Energy Saving Tips

• Switch your ceiling fan to turn in a counter-clockwise direction In the summer; in the winter, run it at low speed, but clockwise.
• Close your exterior doors and windows tightly when the AC is on. Save even more by turning off kitchen and bath exhaust fans.
• Change or clean your HVAC's air filter(s) monthly to keep your system running at peak performance.
• Make sure your air conditioner has a rating – or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) – of at least 15. Not only will your AC be more efficient, you could also be eligible for a rebates, as well as tax credits, from your utility company.
• Make saving automatic: Set your thermostat fan switch to "auto" to save energy. Leaving it in the "on" position keeps air running constantly. 
• Block the sun from overheating your home! Inside, use shades, blinds and drapes. Outside, use awnings, trees and shrubs.
• Insulate your walls with injected foam insulation to help you save energy by keeping hot outside air from seeping through porous block walls and around door and window openings – check with your local building supply company for details.
• Give your AC a tune-up. Running an inefficient AC system can result in high monthly bills.
• Open interior doors so that cooled air flows freely throughout your home.
• Repair leaky ducts to reduce heating and cooling costs and could qualify for a rebates toward repairs.
• Install attic insulation rated R-30 and sealing any attic leaks to reduce high home cooling costs. You’ll save money each month and could qualify for a rebates.
• Check for household leaks to make sure air isn't escaping through openings such as fireplace dampers, doors and windows.
• Decorate for a cooler home by hanging light-colored curtains that allow light to enter a room while blocking some of the sun’s rays, and light-colored paint to reflect heat.
• Close unused air vents. If you have central AC you can close air vents in rooms you're not using so you're not paying to cool them.
• Use ceiling fans to cool off for less. Ceiling fans use no more electricity than a standard light bulb. However, be sure to turn fans off when you leave — they only cool people, not rooms.
• Install more ceiling fans. Because the breeze of a fan can make you feel several degrees cooler, you can raise that thermostat and still stay comfortable.
• Raise the temperature on your thermostat by a few degrees to save on your cooling costs.
• Install a programmable thermostat to adjust your temperature during the day.

• Cover all bare floors. Carpeting or rugs add to comfort and heat retention, especially if there is little or no floor insulation.
• Set your thermostat to 68-70 degrees during the day in the winter, and 65-68 degrees at night to keep your home comfortable and save on heating costs.
• Close the flue in your fireplace and install glass doors to keep in the warm air.
• Limit your use of portable heaters. They’re great for "spot" heating, but running a 1,500-watt heater 24/7 can be expensive.
• Keep your thermostat close to the outside temperature – it’s cheaper to keep your home at 70°F when it’s 50°F outside than when it’s 30°F.
• Don’t block air vents with drapes, furniture, or rugs.
• Get an energy-efficient heat pump and you could cut your heating costs in half.
• Change the filters in your heating system every month for optimum efficiency.
• Give your air compressor space to work efficiently. Never stack anything against your HVAC or drape anything over it.
• Set your thermostat to 60 degrees if going on vacation during the winter months, but don’t turn it off.
• Heat your home with the sun's help. Leave window shades or blinds open during the daytime. And consider using solar heat to supplement your normal heating source.
• Lower your thermostat every time you leave the house.
• Install a programmable thermostat to adjust your temperature during the day.

• Replace standard bulbs with LED bulbs. LED light bulbs are much more energy-efficient than regular bulbs, while giving off the same amount of light.
• Use the right bulb. Make sure you’re using the appropriate LED bulb for your light fixture – they come in various sizes and types for different lighting needs. You can also obtain dimmable LED bulbs.
• Replace halogen type fixtures, with fixtures using LED bulbs – they use much less energy and don’t get hot.
• Use motion-detector lights for your outdoor lighting needs – they’re convenient and efficient.
• Recycle your CFL bulbs. Make sure to properly recycle CFL (compact flourescent) bulbs. Check the CFL recycling page to find out how, where and why.
• Replace your five most-used light fixtures and/or bulbs with ENERGY STAR® products. If every American did so, we would save about $8 billion per year in energy costs.
• Consider using timers to turn lights on in the evening and off during the day.
• Choose outdoor LED's for outdoor lighting – they can last significantly longer than standard incandescent bulbs.
• Select light-colored or opaque lamp shades. Place lamps in corners so they reflect light from two walls.
• Replace fluorescent tubes with new LED bulbs designed to fit those fixtures.

A 60w Soft White LED bulb uses only 9.5w of power and can last over 20 years based on being on for 3 hours a day.

