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By saving energy you can cut your household costs and help protect
the environment at the same time. The recommendations below will start
you on the road to saving. You can implement these simple, low-cost measures
and practices yourself!
Cooling
- Clean or replace your air conditioner
filters monthly.
- Set your home thermostat between 76 and 78
degrees.
- Turn off your air conditioner if you leave
your home for more than two or three hours.
- Consider installing a programmable
thermostat that will automatically set your thermostat
back during the times that your home is unoccupied.
- Have your system serviced regularly to
keep it in top operating condition.
- Caulk and weather-strip windows, doors and
other openings to reduce drafts.
- Keep windows, doors and other openings
closed and shaded when sun shines upon them.
- Shade all windows or glass doors from the outside with
awnings, plants, blinds and overhangs to stop radiation of sun into
your living area. Interior shading is not recommended because sun energy
that has entered the house is heat that your air conditioner must overcome.
- Insulate your attic space in order to reduce convection
of heat through the ceiling into the living area (attic space can be
15-30 degrees hotter than the ambient temperature).
- Install attic exhaust fans to remove hot
air from attic space.
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Water Heater
- Wrap an insulation blanket around your water heater.
Keys Energy Services can provide you with an insulating blanket during
a home energy survey.
- Set the temperature on your water heater
to 120 degrees (140 degrees if you use a dishwasher).
- Install low flow shower heads and faucet
aerators to decrease the amount of hot water you use.
- Turn your water heater off if you leave
for more than two days.
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Appliances
- Consider energy efficiency when purchasing new appliances.
Look for appliances labeled with the energy
star logo.
- Turn off appliances, such as the TV, when
they're not being used.
- Wash and rinse clothes in cold water.
- Clean refrigerator and freezer coils
regularly.
- Check seals on refrigerator and freezer
door gaskets.
- Use pressure cookers and microwave ovens to save energy
and reduce cooking time.
- When you have a choice, use the rangetop
rather than the oven.
- Turn off the dry cycle on your dishwasher.
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Lighting
- Turn off lights in unused rooms.
- Install compact fluorescent bulbs wherever you can.
Although they are initially more expensive, your savings in electricity
costs will pay for the bulb in about a year.
- Replace standard fluorescent lamps and
ballasts with T-8 lamps and electronic ballasts.
- Remove unnecessary bulbs.
- Install photocells or motion detectors on
outdoor security lights.
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