Want to save energy in your dining room? Use these energy saving tips for your lighting, thermostat, air vents or radiators, and sliding doors.
Energy Efficient Lighting in the Dining Room
Chandeliers with many lights consume a lot of energy. If you have one, you may want to consider replacing it with a new, energy-efficient light fixture. There are many energy saving chandeliers, touchier lights, ceiling mounted lights and wall sconces available to suit any taste. Most reputable lighting showrooms, home centers and specialty stores carry energy efficient light fixtures. Look for the ENERGY STAR logo to know you're getting an energy efficient model.
If you're not prepared to buy new fixtures, you can still save up to 75 percent on your lighting costs by replacing your incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified LED bulbs or compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). ENERGY STAR qualified residential LED bulbs use at least 75% less energy, and last 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs while providing optimal light color, and don’t generate heat.
And remember, regardless of the bulbs you choose - always turn off the lights when you leave the room!
Save Energy with Your Thermostat
Programmable Thermostats - You can save about $180 per year in energy costs with a programmable thermostat. Learn how to save energy with ENERGY STAR's programmable thermostat guidelines and saving energy with programmable thermostats.
With a programmable thermostat, you don't have to remember to adjust the thermostat when you leave the house or when you go to bed. And you can set the thermostat to take into account the time it takes for the house to cool down or heat up, and have the house at a comfortable temperature when you arrive home or wake up in the morning. Choose the Right Programmable Thermostat.
Manual Thermostats - You can save energy with a manual thermostat, too! Adjust your thermostat a few degrees higher in the summer and lower in the winter and save. Use a ceiling fan to increase your comfort (in winter, set the fan on low speed to gently push warm air down from the ceiling).
For each degree you raise your thermostat in hot weather or lower your thermostat in cool weather, you can save two to four percent on your heating and cooling costs.
To save energy, cool or heat your home only as much as necessary based on the time of day and occupant requirements. Contrary to popular belief, it costs more to keep a house constantly cool or warm than to cool it down or warm it up as necessary.
Keep Air Vents and Radiators Working Efficiently
Keep air vents and registers in your living room and throughout your home clear of furniture, drapes and curtains, allowing air to circulate freely. If your home is heated with radiators, put heat-resistant reflectors between the radiators and adjacent walls in order to better heat the room and reduce the amount of heat being absorbed by the wall.
Air Seal around Sliding Doors and Throughout Your Home
Sliding patio doors are notoriously energy inefficient. The large glass surface allows lots of heat transfer, and insufficient air sealing around the doors creates drafts and allows heat to escape (or enter) the home. If this sounds like your sliding doors, apply caulk around the door frame and install weather-strip around the doors to reduce air leaks. If you're in the market to replace your sliding doors, choose ENERGY STAR qualified doors and save on energy costs, reduce drafts, improve your comfort and reduce fading of your interior furnishings.
Beyond your sliding doors, you can seal air leaks throughout your home to reduce uncomfortable drafts and save on your energy bills. Sealing the holes, cracks, and gaps in your home and duct system also helps prevent moisture problems.