Conducting proper routine maintenance around your home is an important way of saving energy costs.

In addition, the following operating tips can also help you save energy costs: 

GENERAL TIPS:

• Check with your utility or energy service provider to make sure you are paying the lowest rate allowable based on your usage and types of equipment.  Also inquire about “off-peak” rates.  Try to use the dishwasher, dryer, and showers during off-peak periods.
• Most of a typical energy bill goes to heating and cooling.
• Water heating is the next largest energy expense.
• Appliances account for the next largest expense, with refrigerators and clothes dryers requiring the most energy.
• Windows account for a significant amount of heating losses during the winter.
• Increasing lighting efficiency is one of the fastest ways of decreasing energy bills.
• A fireplace is one of the most inefficient heat sources that can be used (since it draws in cold air from the outside).

HEATING TIPS:

• Set your thermostat as low as you can find comfortable.
• Make sure that warm air registers, baseboard heaters, or radiators are not blocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes.
• Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators.
• Turn off kitchen, bath, and ventilating fans as soon as they have done their job (so they don’t remove any more heated or cooled air than is necessary).
• Keep draperies and shades open on south-facing windows during the heating season to allow sunlight in.  Close them at night to reduce heat losses.
• Close off unoccupied rooms, and turn down the heating for these rooms.
• Add insulation to heating system ductwork that is in cold basements or attic spaces.
• Use duct tape to seal ductwork that leaks hot air at joints, etc. (use UL approved tape that will last longer).
• Add insulation above the ceiling, inside walls, and beneath floors.
• Add caulking and weather-stripping.
• Install storm windows, insulating shutters, or drapes.
• Install storm or insulating doors.
• If you use electricity for heating, consider installing a heat pump.
• Install an air-tight wood stove.
• Convert to an energy-efficient oil or gas furnace.
• Consider a solar heating system.

COOLING TIPS:

• Install insulation, caulking, and weather-stripping.
• Add shading or vegetation around the outside condenser unit (but be careful not to block its air circulation).
• Add ceiling fans.
• Set your thermostat for as high a temperature as you find comfortable.
• Don’t set your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner, it will not cool any faster, and may result in excessive cooling.
• Set the air conditioner’s fan on high speed to circulate more air, except when it is very humid.  When it is humid, the slower air speed allows the air conditioner to do a better job of removing moisture from the air, resulting in more comfort.
• Consider adding a dehumidifier.  Reducing the humidity of the air will help you feel more comfortable at a higher room temperature.
• Consider adding a whole-house attic fan.
• Add an automatic misting device to your outside condenser unit.
• Add programmable thermostats to automatically reduce temperature settings.
• Convert to a more efficient system.
• Use passive low-energy techniques such as:  installing shading devices and vegetation; use fans to circulate air; cook later in the day; use vent fans to move shower and bath steam out; etc.
• Don’t place lamps or TV’s near the thermostat, as the heat from these appliances can fool the thermostat to rum longer than is necessary.
• Consider using a desk fan along with a room air conditioner to circulate the cooled air more effectively.

INSULATION AND WEATHERIZATION TIPS:

• Check the insulation in your attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawl spaces to see if it meets the levels recommended for your area.
• Consider adding attic vents.
• Caulk, seal and weatherstrip the seams, cracks, and openings to the outside.  Warm air leaking in during the summer, and leaking out during the winter can waste substantial amounts of energy.
• Caulk and seal air leaks where plumbing, ducting, or electrical wiring penetrates through exterior walls, floors, ceilings, and soffits.
• Install rubber gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on exterior walls, to help eliminate air leaks.

WINDOW TIPS:

• If you have single-paned windows, consider replacing them with new double-paned windows with high-performance glass.  In colder climates, select windows that are gas filled with low-emissivity coatings on the glass to reduce heat loss.  In warmer climates, select windows with spectrally selective coatings to reduce heat gain.
• An alternative to the high prices for storm windows is to place plastic sheeting over the window and secure it with masking tape.
• In cold climates:  install storm windows; install insulating window shades; close curtains at night and open during the day; and keep windows facing south especially clean to maximize solar gain.
• In warm climates:  install white window shades, drapes, or blinds to reflect heat away; close curtains on south and west facing windows; consider installing awnings on south and west facing windows; and consider installing sun-control or reflective films on south or west facing windows.

