Energy Efficiency

Energy-efficient Tips to Lower Electricity Costs

No matter the size or age of your home, or whether you rent or own, there are many changes you can make to live an energy-efficient lifestyle. Here are some tips:

1. Adjust the thermostat to 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees in the summer.
2. Unplug electronics when not in use.
3. Open blinds and drapes to warm your home during the winter and close curtains to keep the house cool in the summer.
4. Adjust the temperature on your water heater to a max of 120 degrees.
5. Get a tankless water heater which heats water on demand rather than maintaining a tank of hot water around the clock.
6. Change your light bulbs to LEDs.
7. Wash your clothes in cold water if possible.
8. Seal cracks, gaps and air leaks to reduce home heating and cooling costs.
9. Upgrade your insulation.
10. Clean or replace all filters in your home regularly. Dirty filters make your system work harder and run longer than necessary.
11. Use your microwave instead of your stove when cooking. Or cook outdoors when possible.
12. Put outdoor lighting on timers, daylight sensors or motion sensors.
13. Defrost your refrigerator and freezer regularly to ensure your appliances are running efficiently.
14. Control your fixtures with a photocell or a timer to assure dusk-to-dawn only operation of your outdoor lights.
15. Don’t leave your electronics on all day long. Only turn on your computer, monitor, printer and fax machine when you need them.
16. Install dimmer switches.
17. Use a ceiling fan to circulate air and ease the burden on your HVAC system.
18. Turn off heated dry on your dishwasher and air dry instead.
19. Only run a full dishwasher. 
20. Set your refrigerator temperature to the manufacturer’s recommendation to avoid excessive cooling and wasting energy.
21. Limit how long you leave the refrigerator door open.
22. Don’t peek inside the oven while cooking. Your oven has to work harder to compensate for the heat lost each time you open the door.
23. Replace your windows. If your home has single-pane windows, consider replacing them with more energy efficient windows, or adding solar shades or tinting film.
24. Install a programmable thermostat that will automatically adjust the temperature according to your schedule.
25. Turn off the lights when they’re not in use. 
26. Don’t leave your mobile phone plugged in overnight. It only takes a couple of hours to charge.
27. Watch your appliance placement. Avoid placing appliances that give off heat, such as lamps or TVs, near a thermostat.
28. Install a smart thermostat to climate-control your home while you’re away.
29. Install low flow shower-heads to use less hot water.
30. Dress for the weather. When you’re at home, dress in warm clothing in the winter and cooler clothing in the summer to stay comfortable without making your heater and AC work harder.