Low-Cost And No-Cost Ways To Save
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Clothes Washers
No-Cost
- Wash only full loads, using cold water whenever possible. Switching to cold water for just two loads per week can save over 3,300 gallons of hot water per year.
Low-Cost
- Fix cracked hoses and leaky faucet connections.
Swimming Pools
No-Cost
- Filter pools and spas before noon or after 6 p.m.
Low-Cost
- Invest in a pool and/or spa cover to reduce heat loss by up to 90%.
Heating
No-Cost
- Heating can account for up to 16% of your monthly energy bill. It’s a good idea to have your furnace checked yearly before the heating season by SDG&E or a licensed heating contractor.
- Save energy and reduce your heating costs by turning your thermostat down. For every two degrees you lower your thermostat you can save approximately 5% on your heating costs.
Low-Cost
- Check filters monthly for lint build-up during periods of furnace use and clean or replace if necessary.
Cooling
No-Cost
- The best temperature for your air conditioner is 78 degrees or higher. A setting of 78° instead of 72° can save up to 12% on your cooling costs.
Low-Cost
- Consider purchasing a programmable thermostat.
- Check the insulation in your home to be sure it’s adequate. The higher the “R” number, the greater the insulating power.
- Caulk and weather strip around doors and windows.
- Use fans in place of air conditioners.
Lighting
No-Cost
- Turn the lights off when you leave a room.
Low-Cost
- Install timers, time clocks or photocells to help ensure that exterior lights are turned off at the appropriate time.
- Replace incandescent lights with ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), and light-emitting diodes (LEDs); they can reduce lighting costs by up to 75% and can last up to 10 times longer.
Refrigerators
No-Cost
- Defrost regularly, keep it full and unplug and/or recycle extra refrigerators and freezers to save up to 15% on your annual energy bill.
Low-Cost
- Replace cracked or worn seals. Have condenser coils checked and cleaned at least twice a year.
Appliances and Electronics
No-Cost
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'Standby power' can account for up to 5% of all residential energy use, and up to $75 per year in wasted electricity.
Turn off or unplug home appliances like computers, DVD players, coffee makers and phone chargers instead of leaving them in sleep or stand-by mode.
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The more you know; the more you save. Download a copy of Your Energy Costs: A Room-by-Room Guide to show you where you're using energy and help you manage your energy costs.
Low-Cost
- Plug electronic equipment into a powerstrip and turn off the power strip when you're done using the equipment. Also, replace older, inefficient battery chargers with newer, energy-saving models.