WEMO MINI SMART PLUG
Price: $30 | Buy it at Amazon Now there’s no more excuse for leaving those lights blazing all day or night. Plug lamps into these smart plugs and turn them on and off automatically. There’s even a random setting that can turn them on and off at unpredictable times when you’re on vacation.
NEST THERMOSTAT E
Price: $169 | Buy it at Home Depot This brighter, stripped-down version of the Nest has all the smart features of its pricier big brother, but for less. It will learn your temperature preferences, and most importantly, turn down the heat or AC on its own when you’re not home, leading to some nice savings on utility bills.
STICK ‘N’ SEAL OUTLET DRAFT SEALERS
Price: $17 | Buy it at Amazon Outside air can seep into your home around light switches and outlets, not just doors and windows. These little stick-on sealers are an easy way to protect against drafts, and there are kits that can insulate everything from traditional light switches to waste and water lines.
HAMPTON BAY 52-INCH CEILING FAN
Price: $41.68 | Buy it at Home Depot When the temperature rises, keeping cool with a ceiling fan is far cheaper than cranking up the air conditioning. This Energy Star-certified model is inexpensive, big enough for up to a 20-by-20-foot room, and versatile enough to blend into almost any home.
RACHIO SMART SPRINKLER CONTROLLER
Price: $199 | Buy it at Amazon There’s nothing worse than coming home to find your home sprinkler system watering your already-soaking lawn on a rainy day. This smart controller tracks the weather and automatically skips sessions as needed, helping save both water and money.
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SMART STRIP ENERGY-SAVING SURGE PROTECTOR
Price: $39.76 | Buy it at Amazon This smart strip can help stop those “energy vampires” — devices like printers, computers, and chargers that keep using power while they’re plugged in, even if they’re off. It automatically cuts power to the outlets when devices aren’t in use, and offers robust surge protection, too.
3M INDOOR WINDOW INSULATOR KIT
Price: $13.03 | Buy it at Amazon Newer windows can help keep the heat in and the cold out. But if you’re renting or just can’t swing such a pricey upgrade, this insulating film is the next best thing. It includes enough film to cover five windows and make an airtight seal. Wrinkles are easy to remove with a hair dryer.
INSTANTPOT 6-QUART MULTICOOKER
Price: $79 | Buy it at Amazon Everyone’s favorite pressure cooker can be an energy saver, too. It can cook food in much less time than a traditional oven or slow cooker, and it doesn’t require as much water, either. Ten built-in smart programs make dishes like soup, stew, and rice a snap.
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HAMPTON BAY LUMSDEN OUTDOOR MOTION SENSOR WALL-MOUNT LANTERN
Price: $69 | Buy it at Home Depot Don’t worry anymore about leaving those outdoor lights blazing all day. This attractive Energy Star-certified LED fixture has a dusk-to-dawn sensor that will automatically turn on the light at night, then off once morning rolls around.
WHITMOR DRYER BALLS
Price: $7.16 | Buy it at Amazon Your dryer has to work harder and longer to dry clumps of stuck-together towels, sweaters, sheets, and shirts. Reduce drying time and save energy by tossing in these simple, reusable dryer balls to keep laundry separated, allowing hot air to circulate more efficiently.
FRIGIDAIRE COOL CONNECT SMART WINDOW AIR CONDITIONER
Price: $379 | Buy it at Amazon Beat the heat by cooling a smaller space this summer and your wallet will thank you. This window air conditioner is not only more attractive than most, it connects to your smartphone for easy operation and scheduling.
DELTA WATER AMPLIFYING SHOWERHEAD
Price: $19.55 | Buy it at Amazon Everyone wants the feel of a luxurious shower without paying the equally luxurious water bill, and this Delta showerhead can make it happen. The low-flow spray offers the coverage, intensity and warmth of other shower heads thanks to Delta’s H2Okinetic technology, which “sculpts” the water into a wave pattern.
