ENERGY SAVING TIPS

 Conserving heat around your home during the colder months:

0. Having an automatic and programmable thermostat is one of the best ways to save energy & money.  By setting the thermostat to 68°F (20°C) when you’re at home and awake, and then lowering it when you’re asleep or away by 10°F to 15°F for 8 hours, you can save about 5% to 15% a year on your heating bill.
0. Let the sun shine in!  Windows on the south side of a house get the most sunlight, the east side of the house will receive the sunlight during the morning and the west side of the house receives the afternoon sun. Be sure to open shades and drapes during the daytime when the sun is out and close when the sun goes down.
0. Repair weather stripping and caulking.
0. Use a bottom seal that can be attached to the bottom of your doors to stop drafts.
0. Keep radiators and baseboards free of dust and furniture for top efficiency and air circulation.
0. Wrap your pipes, this will help with heat loss and prevent them from freezing.
0. Keep ductwork in good repair with duct tape or duct insulation.  Your home could be losing up 25% of its hot air before it reaches the vents.
0. Reversing your ceiling fans settings for upward airflow will move warm air down in the winter.
0. Close your kitchen vents, fireplace damper and closet doors when not in use.
0. Close off any rooms that you don't use.

 

Conserving energy around your home all year long:

0. Use compact fluorescent lights.  They last up to 10-13 times longer than standard bulbs and use 75% less energy.
0. Turn off the lights when you leave a room for more than a few minutes.
0. Install dimmer switches.  This will help extend the life of your bulbs and can save you up to 60% on your lighting costs.
0. Lower or install a timer on your water heater.  By reducing your water heaters temperature from 140°F (med.) to 120°F (low) you can 3-5% in water heating costs for each 10°F reduction.  If you install a timer you can turn off your water heater when not in use.
0. Install water-conserving fixtures, such as showerheads, faucets and toilets.  Check with your town or water company to see if they offer free water-conserving packages.
0. Fix leaky faucets.  One drop per second can add up to 165 gallons per month, which is more than a person uses in two weeks.
0. Install ceiling fans.  They can cut your energy bill by up to 40%.
0. Don't keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold.  Recommended temperatures are 37°F to 40°F for the refrigerator and 5°F for the freezer.  Be sure to cover food in the fridge; uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.
0. Don't leave the fridge door open.  30% of the cooled air can escape.
0. Use cold water when doing laundry.  It will clean your clothes just as well as hot water, and you will cut your energy use in half.