WATER HEATING TIPS:

• Reduce the temperature setting of your hot water heater.
• Insulate your hot water heater and pipe, but be careful not to cover the water heater’s floor, thermostat, or burner compartment (if in doubt, contact a professional).
• Use water flow restrictors on your showerheads and faucets.
• Put a timer or manual switch on your water heater so it doesn’t run continuously.
• Insulate your hot water pipes.
• Fix leaking faucets promptly.
• Try to use less hot water.
• Take showers instead of baths, which typically use more water.
• Convert to a gas hot water system.
• Install a tankless water heating system (at points of use).
• Install a heat pump system.
• Install a pre-heater for your dishwasher (so that you can lower the temperature setting on your hot water heater, without reducing the cleaning performance of your dishwasher).
• Consider installing a solar water heating system.
• Consider installing a more efficient hot water heater.

LIGHTING TIPS:

• Use linear fluorescent and energy efficient compact fluorescent lamps wherever possible.  Fluorescent lamps are much more efficient than incandescent bulbs, and last 6 to 10 times longer.  Although fluorescent and compact fluorescent lamps are more expensive than incandescent bulbs, since they are more energy efficient, they pay for themselves over time.
• Use natural daylight when possible.
• Try to remember to turn off lights in any room you’re not using, or consider installing photocells, timers, or occupancy sensors to reduce the amount of time that the lights are on.
• Use targeted lighting instead of lighting the entire room.
• Install dimmer switches (except on fluorescent lights).
• Consider three-way lamps that can be adjusted to the wattage that is needed.
• Ensure that light bulbs match the needed wattage.
• Substitute more efficient light bulbs.
• Clean light fixtures and dust off bulbs.
• Replace incandescent nightlights with mini-fluorescent or electro-luminescent nightlights.
• Install skylights with shutters.
• Use outdoor lights with a photocell or a timer so that they turn off during the daytime.

REFRIGERATOR TIPS:

• Allow hot items to cool before putting them in the refrigerator.
• Don’t set your refrigerator temperature too low.
• Cover liquids, and wrap foods placed in the refrigerator.  Uncovered foods release moisture, which make the compressor work harder and therefore consume more energy.
• Keep contents to a minimum.
• Don’t hold door open for long periods.
• Replace your refrigerator with a more energy efficient model.

FREEZER TIPS:

• Don’t operate freezer below 0 degrees farenheight.
• Open the freezer infrequently.
• Install additional insulation.
• Do not put freezer where it gets direct sunlight.
• Ensure adequate air circulation around the unit.

COOKING TIPS:

• Match the size of the pan to the size of the heating element.
• Thaw foods to room temperature.
• Cover pots.
• Stagger shelves and dishes in the oven to allow increased circulation.
• Turn off electric stove burners or oven a bit early and cook from the residual heat.
• Refrain from pre-heating the oven.
• Try to open the oven door or open cooking pot lids as infrequently as possible.
• Try to broil versus bake or roast (which are less efficient ways of cooking).
• Use a microwave versus the oven.
• When possible, use more efficient cooking appliances: toaster oven; pressure cooker; crockpot; wok; etc.
• Convert to an energy efficient gas range.
• Convert to a more energy efficient electric range.
• Convert to a more energy efficient convection oven.

CLOTHES WASHER TIPS:

• Only the operate the washer for full loads.
• Use cold water, and cold-water detergents.
• Buy a unit with a “suds saver” or water saver option.

CLOTHES DRYER TIPS:

• Utilize an outdoor clothesline instead of a clothes dryer.
• Use an indoor drying rack (to help humidify in the winter).
• Dry towels and heavier cottons in a separate load from lighter-weight clothes.
• Don’t over-dry clothes, use the unit’s moisture sensor if it has one.
• Clean the lint filter after every load to improve air circulation.
• Use the cool-down cycle to allow the clothes to finish drying from the residual heat in the dryer.
• Convert to a gas dryer.

DISHWASHER TIPS:

• Most of the energy used by a dishwasher is for heating the water.  Check the manufacture’s manual to see if the temperature setting can be reduced.
• Skip the drying cycle, and allow to air dry.
• Use short wash cycle if possible.
• Only operate for full loads, but do not overload.

FIREPLACE TIPS:

• Keep the fireplace damper closed except when it is in use.
• When using the fireplace, reduce heat loss by opening the fresh air dampers at the bottom of the firebox (if available), or open the nearest window slightly and close the doors to the room (to reduce cold air being drawn into the entire room).
• Install tempered glass, and a heat exchange system that will blow warm air back into the room.
• Use grates with curved tubes that draw cool air from the room, and circulate back warm air.

LANDSCAPING TIPS:

• Well-positioned trees can save significant energy for heating and cooling, especially trees that lose their leaves in the fall so that they block the heat of the sun during the summer, and yet still allow winter sunlight to come through.
• Vines can provide wall shading and cooling.
• Planting evergreen trees and shrubs on the north and west sides help to deflect cold winter winds.