Energy Efficiency Check Lists

Home Cooling

Daily

• Don’t lower your thermostat below 78°F, health permitting.
• Turn your air conditioner off or to a warmer temperature when you aren’t home.
• Close curtains or shades.
• Use room fans to increase comfort.
• Avoid baking and other indoor heat-producing activities on hot days.
• Ventilate when it’s cooler outside than inside.

Monthly

• Change filters or clean permanent filters.
• Clear weeds and other debris away from the outside condensing unit.

Every Spring

• Have a qualified, licensed heating and cooling professional check your total system for proper and efficient operation.

Five Ways to Save on Water Heating

Your water heater has to work longer when the water coming into your house is colder, which is why your water-heating costs may go up during the winter. To help control your water-heating costs all year round, try these five energy-saving tips:

1. Set your water heater thermostat between 120°F and 125°F. You may need to set it at 140°F if you have a dishwasher, so check the owner's manual. Temperatures above 125°F can result in accidental scalding.
2. Fix dripping faucets. A slow drip of hot water can waste up to 350 gallons per month, which is money down the drain.
3. Use cold water for washing clothes and rinsing dishes.
4. Turn off the water while you're shaving, lathering your hands with soap, or scrubbing dishes.
5. Run a full load of dishes in your dishwasher once every day or so, instead of washing a few dishes by hand several times a day or running partial dishwasher loads. Your dishwasher uses about 17 gallons of hot water per load. It would take 20 or 30 gallons of hot water to hand-wash those same dishes (two or three hand-washings per day at about 10 gallons each).