April 2007 | Alabama Living
Energy-saving checklist – smart ways to save money
Clarke-Washington EMC works diligently to control the cost of electricity. The list of energy saving tips below can help you control your cost and ultimately save on your electric bill. Encourage your neighbors to take advantage of these tips as well. Together, we can contribute to energy conservation.
Start today!
Turn down the thermostat especially when leaving your house and at night. Consider installing a timer so you don’t have to remember to do it yourself. Set the temperature as low in the winter and as high in the summer as your comfort allows.
Replace traditional incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs which are up to four times more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs and provide the same light levels. They also last up to nine times longer than standard incandescent bulbs.
Turn off lights in any room you’re not using, or consider installing timers, photo cells or occupancy sensors to reduce the amount of time your lights are on.
Clean or replace filters on your furnace, air conditioner and heat pump regularly.
Wash full loads of laundry using cold water when possible. Don’t over-dry your clothes – if your dryer has a moisture sensor, use it. And clean the dryer’s lint filter after every load to improve air circulation.
Use the energy-saving settings on refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines and clothes dryers. Go a step further and air-dry your dishes by opening the dishwasher instead of using the heated drying cycle.
Don’t keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold. Recommended temperatures are 37 to 40 degrees for the refrigerator and 5 degrees for the freezer. Remember to clean the coils on your refrigerator.
Check for and caulk any holes or cracks around your walls, ceilings, windows, doors, light and plumbing fixtures, switches, and electrical outlets that can leak air into or out of your home. Use non-expanding foam insulation around doors and windows.
Humidity is a factor. Take baths or showers and wash dishes early in the morning or in the evening instead of during the day. Use an outside clothesline to avoid adding heat to your house during the hottest months. Replace old or worn out bathroom exhaust fans with humidity sensing units.
Continue saving
Cook smarter. Match the size of the pan to the heating element. Use electric pans, toaster ovens or microwaves for small meals rather than your large stove or oven. You can use less energy and reduce cooking time.
Turn off the computer. You will conserve energy by turning off or using sleep mode for any computer not in use for two hours or more.
Lower the temperature on your water heater. A setting of 120 degrees provides comfortable hot water for most uses. And installing an insulating blanket on your water heater should pay for itself in less than a year. Consider replacing old or leaking water heaters with a lifetime warranted, high energy-efficient Marathon water heater.
Take more showers than baths. Bathing uses the most hot water in the average household.