Resources & DIY
Tips to Reduce Energy Burden
Heating and Cooling
- Change or wash your furnace filter regularly
- Use furnace filter whistle
- Keep registers clear
- Set daytime heating temperatures to 68 degrees
- Turn down heat 5-10 degrees at night or when away from the house
- Eliminate drafts by weather stripping and caulking doors and windows
Water Heating
- Use low flow shower heads and faucet aerators
- Set water heater to 120 degrees
- Turn off water heater if gone for more than two days
- Fix leaks immediately
- Do not leave water running while shaving/brushing
- Use shower timer to reduce shower time to 5 minutes or less
Refrigerator/Freezer
- Refrigerators should be kept between 36-40 degrees
- Freezers should be kept between 0–5 degrees
- Clean refrigerator/freezer coils with coil cleaning brush
Washer/Dryer and Other Appliances
- Use coil cleaning brush to clear dryer vent pipe of lint
- Clean lint filter after every dryer load
- Use cold water to wash clothes
- When using a stove top to cook, match the pan to the burner size
- Use smaller watt appliances other than stove/oven
Lighting
- Use LED or CFL light bulbs to save 50-80% on lighting cost compared to incandescent lights
- Use lowest wattage necessary
- Turn lights off when you leave a room
Electronics
- Electronics that are turned off may still continue to use power, these are called phantom loads of electricity
- Items using phantom loads have remotes, lights, clocks and chargers
- Unplug convenient electronics and plug others into a power strip
- Set computers to sleep or hibernate instead of letting them idle