1. Unplug It



• Many appliances use electricity even when not in use, including chargers for cell phones, PDAs and digital cameras. Unplug your chargers when they’re not in use.


2. Computer Efficiency



• Your computer uses less power during periods of inactivity when you use the sleep or hibernate mode on your computer.



• Learn more from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Consumer’s Guide to Energy Efficiency.


3. Take Control of Temperature



• During warm weather months, set your thermostat to 78°F or higher when you’re at home and 85°F when you’re not. You can save up to three percent off your bill for each degree the thermostat is set above 72°F.



• Use the sunlight to your advantage. During winter, open the shades and blinds on sunny days as a way to light and heat the interior of your home. However, be sure to close them at night to reduce the amount of heat that is lost through the windows.



• Turn your hot water heater down to 120°F and reduce your hot water costs by as much as 50 percent.


4. Use Appliances Efficiently



• REFRIGERATORS
  Set your refrigerator temperature between 30 and 42°F and your freezer between 0 and 5°F. Use the power-save switch if you have one and make sure that the doors seal tightly.



• OVENS
  Do not open the oven door while cooking food. According to the Energy and Environmental Building Association, the temperature inside an oven can lower 25 degrees each time you open the door while it is in use.



• DISHWASHERS
  When you use your dishwasher, make sure you are washing full loads of dishes. Also, instead of using the heat cycle to dry your dishes, just open the door and let them air-dry and the next time you need to purchase a new dishwasher find a model that uses less water.



• DRYERS
  The lint filter in your dryer should be emptied after each use. Heavy and light fabrics should be dried separately. Also, adding wet items to a load that is partially dry can increase the amount of energy used. Use the moisture-sensor setting on your dryer if it has one.



• REFRIGERATORS and FREEZERS
  Refrigerators and freezers operate most efficiently when full but not overcrowded. If your refrigerator is overloaded, then air may not circulate properly, causing your compressor to work hard and use more energy.



• COOKWARE
  The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy states that cookware that is made from ceramic and glass is found to conduct and retain heat more efficiently than other types of cookware. When you use this cookware, you can lower the oven temperature by 25 degrees and cooks foods for the same time. For more information click here.



• COOKING
  Foods in covered pans begin boiling or steaming faster, which allows you to use lower temperature settings.


5. Conduct a Home Energy Audit



• A home energy audit can assess how much electricity your household consumes, helping you evaluate the best actions to take for a more energy-efficient home. You can easily conduct an energy audit yourself.
  
  During a simple walk-through of your home, keep a checklist of areas you have inspected and problems found, including:
  
  
  1. Door and Window Air Leaks
  2. Insufficient Insulation
  3. Inefficient Heating/Cooling Equipment
  4. Energy-draining Lighting For a detailed guide to performing a home energy use self-audit, please click here.


6. Programmable Thermostat



• You can save up to 15% in cooling costs if you replace your manual thermostat with a programmable one.



• Programmable thermostat models are more accurate than manual ones and can be set to keep your home warmer during the day if you are not there.



• These thermostats will generally pay for themselves through lower heating and cooling costs during the first season of use.



• Purchase a programmable thermostat at our Power Perks web store.



7. Weatherizers



• Window putty can be used to seal gaps around loose window panes.



• For added insulation in your home, cover bare floors with padded rugs.



8. Compact Flourescent Bulbs



• EnergyStar^® compact fluorescent bulbs have been tested for quality and longevity. According to its website, EnergyStar^® qualified fluorescent bulbs use 66% less energy than your average incandescent bulbs. Also, if you switch out five standard light bulbs for fluorescent ones, you can save about $60 a year on electricity.



• If every U.S. household replaced the incandescent lighting in their five most frequently used fixtures with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), the nation would save 800 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity consumption. That’s the equivalent of shutting down 21 power plants! A CFL puts out the same amount of light as an incandescent bulb but uses two-thirds less electricity. You can purchase CFLs through our Power Perks products web site.



• Leave fluorescent bulbs on in the room unless you will be gone 15 minutes or longer. Fluorescent lights cost more to turn on and off than they do to run. Also, turning them on and off wears out the tube faster. To learn more about fluorescent lighting, click here.



9. Stop Water Waste



• To reduce heat loss from your electric water heater, wrap it with an insulation jacket. By doing so, you can save up to $45 per year in operating costs. You can purchase a Water Heater Tank Wrap through our Power Perks products web site.



• Installation of low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators will help conserve energy and water, especially in homes that were built before 1992.



• A single dripping hot water faucet can waste 212 gallons of water a month. That not only increases water bills but also increases gas or electricity use for heating the wasted water.



10. Fresh Filters



• Clogged, dirty HVAC filters block normal air flow and reduce the system’s efficiency significantly, wasting electricity and money. High-efficiency, reusable air filters can be found at our Power Perks products web site.

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