- Clothes Washer
There are two ways to reduce the amount of energy used for washing clothes—use less water and use cooler water. Buying an Energy Star® machine will cost more but will use about a third the energy and less water than typical machines. You’ll also save more on clothes drying, because most remove more water from your clothes during the spin cycle. |
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- Freezer
- Keep your freezer full. It will work more efficiently. You can freeze plastic containers filled with water to use up space in your freezer.
- Long term storage in a freezer should be set for zero degrees.
- To check the freezer temperature, place a thermometer between frozen packages and read it after 24 hours.
- Your freezer will run for shorter periods with clean coils. Vacuum coils once a year.
- Make sure your freezer door seals are airtight. Test them by closing the door over a dollar bill so it is half in and half out of the freezer. If you can pull the bill out easily, the seal many need replacing.
- If your freezer is very old consider replacing it. Models 20 years old use nearly three-times as much electricity as models sold today. Buy an Energy Star model.
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- Air Conditioner
• Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible in the summer. The less difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be.
• Don't set your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. It will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and, therefore, unnecessary expense.
• Don't place lamps or TV sets near your air-conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
• Plant trees or shrubs to shade air-conditioning units but not to block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses as much as 10% less electricity than the same one operating in the sun.
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- Range/Cook Top
- Prepare small meals with special appliances such as electric fry pans, toaster ovens, and broilers. Normally, they use less energy than a conventional range.
- Match the pan size with the size of the cooking element. The bottom of all pans should be flat for efficient contact with the units.
- Once the pot is boiling, cover it and turn down the heat.
- Tight-fitting lids retain heat and moisture in pots and pans. Try not to lift the cover too often.
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The first one covers the purchase price—think of it as a down payment. The second price tag is the cost of operating the appliance during its lifetime. Energy Star® branded appliances focus on reducing the second price tag that continues saving energy as long as you have it. |
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- Water Heater
• Repair leaky faucets promptly; a leaky faucet wastes gallons of water in a short period.
• Install aerating low-flow faucets and showerheads.
• Buy a new energy efficient water heater. While it may cost more initially than a standard unit, the energy savings will continue during the lifetime of the appliance. Most electric cooperatives offer incentives to reduce the costs of a replacement.
• Although most water heaters last 10-15 years, it's best to start shopping for a new one if yours is more than 7 years old. Doing some research before your heater fails will enable you to select one that most appropriately meets your needs.
• Lower the thermostat on your water heater; water heaters sometimes come from the factory with high temperature settings, but a setting of 120°F provides comfortable hot water for most uses.
• Drain a quart of water from your water tank every 3 months to remove sediment that impedes heat transfer and lowers the efficiency of your heater. The type of water tank you have determines the steps to take, so follow the manufacturer's advice.
• Take more showers than baths. Bathing uses the most hot water in the average household. You use 15-25 gallons of hot water for a bath, but less than 10 gallons during a 5-minute shower.
• Consider the installation of a drain water waste heat recovery system.
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- Refrigerator
- Don't keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold. Recommended temperatures are 37 to 40 degrees for the fresh food compartment of the refrigerator and 5 degrees for the freezer section.
- To check refrigerator temperature, place an appliance thermometer in a glass of water in the center of the refrigerator and read after 24 hours. To check the freezer temperature, place a thermometer between frozen packages.
- Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. Test them by closing the door over a dollar bill so it is half in and half out of the refrigerator. If you can pull the bill out easily, the seal may need replacing.
- Cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.
- If your refrigerator is very old consider replacing it. Models 20 years old use nearly three-times as much electricity as models sold today. Buy an Energy Star model.
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- Geothermal Heat Pump
- Clean or replace air filters every 60 days
- Keep registers and return vents clear of obstructions
- Set your thermostat wisely
- Maintain a steady thermostat setting, it’s the most energy-efficient for geothermal
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- Refrigerator
A new refrigerator with an Energy Star® label will save you between $35 and $70 a year compared to the models designed just 15 years ago. This adds up to between $525 and $1,050 during the average 15-year life of the unit. |
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- Halogen Lighting
If you replace 25% of your lights in high-use areas with fluorescents, you can save about 50% of your lighting energy bill. Use compact fluorescent bulbs in all the portable table and floor lamps in your home. Take advantage of daylight by using light-colored curtains on your windows to allow daylight to penetrate the room. |
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- Task / Area Lighting
Compact fluorescent bulbs are four times more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs and provide the same lighting.
• Turn off the lights in any room you're not using, or consider installing timers, photo cells, or occupancy sensors to reduce the amount of time your lights are on.
• Use task lighting; instead of brightly lighting an entire room, focus the light where you need it. For example, use fluorescent under-cabinet lighting for kitchen sinks and countertops under cabinets.
• Consider three-way lamps; they make it easier to keep lighting levels low when brighter light is not necessary.
• Use 4-foot fluorescent fixtures with reflective backing and electronic ballasts for your workroom, garage, and laundry areas.
• Use CFLs in all the portable table and floor lamps in your home. Consider carefully the size and fit of these systems when you select them. Some home fixtures may not accommodate some of the larger CFLs.
