Energy Solutions

Did you know? Heating & Air Conditioning are usually the largest loads in a home and responsible for 40 to 50% of your monthly energy spend.

• Set thermostats to 78F in summer, 68F in winter.
• Install a programmable thermostat to save even more.
• Run ceiling paddle fans on medium, blowing down in summer and paddle fans on low, blowing up in winter.
• Turn off ceiling fans when leaving the room.  Fans cool people, not rooms.
• When installing new air filters, make sure they are facing in the correct direction (look for arrow on side of filter).
• When heating or cooling, keep windows locked.
• Insulate electric wall outlets and wall switches with foam pads.
• Caulk along baseboards with a clear sealant.
• Caulk around plumbing penetrations that come through walls beneath bathroom and kitchen sinks.
• Caulk electrical wire penetrations at the top of the interior walls in the attic.
• Close shades and drapes at night to keep heat in during the winter.
• Make sure drapes and shades are open during the day to catch free solar heat in winter.
• Ensure attic access door closes tightly and is insulated.
• Make sure insulation in your attic does not block soffit vents.

For more tips, visit Touchstone Energy.

Did you know? The kitchen can amount to 15-20% of your monthly energy use, which includes appliance use and refrigeration. 

• Turn off coffee makers when not in use.
• Use your refrigerator’s anti-sweat feature only if necessary.
• Switch your refrigerator’s power-saver to “ON,” if available.
• Clean refrigerator coils annually.
• Regularly defrost refrigerator or freezer to avoid ice buildup.
• Set the refrigerator temperature to 34 to 37F and freezer temperature to 0 to 5F.
• Unplug unused refrigerators or freezers. Recycle them if you do not need them.
• Use microwave for cooking when possible.
• When cooking on the oven range, use pot lids to help-food cook faster.
• If you are heating water on the stove, use hot tap water instead of cold.
• Remember to use the kitchen exhaust fan when cooking. Turn it off after cooking.
• Use a slow-cooker instead of simmering foods on the stove.
• If rinsing dirty dishes before putting them into the dishwasher, do so with cold water.
• Use cold water for garbage disposal.
• Only run dishwasher when fully loaded.

Did you know? Other plug loads around the home can add up to be 8-10% of monthly energy use.

• Turn computers and monitors off when not in use.
• When buying a new computer, consider buying a laptop.
• It uses less energy than a comparable desktop.
• Turn large-screen TVs off completely when not in use.
• Check for energy saving settings on flat-panel TVs like automotive brightness control and a power saving sleep mode.
• Request an ENERGY STAR® set-top box from cable or satellite provider.
• Turn off stereos and radios when not in use.
• Enable auto power down feature on gaming consoles.
• If you don’t unplug them, use energy-saving modes or automatic sleep function on electronics.
• Remember to turn off hair curling irons and hot rollers.
• Make sure electric blankets are turned off in the morning.
• Ensure all new appliances, electronics and lights are ENERGY STAR® labeled.
• Turn off pool pumps and heaters when not needed.
• Verify livestock water tank heaters are off when not needed.
• Make sure heat tape is off when not needed.
• Unplug battery chargers when not needed.

Did you know? Traditional lighting can amount up to 12% of your monthly energy use.  Energy saving light bulbs can slice lighting costs by 75%.

• Replace outdoor lighting with its equivalent outdoor-rated LED bulb. LED’s work well in cold weather
• Use fixtures with electronic ballasts and T-8, 32-watt fluorescent lamps.
• Use outdoor security lights with a photocell and/or a motion sensor.
• Turn off unnecessary lighting.

Note: A lumen is a unit used for the measurement of visible light.  A traditional 60 Watt light bulb produces 800 lumens.  See the chart below to see how many Watts other bulbs use to produce the same amount of light.

Did you know? Water Heating can amount to 12% of your monthly energy use.

• For households with 1 or 2 members, a 115F setting may work fine.
• Install water heater wrap, also known as water heater blanket, per manufacturer’s instructions.
• Drain 1-2 gallons from bottom of water heater each year to reduce sediment build up.
• Install heat traps on hot and cold water lines when it’s time to replace your water heater.
• Insulate exposed hot water lines.
• Limit shower length to 5-7 minutes.
• Install water saving shower heads.
• Fix dripping faucets.
• Don’t let water run while you are shaving or brushing your teeth.