10 No-Cost
Energy-Saving Tips

Switch off dishwasher dry cycle.

Run dishwashers just before bedtime and unload the next day to help shave peak demand.

Do laundry later in the evening to help shave peak demand.

Use cold-water cycle for more clothes.

Clean air filter in the dryer after every load to improve air circulation or line-dry clothes in place of clothes.

Lower hot water temperature if you never experience hot water shortages.

Unplug infrequently used televisions and VCRs.

Shorten pumping cycle on pool and shift to off-peak time.

Close drapes or blinds in unoccupied rooms, keeping the heat in during winter and the hot sun out in summer.

Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and as high as is comfortable in the summer.

Energy-Saving Tips: Water Heating 

Water heating is the third largest energy expense in your home. It typically accounts for about 14% of your utility bill.

There are three ways to cut your water heating bills: use less hot water, turn down the thermostat on your water heater, and buy a new, more efficient water heater. A family of four, each showering for 5 minutes a day, uses 700 gallons of water a week; this is enough for a 3-year supply of  

drinking water for one person. You can cut that amount in half simply by using low-flow non-aerating showerheads and faucets.

Water Heating Tips

• Repair leaky faucets promptly; a leaky faucet wastes gallons of water in a short period.
• Install non-aerating low-flow faucets and showerheads.
• Buy a new water heater. While it may cost more initially than a standard water heater, the energy savings will continue during the lifetime of the appliance. Although most water heaters last 10 -­ 15 years, it's best to start shopping for a new one if yours is more than ten years old.
• Lower the thermostat on your water heater; water heaters sometimes come from the factory with high temperature settings, but a setting of 120°F provides comfortable hot water for most uses.
• If you heat with electricity, consider installing a solar water heater. The solar units are environmentally friendly and can now be installed on your roof to blend with the architecture of your home. When shopping for a solar water heater, watch for systems certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC).
• Take more showers than baths. Bathing uses the most hot water in the average household. You use 15­ to 25 gallons of hot water for a bath, but less than 10 gallons during a 5-minute shower.
  
  (Source: US Department of Energy)
  

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