Simply stated, the more efficient your home or business is the smaller the wind system needs to be to meet your energy needs. To achieve maximum efficiency you should take a whole building approach. From the insulation in your walls to the light bulbs in your fixtures. There are many free and inexpensive ways to make your place more efficient.

1. Recomended Reading:

   20 Free Ways To Save Energy

   Wash clothes in cold water. About 90 percent of a washer’s energy is spent heating the water for the load. You can save substantially by washing and rinsing at cooler temperatures. Warm water helps the suds to get at the dirt, but cold-water detergents will work effectively for just about everything in the hamper.
2. Hang it up. Clotheslines really work, You save the energy a dryer would use, You'll also get more  life out of clothes dried on indoor or outdoor clotheslines, dryer lint is nothing but your wardrobe in the process of wearing out.
3. Don't overdry your laundry. Clothes will need less ironing and hold up better if you remove them from the dryer while they're still just a bit damp. If you are in the market for a dryer, look for one with a moisture sensor; it will be less likely than thermostat-equipped models to run too long.
4. Let the dishwasher do the work. Don't bother prerinsing dishes Consumer Reports has found that this added step can waste 20 gallons of heated water a day. All you need to do is scrape off leftover food. Enzyme-based detergents will help make sure the dishes emerge spotless.
5. Put your PC to sleep. Keep your computer and its monitor in sleep mode rather than leaving them on. You stand to use 80 percent less electricity.
6. Turn down the heat in the winter, and turn down the cool in the summer. Lower the thermostat 5° to 10° F when you're sleeping or are out of the house. "A 10° decrease can cut your heating bill by as much as 20 percent,"  And before you put on a cotton sweater to ward off a slight chill from the AC in summer, consider that for every degree you raise the thermostat setting, you can expect to cut your cooling costs by at least 3 percent.
7. A cold hearth for a warmer house. A conventional fireplace draws a small gale out of the room and sends it up the chimney. That means your energy dollars are going up the chimney, too. Instead, consider a direct-vent, sealed-combustion gas fireplace. Studies have found that these units have an energy efficiency of about 70 percent.                   
8. Lower the shades and raise the windows. Your windows and shades are great tools to help moderate temperatures in the home.  Shades are particularly helpful in blocking the sun from west-facing rooms in the afternoon. At night, if the forecast calls for cooler temperatures and low humidity, give the AC a rest. Open windows upstairs and down, and use window fans or a whole-house fan.
9. Put a spin on home cooling. You can operate a couple of fans with a fraction of the electricity needed for air conditioning, and their cooling effect may make it possible to cut back on AC use.
10. Take care of your air conditioner, and it will take care of you. Your air conditioner will run more efficiently if you clean or replace its filter every other week during heaviest use. Keep leaves and other debris away from the central air's exterior condenser, and keep the condenser coils clean.
11. Spend less for hot water. Set the hot water heater at 120° F (or the "low" setting), This is hot enough for most needs. Consider wrapping it with conventional insulation or a blanket made for that purpose. To help conserve the water's heat on its way to the faucets, insulate the plumbing with pipe sleeves; with these, you can raise the end-use temperature by 2° to 4° F.
12. Think twice before turning on the oven. Heating food in the microwave uses only 20 percent of the energy required by a full-sized oven.
13. Use the right pan. When cooking on the stovetop, use a  pan that's roughly the same size as the burner. You'll use much less energy. Steam foods instead of boiling. If you do boil,  put a lid on the pot to make the water come to a boil faster.
14. Read the label. The EnergyGuide label,  When you shop for a new appliance, look for the label that gives an estimate of annual energy consumption. The label also states the highest and lowest figures for similar models.
15. Dust off the Crock-Pot. Slow cooking in a Crock-Pot uses a lot less energy than simmering on the stove.
16. Clean the coils on your refrigerator using a tapered appliance brush. Your fridge's motor won't have to run as long or as often. In addition to saving energy dollars, you'll prolong the life of the appliance.
17. Drive steadily--and a bit slower. Hard acceleration and abrupt braking will use more fuel than if you start and slow more moderately. Keeping down your overall speed matters, too, because aerodynamic drag increases dramatically as you drive faster. If you get your vehicle up to 75 mph, you're losing 25 percent compared with mileage at 55 mph.
18. Roof racks are a drag.  A loaded roof rack can decrease an SUV's fuel efficiency by 5 percent, and that of a more aerodynamic car by 15 percent or more. Even driving with empty ski racks wastes gas.
19. Stick with regular. If your car's manufacturer specifies regular gas, don't buy premium. You'd be spending more with no benefit. Even if the owner's manual recommends high-octane gas, ask the dealership about switching to regular.
20. No loitering. Don't let the engine run at idle any longer than necessary. After starting the car in the morning, begin driving right away.  An engine actually warms up faster while driving.  

And if you don't mind spending a few dollars:

1. A tighter home is a toastier home.  Before you bulk up with fiberglass blankets or insulation,  Seal the leaks. Inexpensive foam strips and caulking can cut your heating and cooling bills by 5 to 30 percent.
2. Try do-it-yourself low-E windows. If your windows don't have a low-E coating, consider applying a self-adhesive film on the glass. This treatment is a lot cheaper than replacing the units, and better-quality films are quite durable.
3. Use a programmable thermostat. Roughly half of the typical home's energy bill goes for heating and cooling, The easiest way to save is to use programmable thermostats. They can pay for themselves in about a year.
4. Switch to those funny-looking fluorescents. You may not be familiar with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), but give them a try. A single bulb can save from $25 to $45 over its life. And it's a long life: Manufacturers claim that CFLs last between 5 and 13 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs.

This book has made our Recommended Reading List. These tips and many more are available in Consumer Reports® Complete Guide to REDUCING ENERGY COSTS.  You can buy this book for under $20 at your local bookstore or order online at www.consumerreports.org/books

At Wind Power Services LLC, we are doing more with less!
We've committed to help improve the energy efficiency of America's home and commercial buildings by 10 percent or more through the ENERGY STAR Challenge. As we join the ranks of other leaders in energy efficiency, our energy savings are reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change.

We're excited about the ENERGY STAR Challenge, and we're delighted to help deliver a better world for you. Our hard work on energy efficiency today will yield a cleaner environment for everyone in the future. Want to join us in reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions? Visit www.energystar.gov  and  see what you can do to become more energy efficient at work and home.