• Use microwaves and toaster ovens to cook or warm leftovers. You’ll use less energy than cooking with a conventional oven.
• Set your refrigerator temperature between 30 and 42°F. Use the power-save switch if you have one.
• Repair refrigerator door seals if you feel cold air around the closed door or if moisture is collecting.
• Replace a refrigerator bought before 1990 with an ENERGY STAR®-qualified model – energy-efficient models cost less to operate than older refrigerators.
• Dust your fridge the next time you dust your house. Check the coils behind the refrigerator — and use coil vacuums or dusters to clean it off and keep costs down.
• Keep your freezer full – it uses less energy than an empty one. For maximum savings, consider filling your freezer with gallon containers of water.
• Choose energy-efficient appliances. They don’t just save you money, but they’re good for the environment because they use less energy.
• Wash and dry several loads at once, so that your dryer isn't completely cooled down when it heats up for the next load.
• Avoid over-drying your clothes. It wastes energy, plus causes static and wrinkling.
• Separate wash loads into light and heavy fabrics for the shortest drying times. Or better yet – air-dry your lightest fabrics.
• Vent your dryer to the outside to reduce the workload on your air conditioner.
• Wash full loads of clothes when possible. When smaller loads are necessary, use less water.
• Hang dress clothing to air dry on portable laundry racks; they will also look better.
• Clean the dryer lint filter before every load to keep your dryer running efficiently.
• Set your dishwashers on economy mode, to use less water and electricity.
• Turn off your dishwasher after the wash cycle — and let your dishes air-dry. You'll save energy and keep your dishwasher from heating up your kitchen.
• Keep the oven door closed while cooking – the temperature can drop by as many as 25 degrees each time you open the oven door.
• Grill out more often during the summer. Using the oven in the heat of summer forces your AC to work harder, which raises your energy bill.
• Use copper-bottomed pots and pans that use heat more efficiently when cooking on the stove.
• Keep stove reflector pans clean to reflect more heat upward while cooking.
• Turn off your oven or burners when food is almost ready and let existing heat finish the cooking for you.
• Use tight-fitting covers on pots and pans when cooking on the stove to shorten your cooking time and save energy.
• Match your pot size to the burner on your stove. Heat is lost when small pots are used on large burners.
•  Turn off kitchen and bath fans immediately after use.

• Always wash with cold water, newer generation laundry detergent works just as well, and you’ll save.
• Check your hot water pipes for leaks, which can drain your energy savings.
• Install aerating, low-flow faucets and showerheads – available at home improvement stores – to reduce your water use.
• Turn off your water heater if you plan on leaving home for a few days. And when you get back, most models will reheat the water to the set temperature in about an hour.
• Shorten those showers to cut water costs.
• Insulate the first six feet of the hot and cold water pipes connected to the water heater. It’ll keep your comfort high and your energy bills low.
• Install a solar water heater to save energy and money by using solar power.
• Get an insulation wrap to help your old water heater heat in more efficiently.
• Reduce your water heater temperature setting from 140 degrees to 120 degrees — it will save you money while keeping water hot enough for your needs.
• Look for the EnergyStar label when purchasing a new water heater — a more efficient heater may be more expensive, but will save money over time.
• Make sure you are washing a full load of laundry especially if using hot water.
• Fix that dripping faucet. Leaky faucets not only increase water bills but also increase gas or electricity costs.

• Plug electronics into a power strip, then turn the strip off when not in use to save energy costs.
• Avoid energy vampires. Even when they’re turned off, many home electronics in “standby” mode use energy.
• Look for ENERGY STAR-qualified TVs – they’re up to 30 percent more efficient than non-certified models.
• Consider a laptop next time you're looking to buy a computer – they use less energy than desktop computers.
• Set your computer to sleep or hibernate mode instead of using a screen saver so it uses less electricity during periods of inactivity.
• Unplug battery chargers when the batteries are fully charged or the chargers are not in use. Many chargers draw power continuously, even when the battery is not plugged into the charger.

• Windows are an intrical part of your homes appearance and can impact energy savings. When replacing windows choose windows that are high performance and can block UV rays. This not only helps your energy costs but also protects carpeting, upholestry,  and window coverings from fading.
• Look for the National Fenestration Rating Council label when shopping for new windows: It means the window's performance is certified.

• Reduce the strain on your AC by installing lighter colored shingles when replacing roofing. This will help you save by decreasing the amount of heat coming into your home. Lighter colored roofs  not only reduce heat buildup, they also prevent the expansion and contraction that degrade roofs.