd love to hear your experiences or any DIY projects you use to save energy at home. Just use the hashtag #EnergySaverDIY on social media or use the links below to share them with us.  Send us your stories and photos, and you could see them on Energy Saver's Facebook.