Energy Saving Tips | Xcel Energy

Say hello to energy saving tips.

Every day, whether you rent or own a home, you can save energy in ways ranging from big to small. Some of these tips you can do yourself and some may require help from a contractor or expert. Check out our list of participating contractors.

Buying Appliances Buying Appliances

Heating the House Heating the House

Cooling the House Cooling the House

Energy Proofing Energy Proofing

Invest in high-quality insulation to help keep cool or warm air where in belongs, inside our home. Placing high R-value insulation in the cavities of your home slows the flow of heat through walls, floors, and ceilings.
Get a home x-ray. Thermal imaging of your exterior can reveal leaks and locations of poor insulation.
Have a qualified contractor seal air leaks with fire resistant materials. Foam sealant works best on larger gaps and windows, baseboards, and other places where air may leak.
Your attic works like a hat for your home, helping it keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer. A qualified contractor can help ensure your attic has proper venting and vapor barriers.
Ventilation of an attic or crawl space is as important as vapor barriers to protect insulation from moisture. A well-ventilated attic lets unwanted heat escape in the summer and warm, moist air escape in the winter.
Seal air leaks where plumbing or electrical wiring comes through walls, floors, ceilings, and soffits over cabinets. Find and seal drafts around doors and windows, fireplace dampers, and other places where air might escape. Pure silicone works well for caulking seams in ducts and areas exposed to high temperatures.
Install storm windows. They're a great type of insulation and way to seal up openings that create drafts.
Use window treatments that provide insulation to slow down heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer.
New exterior doors with insulation will keep energy in. Wood doors with foam filling work best.
When buying new windows:
- Multiple panes are best. Double-pane, triple-pane, and even quadra-pane windows are available.
- Use gas fillings to fill space between panes. It's like invisible insulation because it's clear and doesn't conduct heat as quickly as air.
- Get special coatings that reflect infrared heat back into your home, preventing it from escaping via the window.
Installing foam gaskets behind electric outlets and switch plates on walls will seal leaks.
Having a green roof provides great insulation, helps soak up rain, and is environmentally friendly.
Look into using solar panels for generating electricity or hot water if you live in a sunny area. If rooftop solar isn't right for you, explore the other renewable options available for you.
A ground source heat pump can deliver heating efficiencies 50% to 70% higher than many conventional heating systems and can provide cooling efficiencies 20% to 40% higher than available air conditioners.⁶