No-cost energy tips
There are many no-cost things you can do to save energy and shave dollars off your electric bill.
Below are a few simple ideas to help you start saving now.
- Turn down the thermostat
Set your thermostat to 68 degrees or lower to heat your home. Each degree that you lower
the thermostat can reduce your heating costs by as much as 3%.
- Heat only when home and awake
Turn down the thermostat before you go to bed at night, when you are away from home and in rooms
you are not using. By heating your home for only 8-10 hours per day instead of 24,
you could reduce the heating portion of your bill by as much as 45%.
- Use zonal heat efficiently
Only heat rooms in use if you have baseboard, ceiling or wall heat. (Do not close off multiple
registers in homes with forced-air heating systems, as this can cause damage to heating equipment.)
- Seal drafts
Keep doors and windows closed and block all gaps, cracks and openings
to the outdoors. Keep woodstove and fireplace dampers closed when not in use. Close fireplace doors,
as well.
- Clean heat sources
Clean furnace filters monthly during the heating season and replace as needed. Forced-air furnace
filters trap dirt and dust, clean the air you breathe, and help the furnace operate more safely
and efficiently.
- Maximize warm air flow
Make sure that furniture and window coverings are
not blocking the flow of heat. Increase the efficiency of ceiling and baseboard heat by running a
small fan to get the air moving.
- Get to know your electric meter
Learn how to read your electric meter so that you can troubleshoot before
receiving an expensive bill. During the heating season, check your
meter (typically located on an exterior wall of your home) twice each month.
Compare your current usage to previous years' usage to identify potential problems.
Use EWEB's meter reading worksheet
- Reduce hot water use
Heating hot water is the second largest use of energy
in the average home. Lower the temperature of your hot water to 120 degrees. You can also save on hot
water costs by taking showers instead of baths and limiting their duration. Run the clothes washer
and dishwasher only when full, and use the dishwasher's energy-saver mode and/or air dry setting.
Wash and rinse clothes in cold water. Repair water leaks promptly. Get more
tips for
conserving hot water.
- Increase your refrigerator's efficiency
Refrigerators and freezers run
more efficiently when full. Use water jugs to take up space. Unplug units and vacuum the
coils under or behind the cabinet twice yearly to allow the motor/compressor to run less
often and for shorter periods of time. Set the refrigerator temperature to 35-40 degrees
and the freezer temperature between 0 and 10 degrees. Clean door gaskets occasionally to ensure
a tight leak-proof seal.
Eliminate a second refrigerator or freezer, especially if it is
an older model.
- Turn off electronics
Turn off power to computers, TVs and all electronic devices
when not in use to
avoid wasting standby power, which can account for as much as 10% of
home energy use. Plug multiple devices into a power strip
with a surge protector so you can turn them all off with the flip of one switch, while also protecting them from
damage. Learn how to determine the cost of running
appliances, including those that require standby power, to help identify
where you can save energy and reduce costs.
- Turn off lights
Turn off unnecessary lights and use
compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs that are energy efficient. Clean bulbs occasionally so the light isn't
blocked by a layer of dust.
Download a copy of EWEB's no-cost energy tips (PDF)
