# Four Easy and Unusual Ways to Save Energy and Become a “Smarter” Home

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/10/four-easy-and-unusual-ways-to-save-energy-and-become-a-smarter-home/
- Published: 2019-10-19T22:24:13-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

Who doesn’t want to make their home smarter and more energy efficient?  We all know
energy saving basics – turn off the [lights](https://greenlivingguy.com/2015/12/eiffel-tower-lights-up-for-cop21-climate-conference/)
when you leave a room, make sure doors and [windows](https://greenlivingguy.com/2014/02/whats-new-in-energy-efficient-windows/)
are sealed properly and monitor your thermostat. But did you know that your home
can energy in other places? [Thomas & Betts](http://www.tnb.com/pub/index.php), 
an [ABB](https://new.abb.com/) company, offers these four unusual places to save
energy and money around the [home](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/09/8-ways-to-save-energy-in-your-home/).

![ABB Energy Saving Products](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/
2014/04/abbenergysaving.png?resize=258%2C118&quality=50&ssl=1)

ABB Energy Saving Products

**Uncovered windows** – Window treatments are an easy and aesthetically pleasing
way to conserve energy. Installing window treatments and keeping them closed prevents
heat from entering your home through your windows and diminishes the demands on 
your air conditioning system.

**Dirty refrigerator** – Cleaning out your refrigerator helps your refrigerator 
run more efficiently. As you clean, be sure to vacuum and remove residue from refrigerator
coils. This ensures that the refrigerator is cooling properly and not wasting energy.

**Extension cords in high-traffic rooms **– Extension cords are often used to power
appliances, lamps, televisions and speakers, but did you know that these cords can
lose energy when continuously plugged into appliances? Installing floor boxes can
enable easy access points to electrical outlets from anywhere in the room, eliminating
the need for extension cords and energy loss.

#### **Cable entry points**

#### As it cools down and you turn your heat

![Tight Draft Box for Cable Entry Points](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-
content/uploads/2014/04/tightdraftbox.jpg?resize=150%2C150&quality=52&ssl=1)

Tight Draft Box for Cable Entry Points

Finally, Thomas & Betts showcased its [energy saving products](http://www-public.tnb.com/pub/node/1873)
as a part of the New American Home’s Energy-Saving Design. All which headlined the
[NAHB International Builders’ Show](https://buildersshow.com/Home/) in Las Vegas.

## Comments

### By: Chuck

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/10/four-easy-and-unusual-ways-to-save-energy-and-become-a-smarter-home/#comment-19232
- Published: 2015-03-09T01:27:26-04:00

A lot of these suggestions are for things that are right under our noses. Well, 
how about right over our heads? One place that is often overlooked is the attic 
access panel – you know, the panel that you push up to get into your attic. Because
this access point is so difficult to insulate properly due to the fact that insulation
must be pushed down between the rafters to work properly, these are usually not 
insulated well or not insulated at all. There are a few products on the market that
attempt to solve this problem but most are well over $200 and require carpentry 
skills to install. There is a product called ScuttleBuddy that holds insulation 
in place and it requires no measuring, cutting or special tools. Best of all, it’s
only about 30 bucks so you can recover your expense in a short time and it takes
about 15 minutes to install.