Electrical Saving Tips

Winter Savings Tips
•Clean or replace your furnace filters/air conditioning.
•Have your heating systems inspected by a qualified service professional at least once a year
• If building a new home or replacing an existing furnace or air conditioner, we recommend the more energy efficient heat pumps.
•Make sure window air conditioners do not allow cold air to sneak through or around sides, top and bottom, putting an extra strain on heating systems and adding cost for homeowners. Hardware stores can provide covers and other easy, low-cost ways to keep that cold air out.
•Caulking around windows and other openings can stop the cold air invasion dead in its tracks. Caulking and a caulking gun from your local hardware are inexpensive and easy to use. A warmer home and lower utility bills can result.
•A lot of warm air escapes if you leave your front door open and only have the storm door closed. This causes your furnace to work harder to keep your home warm and results in higher heating bills
•Check your ducts for air leaks. First look for sections that should be joined but have separated and then look for obvious holes. If you use duct tape to repair and seal your ducts, look for tape with the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) logo to avoid tape that degrades, cracks, and loses its bond with age.
•Wrap your electric water heater with an insulating blanket if it is located in an unconditioned area to save on heating costs.
•Programmable thermostats save money. When shopping for a programmable thermostat, be sure to look for the ENERGY STAR® label which guarantees you of an efficient and reliable unit. You can preprogram the furnace to a lower temperature while you’re not at home
(not recommended for heat pumps).
•Turning down your thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting (68 degrees or lower) and layering clothing (wearing a sweater) will result in lower heating bills. If everyone is out of the house for four or more hours, lower your thermostat to 55 degrees.
•Close off unused space such as the attic and other rooms that are not in use. Add insulation in attic and crawl spaces if needed.
•Keep the fireplace damper closed if you're not going to build a fire.
•Open shades and drapes during the day to let your house absorb the sun's heat.


 

 

Your electric bill may go up during the winter because of the following reasons:
•Using more lights because days are shorter
•Increased use of heating system
•Increased use of electric space heaters which are expensive to operate.
•Use of electric blankets and heating pads which cost money to operate.
•Clothes dryers are used more in the winter.
•Extra holiday cooking and baking occur during the winter.
•Outdoor and Christmas lights are used more in the winter.
•More TV is watched during the winter.
•More hot showers/baths are taken during the cold months.
Summer Savings Tips
•Turn off the lights in the rooms you are not using.
•Wash FULL loads of laundry in COLD water when possible.
•Clean and replace the filters in your air conditioner at least once a month.
•Turn up your thermostat a couple of degrees. The recommended setting is 78 degrees for cooling. Utilize your ceiling fans to circulate air through the house.
•Replace incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.
•Use a microwave when possible instead of a conventional oven to reduce heat in your house.
•Stop bathing. Just seeing if you are paying attention :) Take more showers than baths. Bathtubs use more hot water.
•Turn down the thermostat on your hot water heater. A setting of 120 degrees is recommended.
•Caulk any holes or cracks around your walls, ceilings, windows, doors, light and plumbing fixtures, and electrical switches and outlets. All of these can leak air into your home.
•Turn off your computer or put it in the sleep mode if not in use for more than 2 hours.
•Make sure your insulation levels are appropriate in your attic, exterior, and basement walls. An R-38 - R-40 is recommended for ceilings and attics, and R-19 for crawl spaces, floors, and exterior walls.