Energy & Environment | Energy Saving Tips
Tips for Saving Electricity at Home
Major Appliances
Replace and recycle your old refrigerator and purchase an energy-efficient model. Units only 10 years old can use twice as much electricity as a new ENERGY STAR® labeled model.
Don't keep your old refrigerator. Keeping your old refrigerator as extra cold storeage is a very inefficient use of electricity and will add to your power bill.
Defrost refrigerators and freezers before ice buildup becomes 1/4-inch thick.
For maximum efficiency from your refrigerator, set the temperature between 37 and 40 degrees and the freezer temperature at five degrees. Deep freeze freezers should be kept at zero.
Keep range-top burners clean; they will reflect heat better.
Turn off the stovetop burners and oven about five minutes before the end of your cooking time. The heating element will stay hot enough to finish cooking without using electricity.
Wash only full loads in a dishwasher and use the shortest cycle that will get your dishes clean. If operating instructions allow, turn off the dishwasher before the drying cycle, open the door and let the dishes dry naturally.
Air Conditioning
Always keep windows and doors closed when you have the air conditioning on.
Set the air-conditioner thermostat at 78 degrees or higher, health permitting. 3 percent to 5 percent more energy is used for each degree the conditioner is set below 78 degrees.
If your old air conditioner is on its way out replace it with ENERGY STAR® labeled energy-efficient model.
Clean or replace air-conditioner filters regularly, following manufacturer's instructions.
Keep the mold off concrete roofs to save on the cost of air conditioning your home by pressure spraying and painting.
Hire a professional, reputable air conditioning contractor to inspect and perform preventive maintenance on your air conditioning system once a year and follow the manufacturer's recommendation for owner maintenance.
Check the caulking or weatherstripping around window units and throughout your home to minimize the loss of cool air.
Use ceiling fans to assist the cooling system, but be sure to turn off fans when no one is in the room. Ceiling fans don't produce cool air, but they can move the air and make you feel three degrees cooler.
Make sure you buy the "right" size cooling unit for your needs. An air conditioner that is small won't be able to do the job. A unit that is too large will waste energy.
Programmable thermostats can save on your electric bill by allowing automatic settings to save air con while people are not home.
Windows and Doors
Caulk windows, doors and anywhere air leaks in or out. Do not caulk around water heater.
Use weatherstrip around windows and doors to keep cool air in.
Wrap cooling ducts with duct wrap, or use mastic sealant.
Replace old windows with new high performance dual pane windows.
Install shades, awnings or sunscreens on windows facing west and south to block strong sunlight or close typhoon shutters to save on air conditioning.
Hot Water and Water Heaters
Install energy-saver shower heads to save your hot water.
When buying new appliances, be sure to purchase energy-efficient ENERGY STAR® labeled models.
Set the water heater thermostat at 120 degrees or "low." If you have a dishwasher, check your dishwasher to see if you can use 120 degree water otherwise set to 140 degrees or normal.
Have a qualified electrician install a timer on your water heater. You should not turn off your water heater at the breaker, but installing a time and heating water only when you need hot water will save on your power bill.
A single dripping hot water faucet can waste 212 gallons of water a month. This increases your electric bill for heating the water as well as your water bill. Fix leaky faucets, especially those on the hot water side.
Use cold water instead of hot as much as possible in the kitchen and laundry.
Lighting
Use compact fluorescent lamps. You can lower your lighting bill by converting to energy-efficient low-wattage compact fluorescent lighting and fixtures.
Turn off the light in any room that is not occupied.
Replace halogen or incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs which use 50 to 80 percent less electricity than traditional bulbs. Use compact fluorescent flood lights outside, to.
EnergyGuide Labels
Appliances with the EnergyGuide labels are energy efficient, but the ratings vary. Study the estimated costs for operating the appliance versus the cost of buying a more energy efficient product. Look for the Energy Star on appliances, cooling equipment, home electronics, lighting, or office equipment.
Small appliances such as electric toasters and convection ovens use less energy than the oven in the range.
Rice cookers use less energy than the stovetop burners.
Microwave ovens reduce cooking time and save energy.
