Home Energy Saving Tips

By taking the appropriate steps it is easy to reduce energy bills and protect the environment. The following are some steps that can help to reduce energy consumption:

• Use Energy Star labeled products; Energy Star has a wide array of products in over 40 categories
• Replace light Bulbs: use energy star light bulbs which are 75% more efficient
• Turn off lights in any room you are not using or use lighting sensors or timers
• Use task lighting
• Seal your home: use insulation to close cracks to the outside
• Replace air filters regularly
• Replace your refrigerator if it is more than 10 years old; replace with one that has automatic moisture control
• Run washer, dryer, and dish washer only when full
• Use the "warm" water setting on your clothes washer instead of the "hot" water setting
• When washing clothes, try and wash in cold water whenever possible. Save warm/hot water cycles strictly or whites and hard-to-clean items
• Repair leaky faucets promptly.
• To save water, install low-flow aerators on kitchen and bathroom sink faucets. As much as 280 gallons a month can be saved for a typical family.
• When cooking on the stove top, select a pan size that best fits the burner
• Use less hot water
• Insulate your water heater
• Set your water heater temperature to 115-120 degrees F. The use of higher settings are unnecessary and costly.
• Use a programmable thermostat
• Use shades, drapes, or curtains in summer as much as possible especially on south and west facing windows
• Install non-aerating, low-flow faucets and showerheads
• Weatherize your windows

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