HEATING
When
replacing buy ENERGY
STAR® models
Inspect
your system
A system that doesn't produce enough warm air, or loses much of
it to leaks en route to your rooms, can add up to 20% onto your bill. Have your
HVAC system inspected every year or two. Check your air filter once a month.
Replace dirty filters regularly.
Shop
around
The price you pay for fuel often depends on when it was
purchased, it's important to shop around for the best rate.
Maximize
free heat
Keep your shades open on sunning days to let the warming sun in,
and turn your ceiling fan to run reverse (clockwise) to push warm air down.
Keep drapes closed at night to keep warm air indoors. Keep your
fireplace damper closed when not in use. Avoid opening and closing doors. Cold
air enters and the heated air escapes.
Have a
programmable thermostat installed
Use the set back feature when at work or not at home and at
night while sleeping, lower temperature setting at least 5 degrees and adjust
lower if possible. Keep your thermostat at the lowest temperature comfortable
for you.
Lower
thermostat temperature (save up to $90.00 per year for each degree lowered)
COOLING
When
replacing buy ENERGY
STAR® models
Reduce
your home's heat load
Eliminate
heat-generating sources inside your home. Close the shades on windows that get
a lot of direct sunlight, and refrain from runningappliancesthat
generate heat, such as the oven, dishwasher or clothes dryer, during the
hottest parts of the day. Consider planting trees and shrubs that will shade
your house and air condition units in the summer time.Avoid opening and closing doors. Heat enters and the cold air
escapes.
Inspect
your system
Have
your HVAC system inspected every year or two. Check your air filter once a
month. Replace dirty filters regularly.
Have a
programmable thermostat installed
Use the
set back feature when at work or not at home and at night while sleeping,
raising temperature settings,(in the hot humid summer peak you may have to
adjust the settings while it may take longer to recover from being set to
high).
Use a
fan
Set yourceiling fanto its
counterclockwise mode, or use other types of fans to create a breeze, the room
will feel about two degrees cooler. Turn the fan off when you leave the room.
Raise
thermostat temperature (save up to $45.00 per year for each degree raised)
WATER /
WATER HEATING
When
replacing buy ENERGY
STAR® models
Set
water heater temperature to no higher than 120 degrees adjusting setting down
to what is needed for the hottest shower or bath taken (showers use less
water). Drain water annually to flush out sediments that build up inside water
heater. Water-conserving or low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators can cut
hot water use in half. Limiting showers to five minutes could also reduce hot
water use. Wash clothes in cold water.
APPLIANCES
When
replacing buy ENERGY
STAR® models
Use microwave when possible to heat food rather than stove or oven. Make sure oven door is sealed when closed. Turn off oven and stove top after cooking. Using a small pan on a large burner wastes energy and can be a safety hazard. Cooking with a lid on, keeps the heat inside and speeds up cooking time. Use a toaster oven to cook small items. Avoid opening the oven door while cooking. It lowers the oven temperature.
Use microwave when possible to heat food rather than stove or oven. Make sure oven door is sealed when closed. Turn off oven and stove top after cooking. Using a small pan on a large burner wastes energy and can be a safety hazard. Cooking with a lid on, keeps the heat inside and speeds up cooking time. Use a toaster oven to cook small items. Avoid opening the oven door while cooking. It lowers the oven temperature.
REFRIGERATOR
Position
your refrigerator away from a heat source such as an oven, a dishwasher,
heating vents or direct sunlight from a window. To allow air to circulate
around the condenser coils, leave a space between the wall or cabinets and the
refrigerator or freezer andkeep
the coils clean. Be careful not to block the freezer fan that allows cold air
to circulate. Make sure the door seals are airtight. Keep your refrigerator
between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit and your freezer at 0-5 degrees
Fahrenheit. Minimize the amount of time the refrigerator door is open. Recycle
older or second refrigerators.
Clothes
Washer
Avoid
washing clothes until you have a full load. Wash clothes in cold water Use a
cold water detergent. The temperature of the water used during the rinse cycle
will not make your clothes any cleaner. A more efficient washer wrings more
water from your clothes, cutting drying time in half, and front loading models
use less water.
Dryer
Dry
laundry loads one immediately after the other to use leftover heat efficiently.
Moisture sensing dryers shut off automatically when your clothes are dry. Make sure your dryer's outside vent is clear and clean the lint
filter after every load.
Dishwasher
Avoid
running the dishwasher until it is full. Open the dishwasher after the rinse
cycle and let your dishes air dry instead of using the heated drying cycle.
LIGHTING
Turn lights off when you leave a room. Use a timer or motion detector for outdoor lighting to turn it off when not needed. Keep your light fixtures clean. Fluorescent bulbs last 10 times longer and use 75% less electricity, LED bulbs save even more energy.
Turn lights off when you leave a room. Use a timer or motion detector for outdoor lighting to turn it off when not needed. Keep your light fixtures clean. Fluorescent bulbs last 10 times longer and use 75% less electricity, LED bulbs save even more energy.
ELECTRONICS
Turn
your computer off at night. Unplug all electronic devices (TVs, computers,
video game consoles, cell phone and all battery charges, etc.) use surge
protect "smart" power strips and power off when not in use. Check and
see if your electronics have energy-saving settings.
When
buying new or upgrading electronics, look for ENERGY STAR®
