What You Can Do To Cut Costs
You will be amazed at what little effort and money
it takes to trim your energy costs and at the same time increase
the comfort level of your home.
Keep your thermostat set at a conservative level: 76
to 80 degrees in the summer, 65 to 70 degrees in the winter.
It reduces the load on your heating and cooling system, and
since it's not running as much, you're saving money.
Check your doors for air infiltration and install weather-stripping
if necessary. Keep window blinds closed in the summer
to prevent solar heat entry and open in the winter to take
advantage of it.
If you have ceiling fans, reverse the direction of the blades
to circulate warm air down from the ceiling in the winter
time.
Turn the water off while shaving or brushing your teeth.
Up to five gallons of water per minute can be wasted this
way. Also, keep in mind that a shower uses about seven
gallons of water per minute. Install low-flow aerators
on faucets and low-flow showerheads at a very low cost.
Even though one lamp doesn't use that much electricity, every
little bit adds up!
Lights
Fluorescent lighting is more economical than incandescent
lighting. Fluorescent lights use one quarter of the
energy that incandescent bulbs use to produce the same amount
of light. Fluorescent lights are now available in bulbs.
Use lower-wattage bulbs in lamps and fixtures, except in cases
where you need the light for reading or sewing. For
example, use 40-watt instead of 60-watt, or 60-watt instead
of 75-watt.
Place table lamps in corners for better light reflections.
Set outdoor lights on photoelectric cells or clock timers.
Furnaces
Clean or change furnace filters frequently, dirty
filters block the airflow. Also, keep the outdoor
coil free of debris.
If possible, install a humidifier. It adds moisture
to the air in the winter and makes the home "feel"
warmer at a lower temperature.
Set the thermostat a few degrees lower during the night.
Heat pump owners should set a desired temperature and leave
it unless they have a special nighttime setback thermostat
specifically designed for heat pumps. Many people prefer
a constant reduced temperature. When away from home for several
days, lower the thermostat.
Thermostats for heating and air-conditioning should be on
an inside wall or where they will not be subject to draft
or heat from appliances. Clean the thermostat yearly
by removing the cover and carefully blowing away any dust.
Dust on radiators or baseboard units acts as insulation and
wastes heat. Dust or vacuum these surfaces frequently.
Air Conditioners
Be sure the air-conditioning equipment is the right
size for your home. A unit too small can't handle all
your cooling needs, and one that's too big won't maintain
the proper humidity levels, which can make you very uncomfortable.
Check your ductwork for leaks, especially at connection joints.
Insulate ducts installed in areas not air-conditioned, such
as attics, vented crawl spaces, garages and basements.
Furniture and draperies that block cooling outlets restrict
air circulation and overwork the cooling equipment.
Make sure that air ducts are not blocked.
Fireplaces
Keep the fireplace damper closed when not in use,
but be sure the fire is out and the ashes are cold before
closing the damper.
A glass door reduces the draft of an open fireplace.
Doors and Windows
Open and close outside doors and windows as seldom
as possible. When they are opened, make an extra effort to
close them quickly.
Open draperies during the day so that the sun's heat can help
warm your home. Closing them at night helps to
retain heat. Insulated drapes or linings reduce heat
loss even more.
Be sure to use storm windows or double or triple glazing on
your windows, since glass windows can be major culprits in
heat loss.
Caulk and weather-strip all windows and doors to prevent cold
drafts and unwanted heat loss.
Water
Make sure that all your water faucets are completely
turned off. One leaky faucet can waste 2,000 gallons
of water per year, sending your savings down the drain.
Take showers instead of baths. An average shower uses
30% less water than a normal bath, and get in the habit of
taking quick showers. An energy-saving shower uses only
2 to 3 gallons of water per minute instead of 5 to 7 gallons,
saving 20 to 40 gallons of water over a 10-minute shower.
Insulating your water heater can save as much as 10% of your
water-heating energy. Water heater insulation
kits are available in all sizes and are easy to install.
This insulation is especially helpful for older water heaters.
Check the thermostat setting of your water heater. We
recommend 120 - 125 degrees. Setting the water heater
temperature to 120 degrees will reduce the risk of scalds.
Some states require settings at specific lower temperatures.
The following chart will show you how quickly very hot water
can cause serious burns:
| Temperature setting
on your water heater: |
The time it takes
to produce 2nd and 3rd degree
burns on adult skin: |
| |
| Approximately 160F (very hot) |
About 1/2 second |
| Approximately 150F |
About 1 1/2 seconds |
| Approximately 140F |
Less than 5 seconds |
| Approximately 130F |
About 30 seconds |
| Approximately 120F (hot) |
More than 5 minutes |
Insulate hot water pipes from the water heater to source of
use.
You can lengthen the life of your water heater and maintain
storage capacity by draining sediment from the bottom of the
tank at least once or twice a year.
Kitchen Appliances
Refrigerators and Freezers
Don't overload your refrigerator or freezer. They operate
best when nearly full and when air can circulate freely among
the stored items.
Limit the number of times you open and close your refrigerator.
Check for door-seal tightness by placing a piece of paper
between the door gasket and the cabinet. If you
can pull the paper easily, the seal should be replaced.
Vacuum the condenser coils on the bottom or back of the unit
twice a year to maintain peak operating efficiency.
Never allow excess frost in the freezer. Heavy
frost overworks the the equipment.
Ovens
Keep the oven door closed when cooking. If you need
to open it, close it quickly to reduce heat waste.
When using the oven, you can make full use of its heat by
baking extra meals such as casseroles and meat loaves, and
freezing them for later use.
After you've finished cooking, use the remaining oven heat
to warm plates and rolls.
Don't use the oven as a room heater; it wastes lots of energy.
It is also extremely dangerous!
Ranges
Make the pan size with the size of the cooking element or
burner. The bottom of all pans should be flat for efficient
contact with the units.
Tight-fitting lids retain heat and moisture in pots and pans.
Try not to lift the cover too often.
Prepare small meals with special appliances such as electric
frying pans, toaster ovens, and broilers. Normally,
they use less energy than a conventional range.
Dishwashers
Scrape and rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.
Cold water can be used to rinse dishes immediately after a
meal.
Make sure your dishwasher is fully loaded. By doing
so, you save water, detergent and the energy required to heat
the water for a number of loads.
Newer dishwashers have energy-saving cycles which allow dishes
to dry without additional heat. You might want to try
this to see if this feature meets your needs.
To reduce heat and humidity in the summer, operate the dishwasher
during the cooler morning and evening hours.
Avoid extensive use of hot water in the laundry or bathroom
immediately before and during dishwasher operation.
Washers and Dryers
Ninety percent of the energy for laundry goes to
heating the water, so use an appropriate wash temperature
and a cold rinse. When possible, use cold or warm instead
of hot water.
Place different-sized garments in a single load for better
water circulation. Wait until you have a full load but
don't overload the machine. Overloading reduces efficiency.
Use the proper water-level setting for your load size.
Always clean the lint filter before and after drying.
Don't overdry clothes. In some cases, removing clothes
while they are slightly damp allows for easier ironing.
Make sure your dryer is vented outside to reduce excess heat
and moisture.
Don't overload the dryer. It overburdens the machine,
and the clothes take longer to dry.
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