Tips For Saving Energy & Water

Cooling

  • Switch your ceiling fan to turn in a counter-clockwise direction In the summer; in the winter, run it at low speed, but clockwise.
  • Make saving automatic: Set your thermostat fan switch to “auto” to save energy. Leaving it in the “on” position keeps air running constantly. 
  • Block the sun from overheating your home! Inside, use shades, blinds and drapes.
  • Open interior doors so that cooled air flows freely throughout your home.
  • Use ceiling fans to cool off for less. Ceiling fans use no more electricity than a standard light bulb. However, be sure to turn fans off when you leave — they only cool people, not rooms.
  • Raise the temperature on your thermostat by a few degrees to save on your cooling costs.

 

Heating

  • Raise the temperature slowly to keep your bill lower. Quickly raising your heat pump’s temperature activates the heat strip, which uses tons of energy.
  • Set your thermostat to 68-70 degrees during the day in the winter, and 65-68 degrees at night to keep your home comfortable and save on heating costs.
  • Limit your use of portable heaters. They’re great for “spot” heating, but running a 1,500-watt heater 24/7 can be expensive.
  • Keep your thermostat close to the outside temperature – it’s cheaper to keep your home at 70°F when it’s 50°F outside than when it’s 30°F.
  • Don’t block air vents with drapes and furniture.
  • Set your thermostat to 60 degrees if going on vacation during the winter months, but don’t turn it off.
  • Heat your home with the sun’s help. Leave window shades or blinds open during the daytime. And consider using solar heat to supplement your normal heating source.
  • Lower your thermostat every time you leave the house.

 

Lighting

  • Replace standard bulbs with CFLs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs are more energy-efficient than regular bulbs, while giving off the same amount of light.  Make sure you’re using the appropriate CFL bulb for your light fixture – they come in various sizes and types for different lighting needs.
  • Replace halogen light bulbs, which can get hot enough to be a fire hazard, with CFLs – they use less energy and don’t get as hot.

 

Appliances

  • Use microwaves and toaster ovens to cook or warm leftovers. You’ll use less energy than cooking with a conventional oven.
  • Set your refrigerator temperature between 30 and 42°F. Use the power-save switch if you have one.
  • Dust your fridge the next time you dust your house. Check the coils behind the refrigerator — and use coil vacuums or dusters to clean it off and keep costs down.
  • Keep your freezer full – it uses less energy than an empty one. For maximum savings, consider filling your freezer with gallon containers of water.
  • Wash and dry several loads at once, so that your dryer isn’t completely cooled down when it heats up for the next load.
  • Avoid over-drying your clothes. It wastes energy, plus causes static and wrinkling.
  • Separate wash loads into light and heavy fabrics for the shortest drying times. Or better yet – air-dry your lightest fabrics.
  • Hang dress clothing to air dry on portable laundry racks; they will also look better.
  • Clean the dryer lint filter before every load to keep your dryer running efficiently.
  • Turn off your dishwasher after the wash cycle — and let your dishes air-dry. You’ll save energy and keep your dishwasher from heating up your kitchen.
  • Keep the oven door closed while cooking – the temperature can drop by as many as 25 degrees each time you open the oven door.
  • Use copper-bottomed pots and pans that use heat more efficiently when cooking on the stove.
  • Turn off your oven or burners when food is almost ready and let existing heat finish the cooking for you.
  • Use tight-fitting covers on pots and pans when cooking on the stove to shorten your cooking time and save energy.
  • Match your pot size to the burner on your stove. Heat is lost when small pots are used on large burners.
  •  Turn off kitchen and bath fans immediately after use.

 

Electronics

  • Plug electronics into a power strip, then turn the strip off when not in use to save in energy costs.
  • Avoid energy vampires. Even when they’re turned off, home electronics in “standby” mode use energy to power features like clock displays.
  • Look for ENERGY STAR-qualified TVs – they’re up to 30 percent more efficient than noncertified models.
  • Consider a laptop next time you’re looking to buy a computer – they use less energy than desktop computers.
  • Set your computer to sleep or hibernate mode instead of using a screen saver so it uses less electricity during periods of inactivity.
  • Unplug battery chargers when the batteries are fully charged or the chargers are not in use. Many chargers draw power continuously, even when the device is not plugged into the charger.

 

Water Conservation

  • Wash full loads of clothes when possible. When smaller loads are necessary, use less water.
  •  Don’t let the water run while you shave or brush your teeth. If you do,  you waste up to 10 gallons of water.  For shaving, fill the sink instead of letting the faucet run.
  • Use a stopper and fill the sink rather than letting the water run when washing or rinsing dishes by hand.