Ways to Save

Questions to Ask Yourself

What can I do to make my home more energy-efficient? 

1. Complete a "do-it-yourself" Home Energy Audit and receive a free energy conservation kit in the mail.
2. Request an In-Home Evaluation from a certified home evaluator and earn cash incentives for improvements.

How well is my home insulated?

If you can see your ceiling joists, you need to increase the amount of insulation in your attic.  Attic insulation should have at least an R-30 rating.

How tight are my windows?  Are they single pane?

Single pane windows should be replaced with double pane, Low E windows with a U value between .30 and .39.

How efficient is my central heat & air conditioning unit?

Units that are 10-15 years old aren’t very energy efficient.  In the cooling mode, energy efficiency is based on the unit’s SEER or EER.  Anything greater than 10 is good, 12 is better.  As of January 2006, the minimum requirement is a SEER 13.  In the heating mode, look for the HSPF for heat pumps or COPS for geothermal systems.  The higher the number, the more you will save.       

Heating and Cooling

• Set your thermostat at 78 degrees or higher in the summer and 68 degrees or lower in the winter.  See how the savings add up with our Thermostat Chart
• Get your heating and air conditioning unit serviced every year.
• Clean or replace air filters monthly.
• Invest in a programmable thermostat.
• Use a ceiling fan to circulate air down in the summer months.
• Use our Heat Pump Calculator to consider the savings potential of replacing your old unit with a new high efficiency system.

Appliances

• Find out how much energy the appliances in your home use with our Appliance Calculator.  It can add up to about 20% of your total consumption.
• Take the dollar bill test.  Close your refrigerator door on a dollar bill and then try to pull it out.  If the dollar comes out easily you may need new seals or a new refrigerator.
• Plan what you need inside the refrigerator before you open the door.
• Set your fridge at 40 degrees.
• Let food cool before putting it in the refrigerator.  Hot foods will raise the temperature in the fridge and make it work harder.
• Consider cooking outside on a grill during summer months.  Using an oven makes your home hotter.
• Wash full loads of clothes and use cold water when possible.
• Don’t overload the dryer.
• Clean the dryer lint filter before each load.
• Don’t run the dishwasher unless it’s completely full.
• Purchase Energy Star certified appliances and electronics.  Compare the energy costs of LCD, DLP, Plasma, and traditional tube televisions using our TV Calculator.

Lighting

• Use energy-efficient Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs).  They cost more to purchase, but use one-quarter as much energy as incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.  Calculate your savings with our CFL Calculator.
• Keep light fixtures and bulbs clean.  Dust absorbs 50% of light.
• Turn off any unused lights.

Around the House

• In the summer, close drapes in East/West facing windows to block out heat and reduce your cooling load.  In the winter, take advantage of the sun's warmth and open drapes in south facing windows.
• Seal up leaks by weather-stripping doors and caulking windows.
• Close the fireplace damper when you aren’t using it.
• If your water heater is in an unheated space, wrap it in an insulation blanket to prevent it from losing heat.
• Turn the water heater off if you are going to be gone more than three days.
• Use less hot water by installing low flow showerheads.
• Repair leaky faucets.  A drip can waste up to 48 gallons of water in one week.
• Landscaping can provide shade to your home and significantly reduce your cooling costs.