ENERGY SAVING TIPS
Energy conservation is the best long-term solution to reducing your electric bill. High efficiency heat pumps, superior insulation, advanced performance windows and Energy Star lighting and appliances make today’s new electric homes inexpensive to operate and comfortable to live in.
LIGHTING TIPS
Compared to incandescent bulbs, LEDs not only perform better, they also last longer—and they use less energy, too.
BENEFITS OF LED LIGHTING
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Less electricity. LEDs use up to 80 percent less electricity to produce the same amount of light as their traditional incandescent counterparts.
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Safety. LED lights are cool to the touch, which helps reduce fire risk. Older incandescent bulbs waste about 90 percent of their electricity to heat and convert only 10 percent to visible light. The excess heat can lead to an increased fire risk.
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Longevity. LEDs can last up to 10 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. Since they don't contain delicate filaments of glass, they can withstand light impact without breaking.
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Variety. There are colors, shapes, and sizes available for indoor and outdoor use. Some are even dimmable.
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Weatherproof. LED lights function just as well outdoors as they do indoors. They are constructed in such a way that they are impervious to moisture, heat, and cold.
ENERGY-SAVING LIGHTING TIPS
Lighting in your home can account for up to 20 percent of your monthly electricity bill. The good news? Lighting is something you can control easily and affordably.
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Turn out the lights when you leave a room.
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Illuminate just your task, and turn out lights elsewhere in the house.
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Use three-way fluorescent bulbs to provide variation of brightness for different tasks.
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Use timers when on vacation.
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Use lighter colored lamp shades to enhance light output.
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Choose solar-powered or daylight sensor security lighting.
HEATING & COOLING TIPS
Planning on upgrading your heating unit? Before you purchase, review rebate qualifications to see if you qualify.
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See below to download a list of helpful heating and cooling tips for winter and summer months.
DIY SAVINGS TIPS
Those chores you do every day? The dishes. The laundry. The cooking. They all help determine the amount of your energy bill. Here's some tips to help manage your usage usage.
KITCHEN
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Stagger pans on upper and lower oven racks. The improved air flow allows food to cook more quickly and efficiently because air can circulate freely.
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Use glass or ceramic pans in ovens. Then you can turn down the temperature about 25 degrees and foods will cook just as quickly.
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Use a timer. Don't open the oven door frequently to check the food, because each time you do the oven temperature drops by 25 degrees.
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Run only a full dishwasher on the automatic energy-savings cool-dry cycle. If it doesn't have this feature, turn it off after the final rinse and let the dishes air dry.
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Refrigerator/freezer:
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Keep your refrigerator closed while deciding what to eat. Each time you open the fridge door, the compressor has to run for eight to ten minutes to keep the cold inside.
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Set the temperature in your refrigerator between 37 degrees and 40 degrees.
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Keep your freezer section at 5 degrees. If you have a separate freezer for longer-term storage, it should be kept at zero degrees.
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Vacuum your refrigerator's coils, located on the back or underneath your appliance. Regular cleaning can improve your refrigerators efficiency up to 15% or more.
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LAUNDRY ROOM
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Wash laundry in cold water. In top-load models, about 90 percent of the cost per load is to heat the water.
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Do laundry after 7:00 p.m. This reduces unwanted heat and humidity in your home.
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Dry clothes outside on a line. Less heat from a dryer for less energy usage.
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Wash only full loads in your washing machine. Adjust the water level as needed.
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Clean the lint filter in your dryer after every load.
WATER HEATING
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Set the temperature on your hot water tank to 120 degrees. Extremely hot water can lead to higher energy costs and even scalding accidents.
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Check your hot tub cover for escaping steam. Insulation blankets help keep the tub toasty.
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Keep showers short and use low-flow shower heads. A short shower uses less hot water than a bath.
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Fix leaky faucets. A small drip can be the equivalent of wasting a bath tub full of hot water each month.
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Insulate water pipes. It's easy and will prevent hot water in the pipes from cooling too quickly.
