Selecting energy-efficient office equipment Selecting energy-efficient office equipment - personal computers (PCs), monitors, copiers, printers, and fax machines - and turning off machines when they are not in use can result in enormous energy savings.

Energy Star computers An Energy Star labeled computer uses 70% less electricity than computers without this designation. If left inactive, Energy Star labeled desktop computers enter a sleep mode and use 4 watts or less. Spending a large portion of time in low-power mode not only saves energy, but helps equipment run cooler and last longer.

Check ducts for air leaks Check your ducts for air leaks. Look for any sections that should be joined but have somehow separated and then look for any obvious holes.

Sealing ducts When using tape to seal your ducts, avoid cloth-backed, rubber adhesive duct tape, which tends to fail quickly. Researchers recommend other products to seal ducts such as mastic, butyl tape, foil tape, or other heat-approved tapes. Tapes with the Underwriters Laboratories logo are most suitable.

Ducts in basements By insulating the ducts in the basement it will make the basement much colder/warmer. Consider insulating both the ducts and the walls if they aren't insulated. Water pipes and drains in unconditional places could freeze and burst in the space if the ducts aren't fully insulated as there would be no heat source to prevent freezing in cold weather. However, using an electric heating tape wrap on the pipes can prevent this. Check with a professional contractor.