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Energy Saving Tips

Remember, these tips not only conserve energy, they save you money!

Compact Florescent Light Bulb's (CFL's)

Compact Florescent Lights use at least two-thirds less energy than standard incandescent bulbs to provide the same amount of light and last up to 10 times longer. They also generate 70 percent less heat, so they are safer to operate and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling.

To get the most energy savings, replace bulbs where lights are on the most, such as your family and living room, kitchen, dining room and porch.
Some CFL's have trouble operating in enclosed fixtures. Check the CFL's packaging for any restrictions on use.

Insulation

A home with inadequate insulation can lose up to 40% of cool air, or 60% of heat in the winter.
The average 10-15 year old home probably needs about 5-6 inches of additional insulation.
An attic radiant barrier, usually made of aluminum foil bonded to paper, helps block heat flow through the roof into the house during summer. This can reduce annual energy bills by 3-8%.

Trees

Correctly positioned shade trees can reduce indoor home temperatures by up to 20 degrees and reduce cooling costs by up to 40%.
Well shaded neighborhoods stay 3-6 degrees cooler than those without trees.

Windows and Doors

Storm windows and doors can reduce the amount of cooling or heating lost by 50%.
Keep blinds and drapes closed to keep your house cooler.
Solar screens on windows can block out 60-70% of sunlight and heat.

Hot Water Heater

Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to no more than 120 degrees.
Wrapping your hot water heater with an insulation blanket can reduce its energy use by 10-15%.
Turn down or shut off your water heater when you will be away for extended periods.

Refrigerator and Freezer

The refrigerator temperature should be 36-38 degrees and the freezer should be 0-5 degrees. Settings that are too low cause refrigerators and freezers to run more than needed and can increase energy use by as much as 25%.
Make sure the doors seal properly.
Defrost freezers before the frost exceeds a quarter inch thick. Greater frost buildup makes the freezer work harder.
Let foods cool before placing them in the refrigerator, unless the recipe specifies otherwise. Warm food will cause the refrigerator to run more.
Freezers work better fully loaded.

Cooking

Oven temperature drops by 25-30 degrees every time you open the oven door.
Microwave ovens use up to 70% less energy.
Try to schedule your cooking time in the morning so that the kitchen heat does not contribute as much to the air conditioning use.
If possible, shut the kitchen off from the rest of your home while cooking, and turn on the stove exhaust to help take the heat out of the kitchen.

Clothes Dryers

Dry loads of clothes back to back to take advantage of stored heat.
Clean the filter after every load to improve its efficiency.
Close the door to the room the dryer is in to keep it from heating up the rest of the house.