Conserving Energy In the Home

Reduce peak loads - minimize use of electric devices during afternoon to early evening hours.

1. Set thermostat below 68 degrees F for heating, above 78 degrees F for cooling, and off when away from home, health permitting.
2. Turn off your heat at night, and set your thermostat to start heating shortly before you get up. An extra blanket will help keep you warm. If you don't have a programmable thermostat, buy one. They're cheap and easy to install.
3. Caulk and weather strip around doors, windows and other openings. This will help prevent cold air from entering your home.
4. Insulate your water heater and keep it at the "warm" setting, and insulate hot water pipes. Hot water temperature of 120 degrees F is sufficient (140 degrees F if you have an older dishwasher with no heating element). Prevent heat loss by making sure your water heater is insulated and the first five feet of water heater piping is insulated.
5. Repair leaky faucets and install low-flow showerheads. Leaky faucets waste water and make your water heater work overtime. Low-flow showerheads reduce water and water heater use.
6. Check and repair disconnected or crushed ducts in attic and crawl space, and clean or replace furnace filters seasonally. Duct repairs and clean filters will help insure the heated air from your furnace, or cooled air from your air conditioner, isn't wasted heating or cooling your crawl space, and that it reaches your living space most efficiently. No air coming from an open register can be a sign of duct problems.
7. Make certain vent grills are not blocked by plants, books or furnishings.
8. Clean your refrigerator coils every six months. Dusty coils make it work harder than necessary. If more than 10 years old, consider replacing it with a new high-efficiency refrigerator.
9. Turn off lights when not needed. Wasted energy pushes the supply grid towards rolling blackouts and costs you money unnecessarily.
10. Replace old incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents. Compact fluorescents come in various shapes and sizes that fit regular light fixtures and can last up to ten times as long as old-fashioned bulbs. They use only about a quarter of the electricity the old bulbs use.
11. Turn off computer-related and entertainment equipment when not in use. Wasted energy pushes the supply grid towards rolling blackouts and costs you money unnecessarily.
12. When the weather is cold, close drapes at night and open them during the daytime. Closed drapes at night help keep heat in the house. Open drapes during the day helps the sun's energy warm the house interior.
13. When the weather is hot,close drapes during the daytime. This will minimize outdoor heat coming into the house.
14. Consider long-term energy efficiency and conservation improvements for both cold- and hot-weather conditions. These include improved insulation of ceilings, floors, windows, doors, water pipes, etc. Replace old inefficient furnaces, refrigerators or dishwashers with new high-efficiency appliances. (They can pay for themselves in just a few years!) Look for the "Energy Star" label whenever you shop for appliances or computer equipment.
15. Avoid running large appliances such as dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers, electric ovens and stoves, electric heaters, water pumps and other electric devices during peak power periods (peak periods are afternoon to early evening hours). This will lower electricity demand on the power grid and reduce the possibility of rolling blackouts.
16. Set air conditioning thermostats to pre-cool spaces at off-peak periods (off-peak periods are morning and late evening hours).