Energy Saving Tips

• Turn lights off when a room or an area is not in use.
• Keep fixtures, bulbs and tubes clean.  Dirt can absorb as much as 50% of light emitted by a bulb.  Use the correct bulb.
• Choose bulbs that give the most light for the electricity or watts used.  One bulb is better than two.  If possible, use one higher wattage bulb instead of several with lower wattage.  One 100-watt bulb produces more light than two 60 watt bulbs and uses less power.
• Install weather stripping around doors and windows to reduce dirt, dust, moisture and drafts from entering your home.  This can reduce your energy bill as much as 15%.
• Outside air can also enter and escape your home through electrical outlets in the exterior walls of your home.  Inexpensive outlet gaskets can be installed to prevent these leaks.

• During the summer months or cooling season, set your thermostat to 78 degrees F or more.  If you leave your home for four hours or more, set the thermostat to 85 degrees F or more.  Each extra degree in summer can raise cooling costs by 6%. Potential money savings: $325 to$500/year.
• Keep heat-producing appliances away from your thermostat.
• Close draped and shades especially on windows that are exposed to direct sunlight.
• Consider your landscaping.  Correctly placed trees and shrubbery will provide shade during the summer months and allow sunlight through during the winter months which helps reduce both cooling and heating costs.
• During the winter months or heating season, set your thermostat to 68 degrees F or less during the day and 60 degrees F at night or when you leave home for more than four hours.  Each extra degree in winter can increase heating costs by 3%.
• Keep all exterior doors tightly shut and try to avoid frequent in-and-out traffic.
• When installing a new heat pump or central air-conditioning system or replacing existing systems, install systems with a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ration (SEER) and or high Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF).
• Keep your heating and cooling systems in good repair by having it thoroughly cleaned and inspected annually.
• Clean and/or replace filters in your heating and air-conditioning system at least twice during the heating system and as often as monthly during the cooling season.
  
• Install storm doors and windows.
• Add a humidifier - either on you furnace or as a separate unit.  It can help control heating costs, because moist air feels warmer.
• Use draperies, blinds, curtains or shutters on all windows to slow the loss of heat through the glass.  Keep window coverings open on sunny days to let in the sun's warmth.  Close them to insulate against colder air at night.
• Rearrange furniture for winter, placing it next to inside, instead walls instead of outside and away from windows.  Avoid blocking heating registers and air returns with furniture, draperies or carpet.
• Use kitchen, bath and other ventilating fans sparingly in cold weather.  In just one hour these fans can blow away a houseful of warm air.
• If you have ceiling fans, make sure the mountings are snug and tight.  Use clear caulking to seal any leaks you may find, as even minor cracks around the base can let in lots of air.
• Closets and  cabinets on outside walls can leak a great deal of cold air, so make sure the doors fit snugly and keep them tightly closed.
• If it's time to replace your natural gas furnace or water heating system, consider a high efficiency system.  The money saved on your monthly energy bill can offset the higher costs of a high efficiency system.  The money saved on your monthly energy bill can offset the higher costs of a higher costs of a high efficiency natural gas furnace.  According to the American Gas Association, the average home uses 22 percent less natural gas than it did in 1980 - in part because of more efficient appliances and tighter home construction.
• Lower the temperature on you hot water heater to between 110 and 120 degrees.
• It's not necessary to have it any hotter and waste energy.  Potential money savings:$20-$40/year.
  
• Cut back on the use of your clothes dryer.  Not only is it a big energy drain, it can also suck heated air out of your house in winter.  Hang clothes on a clothes rack to dry and use the dryer for towels and other heavy items.  Potential money savings: $25-$50/year.
• Use your microwave instead of your oven whenever possible and save up to 50% in energy costs for cooking.  Potential savings: $50.00/year.
• Always do full loads of laundry.  Atypical full load uses about 21 gallons of water.  A small load uses 14 gallons.  Several small loads use considerably more water than one or two large loads.  Potential money savings: $25-$125/year.
• Run your dishwasher only when you have a full load.  Let the dishes air-dry instead of using the heat cycle.  An average dishwasher costs $60.00 to $100.00 per year to run.  Potential money savings: $35-$55/year.
• Fix running toilets or leaking faucets promptly.  A continuously running toilet can use more than 8,000 gallons of water a year.  Potential money savings: $25-$125/year.
  
• Use warm or cold water for washing clothes, and always rinse in cold water.  Potential savings: $50.00/year.
• Don't heat areas of your house you don't use regularly, such as guest rooms.  Close heating vents or turn back thermostats in those areas and close the doors for a painless reduction in heating costs.
  
• Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible.
  
• It's tempting to stand under a hot shower on a cold morning for as long as possible, but cutting your shower time in half can save up to 33% on your hot water heating costs.
• If you don't have curtains, consider installing some.  Curtains made from heavy material can prevent cold air from seeping in and warm air from seeping out, which reduces your heating costs.
• In winter months while at home, dress in warm clothes such as sweat shirts and pants, and use throws to cover up while relaxing.
• Add another blanket to your bed in wintertime.