Energy efficiency is incredibly important – especially during hot summer months. Here are some helpful hints to help keep your house running efficiently.
- Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher’s drying cycle.
- Avoid using the “rinse hold” on your machine for just a few soiled dishes. It uses 3-7 gallons of hot water each use.
- Turn things off when you are not in the room such as lights, TVs, entertainment systems, and your computer and monitor.
- Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120°F.
- Set your thermostat at as high a temperature as comfortably possible in the summer, and ensure humidity control if needed. The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be.
- Install a programmable thermostat to lower utility bills and manage your heating and cooling systems efficiently.
- Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
- Periodically inspect your dryer vent to ensure it is not blocked. This will save energy and may prevent a fire.
- ENERGY STAR clothes washers clean clothes using 50% less water and 37% less energy than standard washers.
- Keep your curtains or shades closed during the day in the summertime to keep warm air out and house temperatures down (the reverse would be true in the winter when it’s better to leave shades open during the day).
- Check to see that windows and doors are closed when heating or cooling your home.
- CFL bulbs last about 10 times longer and use about one-fourth the energy of traditional incandescent bulbs; LEDs light bulbs use only about 20%-25% of the energy and last up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. – Replacing 15 inefficient incandescent bulbs in your home with energy-saving bulbs could save you about $50 per year.