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Seasonal Energy Saving Tips

Use fans. At night they help rid the house of the heat of the daytime sun.
Use ceiling fans. They make people feel four degress cooler than the actual temperature.
Close shades and windows. During the day, that is. At night, open windows opposite one another for cross-ventilation.
Got a waterbed? It may use as much electricity as your refrigerator. To save more than 30% of that cost, make the bed routinely and cover it with a comforter.

Set the thermostat at 78 F or higher if you use a ceiling fan. You save 3 to 5% on your airconditioning cost for each degree you raise the thermostat.
Clean the filters. Check furnace and air filters monthly or as recommended by the manufacturer. Clean or replace them as needed.
Use the "AUTO FAN" setting.
Getting an air conditioner? Buy Energy Star. It can save you up to 10% over one that dosn't have the label. However, have an air conditioning technician or energy auditor determione the right size for the space.
Install a programmable thermostat. Make sure it is programmed to turn down the heating or cooling automatically when you are not home and when you are sleeping.

Avoid the stove or the oven. Use toaster ovens, crockpots, microwaves when you are cooking small to medium-sized meals. They use less energy than your stove or oven.
Use the smallest pans possible It takes less energy to heat them.
Use lids They help the food cook more quickly by keeping the steam in.
Turn off electric burners and ovens just before cooking is complete The food will continue to cook.
Keep preheating time to a minimum
Don't peek! You lose heat every time you open the door or lift the lid.
Keep racks clear Foil on oven shelves blocks heat and costs money.

An old refrigerator costs the average family about $140 a year (that's almost $12 per month). To cut those costs:

Check refrigerator temperatures You're losing money if they're lower than 37-40°F for fresh food and 0-5°F in your freezer. To check? Put one thermometer in a glass of water in the center of the refrigerator, and another between packages in the freezer. Read them after 24 hours. And to keep refrigerators cold, close doors quickly.
Defrost manual-defrost refrigerators Frost makes these models less efficient - and helps spoil foods.
Cover and wrap food Uncovered foods and liquids release moisture and drive up electricity costs.
Got a second older refrigerator? Unplug it! Remember: it can cost about $140 a year to keep it plugged in. And always remove the door when you unplug the refrigerator so that children cannot accidentally be caught inside.
Buying a new refrigerator? Get an Energy Star model Replacing a refrigerator bought in 1990 with a new Energy Star model would save enough energy to light the average household for over three months.

Turn off the lights When you leave your room - and the bathroom.
Turn off the radio, TV, computer, and games when you stop using them.
Take shorter showers They use about half as much water as a full bathtub.
Check for problems Mom and Dad haven't noticed Like dripping faucets - it takes energy to heat the water.
Share rides with friends to after-school activities
Close the fridge! Decide what you want from the refrigerator BEFORE opening the door - then close it quickly.
Try a sweater if you're cold in the house? Don't turn up the thermostat.
Recycle! Sell toys or old clothes at a yard sale or donate them to a charity. Then someone else can use them.

Heating is by far one of our biggest energy expenses. It cost the average low-income family around $482 a year. So, to save on heating costs:

Turn Your thermostat down five degrees Each degree you lower it saves about 2%. That’s about $48 on a $482 heating bill if you try it all day. Wear a sweater if you’re chilly. And install an automatic thermostat. It will do the work for you.
Have a professional tune up and inspect your furnace once a year This can save you up to 10% on your heating costs.
If you have forced air heat, clean the filter each month
If you have hot water or steam heat, check water levels A furnace dealer can tell you how to add more water. Ask the dealer for more tips to make your system work better.
Clean the area around your furnace That lessens the chance of fire and improves airflow.
Make sure heat can get into the room Keep furniture and drapes from blocking radiators, heating registers and return vents.

Use drapes Where windows face the sun, keep drapes open in the day, but close all drapes at night. Keeping shades drawn and drapes closed will make the room more comfortable without any increase in energy use. By reducing the chill from cold windows and reducing drafts, you’ll reduce heating costs.
Repair windows. Even a crack drives fuel bills up. Got a loose window? Install weather stripping. It helps keep cold air out of the house.
Install storm windows and remember to put them down once winter begins. They improve the comfort of the room and pay for themselves by keeping cold air out.
Close storm doors Seal air leaks by caulking and weather stripping doors. That keeps heat in ¾ and heating costs down.
Install a programmable thermostat Use it to automatically control the heat when you are not home and overnight while you are sleeping. Setting it to turn down the heat when you’re under the covers can cut heating costs.

Buy “seasoned” wood That means wood that has been allowed to dry out. Freshly cut wood has too much moisture to burn well.
Using the dampers Keep the damper closed when you aren’t using the fireplace.
Reducing heat loss Open dampers in the bottom of the firebox, slightly open the nearest window, close doors leading to the room with your fireplace, and lower the thermostat to between 50 and 55 degrees when the fire is lit.
Haven’t used your fireplace in over a year? Call a chimney sweep for an inspection and make all repairs before using it again.

Last updated January 12, 2024

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