No Cost Energy Efficiency

Everyone is looking for ways to reduce their budget. We’ve all downgraded our cell phone plans. We’ve subscribed to a less expensive television package. We’re even using coupons and purchasing store brands. It seems like the more we try to cut our budget; the more our utility bill rises. Earth, Wind and Solar Systems is offering a few energy efficient suggestions that will only cost you a little time and elbow grease. These suggestions will not only lower your utility bill, but they will make your home a little “greener”.

1. Turn off EVERYTHING that is not in use. Sounds simple, but most people don’t. If you are not in the room, turn off the lights. One 75 watt bulb left on for two hours for a week will use a little over 1kilowatt per week. A 50” ceiling fan left on high for 6 hours a day for a week uses about 4 kilowatts per week. This rule applies to computers and monitors as well. A laptop computer left on continuously for one month will use 7.5 kilowatts.

 2. Let the sun shine in-sometimes. When it’s warm, block the sun’s heat by keeping blinds and curtains closed on the south, east, and west windows. This will reduce the temperature and give your air conditioner a much needed break.

The opposite applies for cooler times of the year. You’ll want to open all window coverings to let the sun shine in to warm up the room. It’s also important to make sure your windows are clean to allow as much sun light in as possible.

3. Air-dry dishes. Turn off your dishwasher’s heat drying cycle and allow the dishes to air dry. If there is no air dry setting, turn your dishwasher off after the final rinse and open the door. Air drying dishes reduces your dishwasher’s electrical usage by 50%.

4. Unplug cell phone chargers. There are approximately 190 million cell phones in the United States. One of those chargers alone only uses 1 watt, but collectively they could generate 190 megawatts a day-enough to power 100,000 homes.

5. Keep your air conditioner maintained. Not only do you need to replace the filter monthly, but you need to keep the coils clean. For the inside unit, simply remove the grill, remove the filter, and vacuum the dust and dirt from the coils. For the outside unit, remove the back grill and vacuum the coils. You should also clean your refrigerator’s and freezer’s coils at least once a year.

6. Don’t heat/cool vacant rooms. Close vents to rooms that are rarely ever used. There is no need to heat and cool the spare bed room if no one is using it. When the room needs to be used, just open the vent.

 7. Adjust your thermostat. In the summer, your thermostat should be set on 78 or higher while you are home, and set to 82 or higher while you are away. In the winter, adjust your thermostat to 70 or below while you are home, and set at 62 or below while you are away.

8. Wash in cold water. There are detergents formulated for cold water washing. One load of laundry washed in warm waters uses approximately 4 kilowatt hours. 4 kilowatt hours x 5 loads of laundry per week x 4 weeks = 80kilowatt hours saved in one month just by washing in cold water.

 9. Adjust your water heater’s temperature. Approximately 12% of your utility bill is from hot water usage. Turn your water heater down to the warm (120^o) setting. Not only will you save energy, but you’ll avoid burning your hands.

We hope you find these suggestions easy, practical, and doable. After all, just talking about energy efficiency doesn’t make you energy efficient. We hope that you are on your way to a reduced electrical bill and a “greener” home.