Energy Conservation

Make the most of the heat in your home and save money on energy bills with these conservation tips.

Furnace and Home Insulation

• Avoid heating unused rooms – close vents and doors.
• Open blinds or shades on windows to heat your home during the day and close them at night to keep heat inside.
• Find drafts or air leaks and use caulk or weather-strips to keep heat indoors.
• Fireplace dampers should be closed when the fireplace is not in use.
• Make sure heat sources are not blocked– keep all vents clear to let the air circulate.
• Turn down the heat – turn the thermostat down to 55 degrees at night, and keep it at 65 degrees during the day.
• Make sure your furnace gets maintenance – change filters regularly and have your energy provider service your furnace annually.
• Well-insulated attics will keep heat in your home.
• Exposed hot water pipes and hot water heaters can be insulated to keep from losing heat.
• Weather stripping on windows will keep heat from escaping.
• Dress to be comfortable – instead of turning up the heat, put on a sweater.

Lighting

• Replace your light bulbs with new, energy-efficient models.
• Use natural daylight whenever possible.
• Turn off lights in unoccupied rooms.

Refrigerators

• Old refrigerators may need to have coolant refilled and have new door gaskets to seal in the cold air.
• Avoid putting the refrigerator near heat-producing appliances like ovens and dishwashers. The heat will make the fridge turn on more often and use more energy.
• When replacing appliances shop for the highest energy efficiency. New appliances are labeled to help you make the best decision. Look for the Energy Star label.

Water Heaters

• Replace a water heater if it is leaking in any way.
• Insulate the water heater to keep heat inside.
• Set the temperature at 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Washer/Dryer

• Only use as much water as the load needs.
• Use cold or warm water settings when you can.
• Faster spin cycles in the washer remove the most water so less time is needed in the dryer.
• Choose drying times that are just right for the load.
• Overloaded dryers waste energy – keep loads manageable.
• Dryers keep some heat – drying loads one after the other will make the most of your drying time.

Water

• Avoid letting water run more than necessary when doing household tasks like dishes and brushing your teeth.
• Chill water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap.
• Take shorter showers – a 10 minute shower uses as much water as a bath.
• Fix a leaking faucet – one drop per second can amount to 200 gallons a month and is inexpensive to repair.