Heating And Cooling
Climate control systems account for about half of all energy used in a home. Operating these systems wisely and keeping them well maintained will substantially lower your electric bill.
- In the summer, raise your thermostat to 78 degrees; in the winter, keep the thermostat at 68 degrees. You can save 7% on cooling costs in the summer
for every degree you increase the setting above 78. Take advantage of the more moderate temperatures in the spring and fall, and turn off your climate control system if possible.
- Change filters on your heating and cooling systems every month. Dirty filters, by inhibiting the flow of air into your system, result in greater energy use and higher bills.
- Install ceiling fans and use them in the summer and the winter. To make optimal use of their energy-saving capacity, fans should run counterclockwise in the summer to draw cool air up from the floor and clockwise in the winter to push warm air down from the ceiling.
- Because they are out of sight, ducts can also be out of mind. Ducts with holes or that are improperly aligned cause significant energy loss over time. When having your climate control system inspected, have the maintenance specialist check your ductwork for problems.
- Weather-strip doors to keep unwanted hot or cold air out of your home. Front doors, in particular, are the biggest source of energy loss. Caulk windows and make sure that sliding glass windows and doors are firmly shut.
- Keep shades and drapes closed in the summer, particularly in windows facing the sun. Reverse this process in the winter so that warm sunlight can enter your home.
- Keep your fireplace damper closed when the fireplace is not in use.
Appliances
Major appliances—washers, dryers, and dishwashers—are big users of energy.
Properly operating these devices can extend the lifetime of your appliances and save money.
- Appliances that are more than 10 years old use nearly twice the amount of energy as newer models. Before purchasing a new appliance, consult the U.S. Department of Energy’s Appliance Shopping Guide. Also, Energy Star-qualified products are identified by the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency as being among the most energy-efficient products on the market.
- Run dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers early in the morning or late in the evening. Operating these appliances during the day in summertime will add to the heat in your home and drive up your electric bill.
- Unless otherwise specified by labels, wash laundry with cold water. Wash full loads only.
- When drying clothes, use the warm setting rather than the hot, and remove lint from the screen when drying is completed. Do not dry more than is needed; too much drying damages clothes and wastes energy.
- Run only full loads in the dishwasher and air dry your dishes. The less hot water your dishwasher uses, the more energy and money you save. When shopping for a new dishwasher, look for a model that allows you to use less water per load.
- Vacuum your refrigerator coils once a year. This is particularly important if you have pets. Dog and cat hairs can get into the coils and reduce the energy efficiency of your refrigerator.
Lighting
A comfortable, well-lit home provides a welcome and secure setting. By making intelligent choices about how you light your home, you can enjoy pleasant surroundings and not worry about the next electric bill.
- Turn off lights when leaving a room.
- Use one bulb instead of two. One 100-watt bulb produces more light than two 60-watt bulbs and uses less power.
- Install low-wattage bulbs in hallways and other areas not requiring bright lights.
- Employ fluorescent lights where you can. They produce four times the light per watt than traditional bulbs and last longer. Fluorescent bulbs are particularly appropriate in entryways, hallways, and utility rooms.
- Use energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) in lamps and other lighting fixtures. CFLs use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs.
Other Household Hints
- Keep your water heater at 115 degrees or less, and turn it off when you are away for more than a week.
- Make sure your home is adequately insulated. To protect it against the extremes of hot or cold weather or high winds, consider purchasing storm windows and doors. They could pay for themselves over time.
- If your home has a central air conditioning system, do not close off unused rooms or close air registers in rooms. The system will be less efficient and cost more to operate.
- Turn off computers overnight and when not in use. Computers, monitors, and other related equipment use a lot of energy.
RESOURCES
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myenergypolicy.com
