Bathroom Vanity Lights: The bathroom vanity is one of the highest-use fixtures in the average home. ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs provide bright, warm light, use less energy, and generate less heat than standard lighting. Keep in mind that high humidity can shorten the life of CFLs. To avoid moisture problems, control humidity in your bathroom by running your ventilating fan during and 15 minutes after showers and baths. You can find ENERGY STAR qualified fixtures in hundreds of popular styles, including vanity lighting, at home improvement and hardware stores, lighting showrooms, and other retail stores including online outlets.
Bathroom Vent Fan: Install a properly sized ENERGY STAR qualified ventilation fan to control moisture in the air while you shower or bathe, as well as control mold and mildew growth. Run your fan for 15 minutes after showering. ENERGY STAR qualified ventilation fans 60% less energy on average than standard models, saving more than $60 in electricity over the life of the fan. They are quieter and use high-performance motors and improved blade design, providing better performance and longer product life. Also be sure the fan duct leads to the outdoors to prevent moisture problems.
Shower: A 10-minute shower can use less water than a full bath. With a new 2.5 gallon-per-minute (low-flow) shower head, a 10-minute shower will use about 25 gallons of water, saving you 5 gallons of water over a typical bath. A new shower-head also will save energy — up to $145 each year on electricity — beating out both the bath and an old-fashioned shower-head.
Sink Faucet: Repair any faucet leaks. A leaky faucet can waste gallons of water. Hot water leaking at a rate of 1 drip per second can waste up to 1,661 gallons of water over the course of a year, and waste up to $35 in electricity or in natural gas. Fixing drips is a cost-effective and easy way to save energy.
Light Switch: Remember to always turn off your lights when leaving a room.