TWIN DRAFT GUARD EXTREME
Price: $17 | Buy it at Amazon Here’s an inexpensive solution for that drafty door. This draft blocker has dual foam cylinders that help seal up those annoying cracks on doors up to 36 inches wide. It works on any floor, including carpet, and has a hook-and-loop closure for a tight fit.
GLACIER BAY HIGH EFFICIENCY DUAL FLUSH ALL-IN-ONE TOILET
Price: $169 | Buy it at Home Depot This well-reviewed WaterSense-certified toilet has a dual-flush design that can help conserve by using about 20 percent less water to flush liquid waste. It’s available in four colors and is backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
RYOBI INFRARED THERMOMETER
Price: $30 | Buy it at Home Depot When your heating and cooling bills are out of control, this handheld infrared thermometer with an LCD display lets you play energy detective. It can help suss out which doors and windows are creating hot or cold spots, and which vents aren’t working efficiently.
WHIRLPOOL WTW8000DW HIGH-EFFICIENCY TOP-LOADING WASHER
Price: $899 | Buy it at Home Depot A new high-efficiency washer can pack a powerful punch when it comes to lower utility bills. This Energy Star model will sense load sizes and add only the water needed to clean those clothes, and the low-profile impeller is gentler on delicate garments than old-school agitators.
TOPGREENER MOTION SENSOR LIGHT SWITCH
Price: $16.69 | Buy it at Amazon Whether you keep leaving the bathroom fan on or just can’t seem to remember to shut off that closet or pantry light, this motion-sensor switch can help bail you out. Set it to stay on for just a minute or even up to a half-hour after detecting motion.
GOOD IDEAS RAIN WIZARD RAIN BARREL
Price: $94 | Buy it at Amazon Give your water bill a breather by harnessing what Mother Nature already gives you. This attractive rain barrel can hold up to 40 gallons of water and has a brass spigot for easy hose attachments when it’s time to quench those thirsty plants.
BALI CORDLESS BLACKOUT SHADE
Price: $126 | Buy it at Home Depot These blackout blinds have a honeycomb design that provides more effective insulation from temperature extremes than standard blinds or other window coverings. They’re also cordless, making them a smart pick for homes with small children.
INTERMATIC WATER HEATER TIMER
Price: $45.55 | Buy it at Amazon Water heaters, especially less-efficient older models, can be one of a home’s single biggest energy hogs after heating and cooling systems. This simple timer can turn on the water heater at pre-specified times so that you’re not wasting energy to keep water heated all hours.
DELONGHI MICA PANEL HEATER
Price: $80 | Buy it at Amazon Instead of cranking up the heat for your whole house, a well-placed space heater can take the chill off in the room you’re in, saving energy and money. This panel provides a more quiet, even heat than a forced-air model and can be mounted on the wall in places where space is tight.
PHILIPS HUE SMART BULB STARTER KIT
Price: $100 | Buy it at Amazon Long-lived LED light bulbs are among the most efficient lights you can buy, and these smart bulbs take the savings one step further by giving you the ability to control them and create schedules with your smartphone. Got Alexa? You can even control them with your voice.
NIAGARA DUAL-THREADED AERATORS
Price: $2 | Buy it at Amazon Installing these small, flow-restricting gadgets on your faucets is a cheap, easy way to save on water and energy, especially for everyday tasks like brushing teeth and washing hands. The dual-thread adaptors will fit most sinks.
CONWAY AP-1512HH MIGHTY AIR PURIFIER
Price: $207 | Buy it at Walmart If you need an air purifier to help soothe allergies, this sleek Conway model is a great pick. Its four-stage filtration system includes a HEPA filter that traps pollen, dust, pet dander, and other irritants, and its eco mode ensures it won’t be running constantly by shutting off the fan after detecting clean air for 30 minutes.
SUNBEAM QUILTED HEATED MATTRESS PAD
Price: $100 | Buy it at Amazon There’s no need to keep the heat cranked up all night long when you have a cozy heated mattress pad to keep you toasty. This model has dual side controls — perfect for couples — as well as 10 heat settings and a 10-hour automatic safety shut-off.
