Electricity Conservation Tips!

Conserving energy doesn’t have to be a difficult process. You can begin living a “greener” lifestyle by making a few minor changes to your home. Every bit of energy you save helps the environment and saves you money!

To view the full information in each of these tips, just click on the “Plus-Sign” button next to the Tip description! Just press the “Minus-Sign” button again to close the tip.

Tip: Turn off your lights when you're not using them!

Electric lighting adds heat to a space that must be removed in the summer by air conditioning. Turn your lights off when not in use.

Tip: Keep your fireplace sealed in the warmer months!

Close your fireplace damper and flue tightly when the heating season is over.

Tip: Wash your clothes efficiently!

When using your washing machine and clothes dryer, make sure you always clean a full load of clothes.

Tip: Don't use the "heated dry" setting on your dishwasher!

Use the economizer cycle on the dishwasher and let the dishes drip dry instead of using electric heat to dry them.

Tip: Keep your vents uncovered!

Don't block the supply air or return air ducts to your air conditioning system with furniture or curtains.

Tip: When the air conditioning is on, keep your interior doors open!

Keep doors open in all of your rooms that are cooled by a central air conditioning system so that the air can return easily to the unit.

Tip: Install ceiling fans!

Ceiling fans can make a room feel much cooler without using nearly as much electricity. This allows you to keep your thermostat a little higher in the summer. During the winter, you can reverse your ceiling fan, which will push the warm air back down.

Tip: Use window fans in the summer!

They can be a great compliment to ceiling fans. Window fans are best used when facing away from the wind and exhausting hot air from your home.

Tip: Keep your refrigerator door closed!

Standing with the refrigerator door open lets humid air in. This makes it harder to cool and it will condense in the freezer into ice.

Tip: Shop around for energy efficient computers, monitors and accessories!

“Green Computers” are easy to find nowadays, and they'll help save you money on your electric bill. Also, computers, monitors and accessories use power even when they're off, so put them on a surge protector, and turn off the power when not in use.

Tip: Use your kitchen vent!

Use the kitchen exhaust fan when cooking to vent all of the humid and odorous air from cooking out of your house.

Tip: Use electric lawn tools!

Whenever possible, use electric lawn equipment instead of gas-powered. It's more efficient, and better for the environment.

Tip: Turn your water heater down to 120 degrees!

Turn the water heater setting down a few degrees and reduce the amount of electricity you use. A typical home uses 30% or more of the electric bill on hot water.

Tip: Install an insulating blanket on your water heater!

Touch your water heater. Does it feel hot? If so, you should wrap it in an insulating blanket. It will operate more efficiently and save electricity.

Tip: Keep the condensing coils on the back of your refrigerator clean!

The coils at the back of the refrigerator are heat exchange surfaces. Keep them clean and the unit will operate at peak efficiency.

Weatherize your home's doors and windows!

Repair caulking and weather stripping around your house to weatherize your home and make it easier to heat and cool.

Buy energy efficient appliances!

When it's time to replace an appliance in your home, make sure your new ones maximize efficiency to save you money.

These tips will help reduce the amount of energy your home uses. However, if you’re serious about becoming environmentally responsible, here’s how you can create a “Green Electrical System”!