• If you have torchiere fixtures with halogen lamps, consider replacing them with compact fluorescent torchieres. Compact fluorescent torchieres use 60% to 80% less energy and can produce more light than the halogen torchieres.
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Carefully positioned trees can save up to 25% of a typical household’s energy used for heating and cooling. Dark-colored home exteriors absorb 70% of the radiant energy from the sun. |
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- Well Pump
Make sure your pressure tank is not waterlogged (proper air change). If the tank is waterlogged, it will cause the pump to start and stop continuously during the pumping cycle. Well pumps use more energy in the start mode than in the normal run mode.
Most submersible pumps have similar efficiencies, so make sure your well pump is properly sized. People often have a 3/4 HP (running 30 minutes a day) that uses 30 kWh/mo. Often, a service inspection will find that you'll only need a 1/2 HP that uses 20 kWh/mo.
Make sure you don't have water leaks (e.g. faucets or toilets). Households can drip 2-3 gal/min, causing the pump to run and waste energy.
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- Dishwasher
- If your dishwasher has a booster heater, you can keep your home's hot water temperature at a low setting of 120 degrees.
- Scrape, don't rinse, off large food pieces and bones. Soaking or prewashing is generally only recommended in cases of burned-on or dried-on food.
- Be sure your dishwasher is full and properly loaded, but not overloaded.
- Don't use the "rinse hold" on your machine for just a few soiled dishes. It uses 3-7 gallons of hot water each time you use it.
- Using your dishwasher once a day will use less energy and water than washing dishes by hand throughout the day.
- Let your dishes air dry; if you don't have an automatic air-dry switch, turn off the control knob after the final rinse and prop the door open a little so the dishes will dry fast.
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- Clothes Dryer
- Don't add wet items to a load that is already partially dry.
- Dry two or more loads in a row to take advantage of leftover heat.
- Clean the dryer vent after each use to mantain efficiency.
- Check the outside vent, make sure it is clean and the flapper hood opens easily.
- Small loads waste energy, but loads that are too large cause uneven drying.
- Hang your clothes outside if weather permits. Solar energy is free.
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- Clothes Washer
- Replacing an old clothes washer with a new Energy Star front loading model will greatly reduce the need for hot water and reduce your washing costs by 50%. Tests show they have better soil removal and higher spin rates reduce the drying time.
- Ninety percent of the energy for laundry goes to heating the water, so use an appropriate wash temperature and a cold rinse. When possible, use cold or warm instead of hot water.
- Remember to adjust the water level for your size load.
- Most people under-load their washers. Remember, washing one large load will take less energy than washing two small loads.
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- Water Heater
There are four ways to cut your water heating bills: use less hot water, turn down the thermostat on your water heater, insulate your water heater, or buy a new, more efficient water heater. While it may cost more initially than a standard water heater, the energy savings will continue during the lifetime of the appliance. |
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- Water Heater
Although most water heaters last 10-15 years, it's best to start shopping for a new one if yours is more than 7 years old. Doing some research before your heater fails will enable you to select one that most appropriately meets your needs and desires. Buy a new energy-efficient water heater. While it may cost more initially than a standard water heater, the energy savings will continue during the lifetime of the appliance. Ask your electric cooperative if they have a rebate program that can lower the cost of replacing your old water heater.
In the meantime use less hot water by installing low-flow faucets and showerheads. |
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The answer is probably “yes” if you have an older home and haven’t added insulation. In a recent survey, only 20% of homes built before 1980 were well insulated. Adding insulation creates a more uniform temperature and increases comfort. |
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- Water Heater
Planning to be gone for several days...then turn off your water heater and save energy. Unlike a gas water heater that requires you to get down on you hands and knees with matches to light it, electric water heaters can be turned off and on with a flick of the switch in your electric panel. Electric water heaters are safer, cost less to buy, install and maintain and don't require an electric fan that new gas water heaters need to exhaust dangerous fumes. Fans on gas water heaters require additional energy to operate. |
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Remember, an energy efficient heating system alone will not have as great an impact on your energy bills as using the whole-house approach. By combining proper equipment maintenance and upgrades with appropriate insulation, weatherization, and thermostat settings, you can cut your energy bills. |
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The distinctive yellow and black EnergyGuide labels appear on most energy-using products that are subject to minimum efficiency standards set by the federal government. You will find them on refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, clothes washers, microwaves, water heaters, boilers, air-conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces and fluorescent lamps. Caution--Your local rates for gas, propane and electricity are different than the national averages used to calculate these labels. |
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One of the quickest dollar-saving tasks you can do is caulk, seal, and weather-strip all seams, cracks, and openings to the outside. Check areas around windows, doors, electrical outlets, plumbing and ceiling fixtures. |
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- Microwave/Oven
- Microwave ovens cook food faster and use half the energy of conventional ovens.
- Unlike conventional ovens, they stop using enegy when the door is opened.
- Microwave ovens won't heat up your kitchen and reduce your homes cooling needs.
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