Energy Quick Tips

Want to lower your energy bill? Raise your understanding of the appliances in your home:

• Getting Into Hot Water
• Refrigeration Education
• Cooking Light
• Laundry Lessons
• Lighting Enlightenment
• Staying Cool
• Hot Home Heating Tips

Getting Into Hot Water

Electric water heater technology has changed over the years. Today's water heaters are efficient, easy to locate and share a host of advantages over gas and oil water heaters.
Because electric water heaters have no fuel or flame, they're safe, convenient, and require less maintenance. And because fuel delivery and venting are not concerns, they offer flexible installation.

Choose Your Water Heater

A storage water heater acts as a large Thermos, keeping the water hot until you need it. Available in a wide variety of sizes, their capacities range from 40 to 100 gallons. Good storage water heaters have two 4,500-watt, 240-volt heating elements to insure hot water at all times. Their primary advantages are ease of installation, low initial cost and easy repair and maintenance.

Heat pump water heaters typically reduce water-heating costs from 30-50% by extracting heat from the surrounding air and transferring it to the water in your existing storage tank. While initially expensive to install, the investment pays off in reduced water heating costs.

On demand electric water heaters are installed under a kitchen or bathroom sink to provide instant hot water only when needed. Because plumbing runs are short and hot water isn't heated unless it's being used, these units reduce water-heating costs. On demand water heaters also reduce plumbing costs in new construction because only cold water lines must be run to the kitchen and bathrooms.

Staying In Hot Water

Did you know that a hot water faucet leaking one drip per second wastes 200 gallons a year? Repairing leaky faucets will lower energy bills substantially. Here are some other tips to reducing hot water use while saving energy and money:

• Set water heater no higher than 120º F.
• Insulate hot water pipes.
• Install water heater insulation blanket.
• Shut off faucet when shaving, washing and doing dishes.
• Take a shower instead of a bath.
• Install low-flow showerheads.
• Do full loads in dishwasher and clothes washer.
• Use cold water in the garbage disposal.

Learn more about energy efficient water heating.

Refrigeration Education

You know that old freezer "Uncle Harry" gave you to use in the basement so you could save money by storing on-sale food items? Well, it costs more to run that freezer for a year than you'll ever see in returns on food savings. If you're looking to save energy, and money, it makes more sense to have only one, well running, efficient refrigerator/freezer. Here are some other energy-saving refrigerator tips:

• Shut off the automatic icemaker.
• Clean condenser coils, drains and toe grill twice a year.
• Leave several inches of space above, behind and next to the refrigerator.
• Set refrigerator temperature between 37º and 40º F.
• Never let more than 1/4" of ice accumulate in your freezer.
• Make sure door gaskets seal tightly.
• Keep refrigerator away from heat sources.
• Cool hot foods for 20 minutes before placing them in refrigerator.
• Avoid repeated door opening.
• A full freezer is more efficient - it takes more energy to cool empty space.
• Don't buy a refrigerator-freezer that is larger than you really need.

Learn more about energy efficient refrigeration.

Cooking Light

You'll lighten the load on your electric bill if you conserve energy while cooking. Here are several quick and easy steps you can take to reduce energy use when cooking:

• Never use your range or oven to heat the kitchen.
• Leave oven and burners off when not in use.
• Cook oven items simultaneously when possible.
• Leave the oven door closed as much as possible while cooking.
• Use self-cleaning features after you cook - when oven is already hot.
• Double your recipe - and freeze half for later.
• Match pan size to burner.
• Thaw frozen foods before cooking.
• Cook with less water - you'll save energy and keep nutrients in food.
• Use a tight-fitting lid.
• Once water boils, lower burner setting.
• Don't preheat oven any longer than necessary
• A microwave uses half the energy of a conventional oven.
• Set microwave on high whenever possible.
• When possible, preheat food in microwave - then finish in conventional oven.

Laundry Lessons

• Wait for a full load to use washer or dryer, but don't overload.
• Wash and rinse with cold water.
• Avoid over-drying.
• Remove, fold or hang clothes when dryer stops to avoid ironing.
• Dry consecutive loads: A warm dryer shortens drying time.
• Clean lint screen after each dryer load.
• Don't add wet items to a dry dryer load.
• Avoid opening dryer door during drying.
• Clean lint from dryer hose twice a year.

Learn more about energy efficient clothes washers and dryers.

Lighting

• Turn lights out when leaving room for more than 15 minutes.
• Clean fixtures and bulbs for better light.
• Leave outside lights off unless needed.
• Don't leave three-way bulbs on high.
• Use compact fluorescent bulbs whenever possible.
• Lamps in corners of room reflect more light and improve efficiency.

Staying Cool

• Select the correct air conditioner unit for the area size.
• Buy units with the highest Energy Efficiency Rating (EER)
• Cover exterior of through-the-wall air conditioners in winter.
• Close doors and windows when air conditioning is on and make sure they seal tightly.
• For best efficiency, locate air-conditioner unit on the north or east side of home, or in the shade,
• Keep air filter and condenser clean for efficiency,
• Make sure airflow is not restricted both inside and outside of the unit.
• Set thermostat to the warmest comfortable temperature.
• Close heat registers and cold air returns.
• Have unit and system serviced regularly for efficient operation.
• Close fireplace dampers,
• Close blinds, drapes and shutters on sunny side of house.
• Close off unused rooms.
• Reduce heat load by turning off appliances and lights when not in use.
• Turn off exhaust/fresh air setting for greatest efficiency.
• Turn off the air-conditioner and use cool evening outside air to cool the house.
• Use vent fans over the stove and in the bathrooms to remove excess heat.
• Turn off unit when room is not being used, or set it to a warmer temperature.

Click here for information on cooling your home.

Home Heating

• Install setback thermostat.
• Set thermostat to 68ºF during the day and 60ºF at night.
• Don't block thermostat or install near a heat source.
• Lower the thermostat a degree or two when entertaining a large group.
• Close drapes and shades at night. Open them on the south side during the day.
• Keep doors and windows sealed tightly.
• Have heating system inspected and serviced annually.
• Leave at least 12 inches of clearance around heating ducts, baseboards and radiators.
• Add a humidifier and lower thermostat to increase comfort and improve efficiency.
• Close doors to attic, garage and basement.

Learn more about energy efficient home heating.