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 Wise use of electricity can save you money and FKEC has trained
professionals on staff that can show you how. At your request,
and at no cost to you, an FKEC Member Service Representative will
come to your home or business and perform an energy audit. At the
conclusion of the audit, you will be provided with a written report
containing suggestions on steps you can take to use electricity
wisely and lower your monthly electric bill.
If you are interested in having an energy audit performed,
please call our Member Service department at (305) 852-2431 or
submit a FKEC
Energy
Audit request now!
In the meantime, listed below are some of the most effective
ways to help you conserve energy, lower cost and gain control over
the electricity used in your home.
Cool your home efficiently
1. Cool your home at 78 degrees or warmer with the thermostat fan
switch on "auto." For additional savings, raise your thermostat to
82 degrees or warmer when you are away from home.
2. Install a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature automatically.
A programmable thermostat can be set to automatically raise the temperature
of your home when you are at work or away from home and cool it back down
to a comfortable 78 degrees before you return home.
3. Clean or replace you air conditioner's filter every month.
4. Turn off your ceiling fan when you are not in the room. A ceiling
fan
does not cool a room. You feel cooler under a ceiling fan because of
the wind chill effect but the fan does not lower the air temperature. A
fan that runs constantly can cost up to $7 a month, depending on size and
age.
5. Consider replacing old air conditioning units with new high efficiency
units. The cost of a high efficiency air conditioner may be greater, but
energy savings in the long run can more than repay the cost.
6. Seal and insulate your air conditioning ducts. Tightly sealed and
insulated ducts will keep cool air from escaping into your attic before
it makes it into your rooms.
7. Shading your home will help lower interior temperatures and make it
so that your air conditioning unit does not have to work as hard. Close
curtains and blinds during the day. A trellis, awning or sunscreen can
help keep sunlight off of windows. Plant trees to help shade your home,
but remember, plant them wisely. Do not plant trees under or near overhead
power lines unless the tree is of a type that will not grow tall enough
to come within 10 feet of the lines.
Light your home efficiently
8. Use fluorescent lights whenever possible in areas where general lighting
is needed.
9. Turn lights off when rooms are unoccupied. A 100-watt light bulb that
is left on continuously can cost more than $6 a month.
10. Install motion sensor activated outdoor lighting instead of leaving
an outside light on all night.
Seal your home
11. Check your insulation. A well-insulated attic is one of the main
defenses against the loss of cool air. You should have 10 inches of insulation
(R30 rating) in your attic.
12. Place weather stripping around windows and doors to stop cool air
from escaping outside.
13. Make sure wall outlet trim plates fit properly. Caulk and seal around
smoke detectors and baseboards.
Watch your water
14. Set your water heater temperature between 120 and 140 degrees.
15. Install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators. Less hot water
used in the shower or sink means less electricity needed to re-heat water.
16. Avoid pre-rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Doing
so can save up to $70 a year.
17. Limit the time you run your pool pump. During the summer, six hours
a day is sufficient. During the winter, 4 hours a day should do the job.
Avoid running the pool pump during the peak electrical demand time between
4pm and 8pm.
Click Here For A
Do-It-Yourself
Energy Audit Tool
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