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Energy Efficiency Savings

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  • TURN OUT THE LIGHTS!

    Like your parents always said, turn off the lights in unoccupied rooms. Replace your incandescent bulbs with equivalent compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). CFLs last longer and use 66 percent less energy. LED based lights are even more efficient.

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  • USE A POWER STRIP.

    Plug appliances and electronics into a power strip so you can turn them all off at once.

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  • UPGRADE YOUR OLD REFRIGERATOR.

    Look to replace your refrigerator if it is more than 10 years old. A new Energy Star refrigerator uses at least 15 percent less energy than required by current federal standards.

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  • SCHEDULE AN ENERGY AUDIT.

    Perform an online energy audit or have an energy auditor survey your home. Simple, inexpensive improvements often provide big savings.

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  • PURCHASE A PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT.

    Programmable thermostats allow you to adjust the temperature of your home while you are away. Every degree of temperature reduction can save 3 percent on heating costs.

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  • REGULARLY REPLACE YOUR FILTERS.

    Dirty filters reduce the required air flow and make the equipment work harder. A clean filter can help save 5 percent in heating costs. The same is true for the lint trap on your clothes dryer.

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  • TAKE A SHOWER.

    A quick shower using a low-flow showerhead will use only half the water required for a typical bath.

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  • WRAP YOUR WATER HEATER.                       You can save up to 10 percent of the energy required to operate an electric water heater by installing a tank insulating blanket (available at home improvement stores). Insulate the water pipes exiting your water heater to further reduce energy loss.

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  • WASH CLOTHES IN COLD WATER.

    Up to 80 percent of the energy used by a washing machine is from heating the water it uses. Washing in cold or warm water saves energy. For drying, consider using a clothesline instead of the dryer.

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  • SCALE BACK APPLIANCES.

    Using small appliances such as toaster ovens uses less energy than their larger counterparts. Only run dishwashers when there is a full load, and select the energy saving cycle.

Year-Round Savings

Hot Chocolate

  • CAULK AND SEAL all openings into the house especially around doors and windows.

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  • LEAVE CURTAINS OPEN

    during the day to let sunlight in.

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  • COVER DRAFTY WINDOWS

    on the inside with clear plastic sheeting to help reduce infiltration of the cold.

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  • ADJUST THE THERMOSTAT

    as low as possible. When you are asleep or out of the house, turn your thermostat back 10-15 degrees.

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  • make sure your HEATING SYSTEM IS WORKING PROPERLY.

    Replace furnace filters once a month or as needed.

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  • TURN DOWN THE TEMPERATURE OF YOUR WATER HEATER to the warm setting.

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  • WRAP YOUR ELECTRIC HOT WATER HEATER TANK with jacket insulation. This is especially valuable for older water heaters with little insulation.

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  • SHORTEN YOUR SHOWERS.

    Showers can account for 2/3 of your water heating costs.

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  • TURN OFF LIGHTS AND TV'S in unoccupied rooms.

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  • UNPLUG ELECTRONICS

    that continue to use electricity even when they are switched “off”.

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  • Change FROM incandescent light bulbs TO LED lights. Led lights use a fraction of the electricity as your traditional light bulb.

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  • INCREASE YOUR INSULATION

    up to R-38 to reduce heating costs by 5-25 percent if your ceiling is scantily insulated.

Winter Savings

Summer Savings

Kids Jumping into the Lake

  • CAULK AND SEAL all openings into the house

    especially around doors and windows.

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  • INSTALL WINDOW SHADING OR KEEP CURTAINS CLOSED

    during the day to keep sunlight out. Install patio covers to help shade your home from sun.

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  • STRATEGICALLY PLANT TREES AND SHRUBS

    to also help shade your home from the sun.

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  • INSTALL A PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT

    Set temperature to 78 degrees in the summer.

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  • Change FROM incandescent light bulbs TO LED lights. Led lights use a fraction of the electricity as your traditional light bulb.

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  • ADD MORE INSULATION

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  • MAKE SURE YOUR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS OPERATING PROPERLY.

    Replace filters once a month or as needed.

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  • INCREASE YOUR INSULATION up to R-38 to reduce heating costs by 5-25 percent if your ceiling is scantily insulated.

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  • MAKE SURE ALL DUCTWORK IS PROPERLY SEALED

    and not leaking air into your attic or crawl space.

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  • TURN DOWN THE TEMPERATURE OF YOUR WATER HEATER to the warm setting. (120 deg. F)

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  • SHORTEN YOUR SHOWERS.

    Simply reducing the lingering time by a few minutes can save hundreds of gallons of hot water per month for a family of four. Showers account for 2/3 of your water heating costs.

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  • INSTALL LOW FLOW SHOWER HEADS and aerators.

    These can drastically cut the cost of heating hot water.

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  • COOK MEALS IN THE MICROWAVE OR OUTSIDE ON THE GRILL instead of heating up the oven in the kitchen.

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  • USE APPLIANCES EFFICIENTLY.

    Do only full loads when using your dishwasher and washer. Use cold water. Be sure and clean your clothes dryer’s lint trap after each use.

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  • TURN OFF LIGHTS AND TV'S IN UNOCCUPIED ROOMS. Unplug that spare refrigerator in the garage if you don’t really need it.

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  • UNPLUG ELECTRONICS

    that continue to use electricity even when they are switched “off”.

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  • REDUCE THE OPERATING TIME OF YOUR POOL FILTER and automatic cleaning sweep to four to five hours a day and use only during off-peak times.

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