Energy Savers

Wattsmart energy saving tips from Rocky Mountain Power@ http://www.rockymountainpower.net/res/sem/het.html

Cooling

• Keep your thermostat at 78°F or higher if you're still comfortable. The higher you set the thermostat, the less your cooling system will operate unnecessarily.
• Keep air conditioner filters clean. They should be cleaned or replaced once a month during the season. If you can do so safely, clean the exposed grill and spines of the outside unit.
• Don't block window air conditioners. Make sure no objects are leaning on the unit or directly in the path of the air flowing in or out.
• Use a programmable thermostat. You only need your air conditioner or furnace to run when you're home. Set timers so it comes on no more than 30 minutes before you're scheduled to arrive home.
• If you are home during the day, try to reduce the use of heat-producing appliances such as the oven, range, dishwasher, washing machine and dryer.
• Don't place lamps or televisions near your air conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, and this may cause it to run longer than necessary.
• Make sure your home has the appropriate amount of insulation in walls, attics and crawl spaces. Insulation is just as important in the summer as it is during the winter since it helps keep warm air outside.
• Seal and insulate air-conditioning ducts that run through unconditioned spaces.
• Plant deciduous trees to shade your home's walls, windows and roof in the summer.
• Install a ceiling fan to circulate air above the area where you spend most of your time. You'll feel just as cool under a ceiling fan when it's 82°F.
• Run exhaust fans when you shower or cook to vent warm, moist air.
• Have the system professionally inspected and tuned-up. Professional inspections and tune-ups of heating and central air conditioning systems can help save on operating costs and extend the equipment's life. A check-up is recommended every year for heat pumps and every five years for other systems.

Water Heating

• Water HeatingCut down on water heating costs
• Install energy-efficient showerheads and faucet aerators. They reduce the amount of water released by up to 50 percent, with almost no noticeable difference in pressure.
• Set the water heater temperature to 120°F
• Fix leaky faucets. A dripping faucet can waste 6 to 10 gallons (23-38 liters) of water per day. Repairs can be as simple and inexpensive as replacing a worn-out washer.
• Insulate hot and cold water pipes. If pipes are exposed beneath your home or in an unheated garage, insulate them with special pipe-insulating foam. This will help keep cold water pipes from freezing and hot water pipes hot.
• Take a shower instead of a bath. The average bath uses twice as much hot water as a five-minute shower.
• Turn off faucets immediately after use. Many of us tend to leave the faucet running while we wash dishes or shave. Turning on the faucet only when necessary can save thousands of gallons of water a year, not to mention the energy needed to heat it.

Laundry Quick tips for reducing usage

• Wash your clothes in cold water and use detergents specially designed for cold water loads.
• Wash and dry full loads when possible. Always use the appropriate setting for the size of the load.
• Clean the lint filter in the dryer after each load.
• Periodically inspect the dryer vent to make sure there are no blockages.
• Consider air-drying clothing on warm days on clothes lines or drying racks.

 
Kitchen Appliances Efficient use of refrigerators and freezers

• Keep condenser coils clean and unobstructed for maximum energy savings.
• Locate your refrigerator or freezer away from heating equipment, heater vents and direct sunlight. Provide adequate clearance above, behind and on the sides for good air circulation.
• Set the temperature of your refrigerator between 37 and 40°F, and your freezer at 0°F for top efficiency. The Food and Drug Administration also recommends these settings to prevent rapid bacterial growth.
• Clean door gaskets with warm water or a detergent that leaves no residue since a tight-sealing door gasket is critical to the efficiency of your refrigerator.
• Keep your refrigerator or freezer full, but do not overload it. Overloading causes the compressor to run longer. Place foods slightly apart on shelves, making sure they do not block the unit's interior air vents.
• Cover all liquids stored in the refrigerator. Moisture can be drawn into the air, making the unit work harder.

Lighting

• Reap considerable energy savings by changing a few habits and bulbs
• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). CFLs draw about one-quarter of the energy of an incandescent bulb (see table below) and last 7 to 10 times longer. Because CFLs contain tiny amounts of mercury, proper disposal is important.
• Keep lights off in unoccupied rooms and get in the habit of turning off the light every time you leave a room for more than a few minutes.
• Use low-wattage bulbs when possible. Bright lights are often not needed in hallways or closets.
• Clean light bulbs and fixtures since dirt can reduce light output by as much as 10 percent.
• Remove unnecessary bulbs in track and recessed lighting. Positioned correctly, three bulbs can sometimes provide nearly the same light as four.
• Install dimmers in areas where they make sense, such as the dining room and bedroom. The amount you dim equals your energy saved. For example, lights dimmed 15 percent reduces energy consumption up to 15 percent.
• When working at a desk or workbench, use task lighting. Other lights in the room could be turned off or dimmed.

TV & Entertainment Quick tips for reducing usage

• Turn off your television when not in use.
• Many appliances continue to draw power when they are switched off but still plugged in. In the average home, 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off.
• Unplug the appliance or use the switch on a power strip to prevent DVD players, VCRs, and televisions from drawing power when not in use.

While Away on Vacation

• Even when you're away from home or on vacation, your home still uses electricity. If you are leaving for more than a few days, here are some things you can do to keep your energy use down:
• During the winter, lower your thermostat to between 50°F and 60°F. If you turn it lower than 50°F you run the risk of frozen pipes in cold weather.
• In summer, turn off your air conditioning or set the thermostat to a high temperature.
• Turn off your water heater if you'll be away for more than three days. Turn an electric water heater off at the circuit breaker panel, or set a gas heater to "pilot" or "low." You'll need a few hours to heat the tank when you return.
• Unplug your waterbed heater, or lower the thermostat to 70°F when away from home for seven days or more.
• Unplug electrical equipment such as TVs, DVD players and computers because they can draw power even when not in use. When plugged in, these appliances should be hooked up to surge protectors.