Wednesday April 4, 2001

Tips For Conserving Energy

1. Every time you open a refrigerator door, the compressor has to run for 8-10 minutes to keep the inside cold.

2. Change your air filter regularly. An air conditioning unit with dirty filters can use 5 to 10 percent more energy than necessary.

3. Use small fans, box fans or ceiling fans instead of the central air conditioning unit when you plan to stay in one room for an extended period of time.

4. Set the thermostat at 78 degrees or higher in the summer. You will save about 5 to 10 percent on the operating cost of your air conditioner for every two degrees of cooling you are willing to give up.

5. If your house is more than 15 years old, check the insulation in the attic and floor. Even if the insulation met requirements when it was installed 15 years ago, it has most likely settled significantly over time.

6. The sole plate, where the base of your walls join with the foundation of your home, is a major source of air infiltration. Caulking around the exterior of you home can decrease the amount of unconditioned air entering your home.

7. Because up to 20 percent of the heat inside a typical house is lost through the windows, check the weatherstripping and caulking around doors and windows.

8. Refrigerators usually consume the second most amount of energy in a home. (No. 1: the heating/air conditioning system.) Help the refrigerator maintain its efficiency by cleaning the coils at the back or bottom of the unit.

9. Some newer computers and other electronic equipment have a "sleep" or "stand-by" mode that allows them to start immediately when you turn them on. However, that means they are constantly drawing a small amount of energy. When possible, you should switch this option off.

10. When going on vacation, draw the drapes on windows facing the south and west.

11. Water your lawns and gardens between 10 p.m. and 10 a.m., and spread out the watering times in that wider window of opportunity, not just the 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. period.

12. Set and keep the thermostat on a gas or electric heater at 68 degrees when the home is occupied, and 55 degrees at night or when it's unoccupied.

13. Lower the temperature on the water heater to about 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This is sufficient for most household tasks and it will allow the water heater to save energy.