Energy Guide
For answers to a specific question, email our energy consultants:
Measures
Heating and Cooling Tips
- Set your thermostat as low as possible in the winter and as high as possible in the summer. The less difference between the indoor and outdoor temperature, the lower your overall electric bill.
- Use kitchen, bath and other ventilating fans wisely; in just ONE hour, these fans can pull out a house full of warmed or cooled air.
- During winter, keep draperies and shades on the south-facing windows open during the day to allow sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce cold air chill. During summer, keep the window coverings closed during the day to prevent solar gain.
- Plant trees or shrubs to shade air-conditioning units without blocking the airflow because shaded units use as much as 10 percent less electricity than the same unit operating in the sun.
- Clean or replace filters once a month, or as needed.
- Don't place lamps or TV sets near your air-conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
Energy Star® Products
ENERGY STAR® is a label that identifies energy-efficient products that meet guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Energy (DOE).
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs)
Saving energy with lighting that has earned the ENERGY STAR® means saving money on utility bills. A typical household spends about $90 per year, or 10-15 percent of its annual electric bill, on lighting - mostly due to inefficient fixtures and bulbs.
ENERGY STAR® labeled CFLs produce the same bright light as incandescent bulb, but use up to 75 percent less energy. And CFLs last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. That means you only have to change your light bulb about once every five years.
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