Tips for Saving Electricity at Home
Major Appliances
Replace and recycle your old refrigerator and purchase an energy-efficient model. Units only 10 years old can use twice as much electricity as a new ENERGY STAR® labeled model.
Don't keep your old refrigerator. Keeping your old refrigerator as extra cold storeage is a very inefficient use of electricity and will add to your power bill.
Defrost refrigerators and freezers before ice buildup becomes 1/4-inch thick.
For maximum efficiency from your refrigerator, set the temperature between 37 and 40 degrees and the freezer temperature at five degrees. Deep freeze freezers should be kept at zero.
Keep range-top burners clean; they will reflect heat better.
Turn off the stovetop burners and oven about five minutes before the end of your cooking time. The heating element will stay hot enough to finish cooking without using electricity.
Wash only full loads in a dishwasher and use the shortest cycle that will get your dishes clean. If operating instructions allow, turn off the dishwasher before the drying cycle, open the door and let the dishes dry naturally.
Air Conditioning
Always keep windows and doors closed when you have the air conditioning on.
Set the air-conditioner thermostat at 78 degrees or higher, health permitting. 3 percent to 5 percent more energy is used for each degree the conditioner is set below 78 degrees.
If your old air conditioner is on its way out replace it with ENERGY STAR® labeled energy-efficient model.
Clean or replace air-conditioner filters regularly, following manufacturer's instructions.
Keep the mold off concrete roofs to save on the cost of air conditioning your home by pressure spraying and painting.
Hire a professional, reputable air conditioning contractor to inspect and perform preventive maintenance on your air conditioning system once a year and follow the manufacturer's recommendation for owner maintenance.
Check the caulking or weatherstripping around window units and throughout your home to minimize the loss of cool air.
Use ceiling fans to assist the cooling system, but be sure to turn off fans when no one is in the room. Ceiling fans don't produce cool air, but they can move the air and make you feel three degrees cooler.
Make sure you buy the "right" size cooling unit for your needs. An air conditioner that is small won't be able to do the job. A unit that is too large will waste energy.
Programmable thermostats can save on your electric bill by allowing automatic settings to save air con while people are not home.
Windows and Doors
Caulk windows, doors and anywhere air leaks in or out. Do not caulk around water heater.
Use weatherstrip around windows and doors to keep cool air in.
Wrap cooling ducts with duct wrap, or use mastic sealant.
Replace old windows with new high performance dual pane windows.
Install shades, awnings or sunscreens on windows facing west and south to block strong sunlight or close typhoon shutters to save on air conditioning.
Hot Water and Water Heaters
Install energy-saver shower heads to save your hot water.
When buying new appliances, be sure to purchase energy-efficient ENERGY STAR® labeled models.
Set the water heater thermostat at 120 degrees or "low." If you have a dishwasher, check your dishwasher to see if you can use 120 degree water otherwise set to 140 degrees or normal.
Have a qualified electrician install a timer on your water heater. You should not turn off your water heater at the breaker, but installing a time and heating water only when you need hot water will save on your power bill.
A single dripping hot water faucet can waste 212 gallons of water a month. This increases your electric bill for heating the water as well as your water bill. Fix leaky faucets, especially those on the hot water side.
Use cold water instead of hot as much as possible in the kitchen and laundry.
Lighting
Use compact fluorescent lamps. You can lower your lighting bill by converting to energy-efficient low-wattage compact fluorescent lighting and fixtures.
Turn off the light in any room that is not occupied.
Replace halogen or incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs which use 50 to 80 percent less electricity than traditional bulbs. Use compact fluorescent flood lights outside, to.
EnergyGuide Labels
Appliances with the EnergyGuide labels are energy efficient, but the ratings vary. Study the estimated costs for operating the appliance versus the cost of buying a more energy efficient product. Look for the Energy Star on appliances, cooling equipment, home electronics, lighting, or office equipment.
Small appliances such as electric toasters and convection ovens use less energy than the oven in the range.
Rice cookers use less energy than the stovetop burners.
Microwave ovens reduce cooking time and save energy.