Energy Tips
Low-Cost, No-Cost Energy Conservation Tips
The Office of Energy Resources wants to help consumers keep their energy use to a minimum. Often a substantial portion of our energy use is wasted. By using a few inexpensive energy-efficient measures, you can reduce your energy bills by 10-15 percent.
Room Temperature
Setting the temperature just a few degrees lower can significantly reduce heating costs.
- Close your blinds and drapes at night in the winter to help keep the cold out.
- Keep warm air registers clean and free of obstructions, such as furniture, carpets and drapes.
- If you have reversible ceiling fans, set them in the winter to circulate the heated air collecting at the ceiling down towards the floor.
- During the heating season, opening south-facing window coverings during the day and closing all window coverings at night will keep the heat in.
- During the cooling season, adjusting window coverings to block the sun’s rays and opening windows during the night to let in cool air keeps interiors cool.
Weatherization
Warm air leaking out of your home during winter can waste a substantial portion of your energy dollars.
- You can save 10 percent or more on your energy bill by reducing the air leaks in your home.
- Sealing ducts with mastic is often the most cost-effective measure that can be done to a home.
- Caulk, seal and weather-strip all seams, cracks and openings to the outside.
- Install rubber gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on exterior walls.
- Check insulation in the attic - there should be at least 13 inches.
- Insulation is one of the most cost-effective ways to save energy in your home. Adding insulation can pay back in less than a year in most cases.
Thermostat
When shopping for a programmable thermostat, look for the Energy Star® label.
- When using a heat pump, an anticipating heat recovery feature is recommended to reduce use of expensive backup heat.
- Use the "Hold" or Vacation" feature only when your home will be unoccupied for a full 24 hours or longer.
- Remove the "Hold" feature when you return home.
Lights
Leaving an incandescent or fluorescent lamp on uses more energy than turning it on and off as needed.
- Get into the habit of turning off lights when you leave the room.
- Use natural day lighting when possible.
- Use compact fluorescent lights (CFL) instead of incandescent bulbs whenever you can. CFLs are three to four times more efficient than incandescent bulbs and last up to ten times longer.
- A 22-watt CFL has about the same light output as a 100-watt incandescent.
- CFLs use 50-80 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs.
Electronics
Turn off electric loads when not in use. Some equipment, including televisions and sound systems, always use energy to stay warmed up.
- Plug these appliances into a switched power supply and turn them off at the supply when not in use.
- Turn your computer off at night, on weekends and when it's not in use for several hours during the day, even though it may have an energy saving "sleep" feature.
- Set your computer so the monitor goes into power saving mode instead of flashing a screen saver, or turn off the monitor.
Water Heaters
It's not necessary to have the thermostat higher than 120°F.
- Hotter water uses more energy to heat and causes you to use more cold water for bathing.
- Insulate your hot water storage tank, but be careful not to cover the thermostat.
- If your water is heated with gas, be careful not to cover the top and bottom of the tank.
- If buying a new water heater, select one that's sufficient for your needs.
- A high-density foam pad (extruded polystyrene) or insulated strand should be placed under the electric water heater that's installed on a concrete floor.
- Water heating represents up to 17 percent of national residential energy consumption, making it the third largest energy user in homes, behind heating, cooling, and kitchen appliances.
To learn more about energy conservation, call 208.287.4827, and ask for a free copy of "Energy Savers Tips on Saving Energy & Money at Home."