Energy

Energy Efficiency Tips

As energy costs continue to rise, there are little things that can help to lower your bills and save energy.

1. Have your heating and cooling systems examined annually. Dirty filters can block the air flow through your systems, which can increase your energy bills and shorten the life of your equipment.

2. Add more insulation to cut heating and cooling costs. Appropriate insulation and sealing can reduce your cooling and heating costs by up to 20%.

3. Make sure all doors and windows - including basement and attics - are weatherized, with caulk or weather-stripping. This small step will prevent hot or cool air from escaping through leaks to the outdoors. By sealing leaks and installing proper insulation, especially in the attic and crawl spaces, West Virginia households can reduce home heating costs by up to $205-$425 per year.

4. Adjust your thermostat so that it is on at the times you most need it. Lowering it by just 1 degree can reduce costs for West Virginians by 4% - between $40 and $85.

5. Keep shades and curtains drawn to cool the house, and open to warm it. During hot months, keep shades closed on south facing windows.

6. Install storm windows, which can reduce your winter heat loss by 25-50% a year.

7. Switch your incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs. 95% of the energy used in an incandescent light bulb goes to heating the bulb.

8. Invest in energy efficient appliances and look for those with the ENERGY STAR label. The average American household can spend around $2,000 a year on energy costs. Investing in more energy efficient appliances could save you $600 a year on energy bills, with the potential for even more savings.

9. Use a microwave or toaster oven rather than the large electric oven when possible. While cooking on the stove, use smaller pans. Matching the size of the pan to the heating element also saves energy.

10. Clean your refrigerator coils often.

11. When cooking in the oven, use glass pans - they retain heat and you can set the temperature up to 25 degrees lower.

12. Turn off and unplug all appliances when not in use. Standby power is 5% of residential electricity and cost consumers more than $7 billion a year.

13. Around 15%-25% of your home energy bill goes to heating water. In addition, according to the Department of Energy, about 90 percent of the energy used to wash clothes comes from heating the water. Using cold water for laundry gets clothes just as clean as washing with hot water, and can save you up to around $70 a year.

14. Occasionally hang your clothes to dry, instead of using a dryer.

15. Clean your lint trap after every load of laundry - clogged lint traps mean longer drying times because of decreased air flow.

16. Always wash dishes and clothes with a full load.

*Resources: Department of Energy, Alliance to Save Energy