Electric Saving Tips

Easy, No or Low-Cost Electric Energy Saving Tips

Conservation makes a difference in your utility bill. Here are some helpful suggestions to help you have better control over your monthly utility bill.

Unplug it

  • Unplug appliances such as computers and monitors, coffee makers, toasters, and others when not in use. Believe it or not, appliances continue to draw power even when they are switched off.
  • Unplug devices (cell phones, digital cameras, tablets, handheld video games) from chargers once they are fully charged. Devices that remain connected to chargers after they are fully charged continue to draw power and waste electricity

Turn it Off

  • Plug televisions, entertainment center equipment and other appliances into power strips and switch them off when not in use.
  • Turn off fans and lighting in unoccupied rooms

Turn it On

  • Install timer switches on indoor lights instead of leaving lights on all day or all night.
  • When it's time to replace your incandescent light bulb, switch to energy-saving LED and CFL bulbs. LED and DFL bulbs use 70-90% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last 10 to 25 times longer.
  • For outdoor lighting, install motion detectors (so that lights are only turned on when needed) or solar-powered outdoor lights.
  • Set the air conditioner thermostat to 78 degrees or higher for aid conditioning
  • Set your computer to energy saving, power save/sleep mode

Cool it Down

  • Grill meats outside during the summer to keep your home cool
  • Cook small portions of food in microwave ovens or toaster ovens instead of using your conventional over which raises the temperature inside your home
  • Operate your oven, dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer during the cooler part of the day since running these appliances will raise the temperature in your home
  • Dry your clothes on a clothesline whenever possible
  • Use the cool-down cycle in your dryer so that clothes will continue to dry using the residual heat in the dryer
  • Use ceiling and floor fans to help circulate air and make the room you are in feel cooler
  • Close blinds and curtains on the west  and south-facing windows during the day

Fill it Up

  • By running the dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer with full loads (instead of several small loads) you'll use less electricity and less hot water. Water heaters are the second-highest source of energy usage in the home
  • Keep your refrigerator more than half full. The contents of your refrigerator will actually help maintain the cool interior temperature which means your refrigerator doesn't have to work as hard.

Clean it Up

  • Clean the lint filter in the dryer after each load of laundry to improve air circulation
  • Clean or replace central air conditioner filters monthly for peak efficiency
  • Clean the air conditioner's outdoor condenser coil yearly so that your air conditioner will run more efficiently
  • Vacuum the condenser coils of refrigerators (above, below, or behind the unit) every three months so that your refrigerator will operate more efficiently. This is especially important if you have indoor pets like cats and dogs. This tip will also extend the life of your refrigerator.

Invest and Save Electric Energy Saving Tips

The following energy-saving tips are not cost-free but are all worth the investment.

  • Purchase products with the ENERGY STAR label. They consume less energy than other appliances and have undergone third-party testing. The older the appliance you replace the more you save. For example, if your air conditioner is more than 12 years old, replacing it with an ENERGY STAR certified model could save you 30% on your utility bill 
  • Have a qualified professional perform an energy audit on your home so that you can identify different ways to save electricity.
  • Insulate your home to save on air conditioning energy consumption.
  • Install a programmable thermostat to control air conditioning and heating systems. Programmable thermostats make it easy to save energy when you are away from home or sleeping.
  • Purchase a ceiling fan to circulate cool air in the summer, and warm air in the winter.
  • Consider buying a laptop computer which uses less electricity than a desktop computer