Cold Weather is Here! No-Cost Energy Saving Tips
There are many no-cost options to lower your energy use and reduce your energy bill.
Here are a few ideas to give you a jump start on saving energy now.
- Lower your thermostat when you go to bed or when you’re not home.
- Use a programmable thermostat so its automatic Every degree lowered can decrease the heating portion of energy bill by 2 percent.
- Make it a habit of shutting off lights, computers and other devices when you’re not using them.
- Consider plugging electronic devices into a smart strip.
- Close your fireplace damper when there’s no fire. Leaving it open is like having a 48-inch-square hole in your house.
- Set your water heater at 120° F., which is comfortable for most uses. Turn your water heater temperature down or set to vacation mode if you’re going to be away from your home for more than a week.
- Run only full loads in your dishwasher and clothes washers, and wash clothes in cold water.
- Air dry your dishes or use the air-dry feature in your dishwasher.
- Use a clothesline to air dry clothes when weather permits.
- In the winter, open all drapes and blinds during the day to let heat in and close at night.
- Set your refrigerator between 36 to 39 degrees.
- Clean lint out of refrigerator coils and out of clothes dryers frequently to increase efficiency.
