Energy Conservation Tips

Tips from the Alliance to Save Energy

• Turn off everything not in use: lights, TVs, computers, stereos and other electronics.
• Keep your cool and lower your costs.
• Let nature do its work and allow the sun to help heat your home on winter days by keeping blinds or drapes of sun-exposed windows open during the daytime and closed at night to conserve heat.
• Caulk and weatherstrip to ensure that you're not wasting energy on heat or AC that escapes through leaks to the outdoors.
• Shift energy-intensive tasks - laundry and dish washing to evening hours to increase energy reliability during heat waves.
• Do full loads when you use your washer, dryer and dishwasher.
• Use a microwave oven instead of a conventional range or oven when possible.
• Take showers instead of baths to reduce hot water use.
• Use dimmers, timers and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor lighting.
• Activate "sleep" features on computers and office equipment that power down when not in use for a while.
• "4 for the Planet" Replace your 4 most used 100-watt incandescent bulbs with 4 comparable 230 watt compact fluorescent bulbs to save more than $108 over 3 years.
• Privacy please! Close blinds or shades on the south-and west-facing windows of the house during summer days or install shading devices. Plant vines or trees.