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Every single day you could—and quite possibly do—benefit from window film. If you haven’t yet noticed, that’s likely because window film is an undetected superhero, saving you from the sun’s harsh UV rays and offering a layer of defense against intruders trying to get a peek inside your home, school, or business.
Even though you can’t see window film, you can trust that it’s working around the clock to block up to 99% of UV rays, and up to 86% of the sun’s heat. And window film installation costs only a fraction of what window replacement can cost. Not only will you save yourself the hassle and out-of-pocket expense, you’ll save on long-term energy bills. From keeping you cool and comfortable to providing much-needed privacy, window film helps you—and your entire community—live better.
Click here to download an infographic that shows how window film works throughout your community.
Nearly half of water consumed in a home comes from the bathroom. Conserve water simply by switching from baths to showers. The average bath uses 35-50 gallons of water, whereas a 10-minute shower uses 25 gallons. Change your showerhead to a low-flow fixture of -2.5 gallons per minute, and you’ll save up to $145 per year on electricity, too.
At the sink, it pays to turn off the faucet when brushing teeth, shaving, or washing your face. Take a Saturday to fix a leaky faucet. A hot water leak can add $40 to yearly costs. One of the most cost-effective conservation measures is to install a faucet aerator. Aerators lower flow by adding air to the spray and for a few dollars, you can save 4-7% of total water consumption.
Bathroom lights are one of the most used light sources in the home, so turn them off when leaving the room! Vanity lighting is pretty but requires a lot of energy. Make the switch to ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). They provide quality bright lighting, use 10-50% less energy, and last 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
More than 25 percent of water used in the home is for the toilet. Older models use up to five gallons of water per flush, but high-efficiency toilets cut usage to 1.6 gallons. Dual-flush toilets have two flush buttons: a 1.6 gallon flush for solids and 0.9 for liquids, saving 50% of water used per flush. Water displacement devices like a brick or water bottle can work in the short-term, but be aware they may cause damage to the flushing mechanism. To test if you have a leaky toilet add a few drops of food coloring to the tank, and wait 15 minutes. If the dye appears inside the bowl, you have a leak to fix.
Moisture causes more than mold. It can shorten the lifespan of lightbulbs and produce larger problems in attics and your overall structure. Make sure your bathroom fan is vented to go outside and not into upper home areas.
Most people have a hard time getting their heads around something as abstract as a carbon unit. To paint a clearer picture of your carbon footprint, 
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Nest takes programmable thermostats to a new level, according to the product’s website: it learns your heating and cooling habits after a few days, and then automatically adapts to those preferences to help you save energy.
Consumer Reports
The Nest thermostat is one example of the increase in popularity of smart technology in programmable thermostats. With nearly half of your monthly energy bills coming from heating and cooling, there’s great potential to save money with these types of devices. The Nest may be one option worth your consideration.
Basements are a common place for significant air leaks. If you have an unfinished basement or crawlspace, look for spider webs. If there is a web, there is a draft. Inspect vents, ducts, pipes, and electrical wires that lead to the outside. The Department of Energy recommends sealing small gaps with caulk, filling holes with spray foam, and covering large holes with spray foam and foamboard. Seal air ducts with mastic or foil tape and avoid cloth-backed, rubber adhesive. Be sure not to cover any of the vents for combustion appliances.
Basements are particularly susceptible to poor insulation, and a large amount of heat can be lost from an uninsulated basement. While insulating the basement ceiling or floor is a less intensive project, you’ll get better energy savings by adding insulation to the walls. Hire a certified professional to determine if you need interior or exterior insulation, estimate the return on investment, and install it properly to help avoid moisture issues later.
If the water heater or washer/dryer is located in the basement, check if it’s time to upgrade to newer, more energy-efficient models. Insulate your water heater, as well as ducts and hot water pipes that pass through unheated areas of the basement. If you have a little-used old refrigerator or freezer in the basement, unplug it until it is needed.
Make sure your attic is ventilated properly. In the summer, some attic power fans can draw cool conditioned air out of the house and pull in warm air into the house, causing your A/C unit to work harder. In the winter, decrease heat loss by covering your exhaust fan using a box to seal around the duct where it opens into the attic. Check that your vents are not blocked by insulation or later construction.
The attic is another location known for considerable air leakage, adding sometimes hundreds of dollars to your energy bills. Caulk wire holes and exteriors of windows and door frames, and seal around electrical boxes, air ducts, and returns. Pull-down attic stairs can be a huge source of air leakage so be sure the access door is properly sealed with weather-stripping and that it closes tightly.
Once you’ve finished air sealing, adding insulation to an unheated attic can make a big difference on energy savings, especially if you have hot or cold ceilings or uneven temperatures between rooms in the house. Check if you can see your ceiling joists. If so, it’s likely you need additional insulation.