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.
ENERGY AUDIT
