No cost tips for saving energy and money

No cost tips for saving energy and money

• Turn off the lights in unattended rooms.

• Set home thermostat at 78 degrees in the summer (or at the warmest comfortable temperature) and 68 degrees during the heating season.

• When leaving for more than four hours or before going to bed at night, raise the thermostat 5 to 10 degrees in the summer and lower it 4 to 8 degrees during the heating season.

• Close curtains in east, south and west-facing windows during the day to keep out solar heat in the summer. (Utilize awning, trees)

• Heat/cool only the rooms in use. Close vents and doors in unused rooms.

• Clean refrigerator coils twice a year.

• Check and clean air conditioning filters monthly and replace as needed. (ERV)

• Unplug electric chargers, televisions and audio/visual equipment when not in use.

• Turn off your computer or put it in sleep mode when not in use.

• Run energy intensive appliances, such as dish and clothes washers, at night so that the heat produced by these devices will not need to be offset by your air conditioner during the day.

• Wait until you have a full load to run the dish or clothes washer. Wash clothes in cold water when possible.

• Keep lamps and televisions away from the thermostat. The heat they generate will cause the air conditioning system to work harder.

• Unplug old, energy inefficient refrigerators if they are not being used. Old refrigerators can use three times the electricity of modern, efficient ones.

Low-cost tips for saving energy and money

• Install weather stripping on all doors and windows.

• Replace incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), which use 66 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer. Replacing a typical standard bulb with an equivalent CFL could save, on average, $30 over the life of the CFL bulb. (LED bulbs save more)

• Install electric timers on lighting, small appliances and air conditioners.

• Add dimmer switches or motion and occupancy sensors on incandescent lighting. Install photocell for outside lighting and Solar lights.

• Install at least 10 inches of attic insulation, or enough to provide an insulating value of at least R-49. Install attic fan. Insulate the Ducts and pipes.

* When replacing HVAC system – Install Multi-Stage Furnace and compressor and ERV – Energy Recovery Ventilation, Humidifier and Dehumidifier.

• Install low-flow showerheads and sink aerators to reduce hot water use. When replacing water heater utilize tankless water heating system.

• When buying new appliances, lights, electronics and other products, look for the ENERGY STAR® label.