Page Menu

101 Ways to Save

101 Ways to Save Brochure. Get the full-color brochure at the REMC office.

Home Energy-Saving Measures

Water Heating

  • Set water heater temperature no higher than 120°F.
  • For households with 1 or 2 members, a 115°F setting may work fine.
  • Install water-heater wrap per manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Drain 1 2 gallons from bottom of water heater each year to reduce sediment build up.
  • Install heat traps on hot and cold water lines when it’s time to replace your water heater.
  • Insulate exposed hot water lines.
  • Limit shower length to 5 to 7 minutes.
  • Install low-flow shower heads.
  • Fix dripping faucets.
  • Don’t let water run while you are shaving.
  • Don’t let water run while brushing your teeth.

Laundry

  • Wash clothes in cold water. Use hot water only for very dirty loads.
  • Do only full laundry loads.
  • If you must do smaller loads, adjust the water level in the washing machine to match the load size, especially when using hot water.
  • Always use cold-water rinse.
  • Use bath towels at least twice before washing them.
  • Clean your dryer’s lint trap before each load.
  • Make sure that the outdoor dryer exhaust door closes when dryer is off.
  • Verify dryer vent hose is tightly connected to inside wall fitting.
  • Check that the dryer vent hose is tightly connected to dryer.
  • Make sure dryer vent hose is not kinked or clogged.
  • Minimize clothes drying time; use moisture sensor on dryer if available.
  • Dry consecutive loads to harvest heat remaining in dryer from last load.
  • Consider using a “solar-powered” clothes dryer, an old-fashioned clothes line.

Kitchen

  • Use your refrigerator’s anti-sweat feature only if necessary.
  • Switch your refrigerator’s power-saver to “ON,” if available.
  • Clean refrigerator coils annually.
  • Set the refrigerator temperature to 34° to 37°F and freezer temperature to 0° to 5°F.
  • Ensure gaskets around door seal tightly.
  • Unplug unused refrigerators or freezers.
  • Use microwave for cooking when possible.
  • When cooking on the range, use pot lids to help food cook faster.
  • If you are heating water, use hot tap water instead of cold.
  • Remember to use the kitchen exhaust fan when cooking and turn it off after cooking.
  • Let hot food cool before storing it in the refrigerator.
  • Rinse dirty dishes with cold water before putting them into the dishwasher.
  • Use cold water for garbage disposal.
  • Only run dishwasher when fully loaded.
  • Use air-dry cycle instead of heat-dry cycle to dry dishes.

Lighting

  • Replace any light bulb that burns more than one hour per day with its equivalent compact LED lightbulb.
  • Turn off unnecessary lighting.
  • Replace outdoor lighting with its outdoor-rated equivalent compact fluorescent bulb.
  • Use fixtures with electronic ballasts and T-8, 32-Watt fluorescent lamps.
  • Use outdoor security lights with a photocell and/or a motion sensor.

Miscellaneous

  • Turn computers and monitors off when not in use.
  • Make sure electric blankets are turned off in the morning.
  • Turn waterbed heater off when not needed.
  • Turn large-screen TV’s off completely when not in use.
  • Turn off stereos and radios when not in use.
  • Remember to turn off hair curling irons and hot rollers.
  • Turn off coffee makers when not in use.
  • Turn off pool pump and/or heater when not needed.
  • Verify livestock water tank heaters are off when not needed.
  • Make sure heat tape is off when not needed.
  • Unplug battery chargers when not needed.
  • Ensure all new appliances you purchase are Energy Star-approved.

Heating & Air Conditioning

  • Set thermostats to 78° F in summer, 68° F in winter.
  • Run ceiling paddle fans on medium, blowing down in summer.
  • Run ceiling paddle fans on low, blowing up in winter.
  • Change HVAC filters monthly.
  • When installing new air filters, make sure they are facing in the correct direction. (Look for arrow on side of filter.)
  • When heating or cooling, keep windows locked.
  • Insulate electric wall plugs and wall switches with foam pads.
  • Caulk along baseboards with a clear sealant.
  • Close fireplace dampers when not burning a fire.
  • Caulk around plumbing penetrations that come through walls beneath bathroom and kitchen sinks.
  • Caulk electrical wire penetrations at the top of the interior walls.
  • Close shades and drapes at night to keep heat in during the winter.
  • Make sure drapes and shades are open to catch free solar heat in the winter.
  • Close shades and drapes during the day to help keep heat out during summer.
  • Ensure attic access door closes tightly.
  • Insulate attic access door.
  • Make sure insulation in your attic does not block soffit vents.
  • Do not close off unused rooms that are conditioned by forced-air systems.
  • Do not close supply air registers.
  • Ensure return air grilles are not blocked by furniture of bookcases.
  • Ensure windows and doors are properly weather-stripped.
  • Make sure outside soffit vents are not blocked.
  • Do not use roof-top power ventilators for attic exhaust as they may evacuate conditioned air from your home.
  • Have your HVAC system serviced once per year by a NATE-certified technician.
  • Monitor your home’s relative humidity in the summer. If it consistently stays in the 60-percent range or higher, ask your HVAC technician about lowering your central air conditioning unit’s indoor fan speed.
  • Ensure window A/C units are weather-stripped.
  • Ensure windows with window mounted A/C unites have weather-stripping between the middle of the top and bottom pane.
  • Remove and clean window A/C filter monthly.
  • Keep “fresh-air” vents on window A/C units closed.
  • Minimize use of electric space heaters.
  • When using the fireplace, reduce heat loss by opening damper in the bottom of the firebox (if provided) or open the nearest window slightly.
  • Caulk around basement windows.
  • In a basement, seal the sill and band joist with durable caulking or foam sealant.
  • Ensure floor registers are not blocked with rugs, drapes or furniture.
  • Ensure your outdoor heat pump / air conditioning unit is kept clean and free of debris.
  • Outside your home, caulk around all penetrations including telephone, electrical, cable, gas, water spigots, dryer vents, etc.
  • Caulk around storm windows.
  • Use heavy-duty, clear sheets of plastic on the inside of windows to reduce the amount of cold air entering your home.
  • Verify your supply air duct “boots” (behind supply air registers) are caulked to your ceiling or wall sheetrock or flooring.
  • If in unconditioned space, verify your ducts are tightly connected to your HVAC equipment.
  • Verify all outdoor doors (including storm doors) close and seal tightly.
  • In two-story homes serviced by one HVAC system, a paddle fan at the top of the stairs can push down hot, second-floor air.
  • Install 15 minute, spring-wound timers on bathroom ventilator fans.
  • Always run your HVAC system fan on “AUTO.” Running it on “ON” uses more electricity and can decrease your air conditioner’s ability to remove moisture.
  • Keep your garage door down. A warmer garage in the winter and cooler garage in the summer will save energy.