Jul 22, 2021 | Energy Efficiency
When the temps go up, the energy costs often do too. Here are a few handy tips to save energy and save money. Even small changes can collectively help you out during the heat of summer.
Tip 1: Avoid the Oven
Cooking with a conventional oven can add unwanted heat to your house, forcing your A/C to work harder. Do more of your cooking with a microwave or slow cooker to keep the kitchen cool. Better yet, use the summer heat as an excuse to fire up the old backyard barbeque. Outdoor grilling is a summertime tradition for a reason—you can cook delicious meats and veggies while keeping the heat outside.
Tip 2: Energy Recon
A home energy monitor can give you real-time data on your energy usage. You can determine which of your appliances are gobbling up the most energy. You can conduct experiments to help you save energy. Also, you can monitor your usage for a certain time period. When you see how and when you’re using energy, you can find ways to save.
Tip 3: Cool Your Bulbs
Switching to LED lightbulbs can help you save in multiple ways. ENERGY STAR® certified bulbs use at least 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. Plus, LEDs don’t give off as much heat as traditional bulbs, so they can help keep cooling costs down.
Tip 4: Throw Some Shade
During the dog days of summer, window shades can really help your energy consumption. In rooms without direct sunlight, you can pop those shades up and use the sun to light this part of your home. In rooms with direct sunlight, do the opposite: Drop your shades to keep the room nice and comfortable.
Tip 5: Location. Location. Location.
Be mindful of where you place appliances that give off heat. When placed near a thermostat, lamps with incandescent bulbs and some TVs can make it difficult for your thermostat to get a good reading. This means your A/C might work harder than necessary to keep you comfortable.
So there you have it. Hopefully these tips and tricks will help you—and your energy bill—beat the heat during these summer months. Discover even more ways to save with PPL.
May 6, 2021 | Energy Efficiency
Flowers and candy are Mother’s Day mainstays, but this year try something new— make energy-efficient changes around your mom’s house for a gift that keeps on giving all year long. But, don’t forget the flowers. She’s your mom, after all.
Here are a few tips:
Clean the ceiling fans and vents.
- Not only can they be hard to reach, but they’re prone to dust buildup. Clogged vents could make Mom’s heating and cooling systems work harder to move air through the house. By using the ceiling fan and turning up the thermostat by only two degrees, your mom can lower air conditioning costs by up to 14%.
Install and fine-tune her window AC unit.
- If your mom lives in a home without central air, save her the hard work of installing window units. Be sure she knows how to use the timer settings to keep the unit running efficiently. Setting the timer to turn on the unit when she arrives home instead of running when the house is empty, for instance, will save money.
Change the lightbulbs.
- Swapping out costly and inefficient incandescent lightbulbs in Mom’s home with LED bulbs can save up to $75 each year, and they can last 3 to 25 times longer.
Landscape for efficiency.
- Planting trees, shrubs and other landscaping features in appropriate places brings a bounty of energy savings, from cutting heating and cooling costs to reducing noise and air pollution. On average, a well-designed landscape saves enough energy to pay for itself in eight years.
Install a programmable thermostat.
- Help Mom set it and forget it. Programmable thermostats adjust when the heat or air conditioning turns on according to a preset schedule. Keeping the house warmer than normal when she is away and at 78°F when she’s home can save Mom up to 10% on her energy bill every year.
Apr 1, 2021 | Energy Efficiency
Laundry can be daunting, right? It seemingly never ends. Since the average household requires at least a few loads per week, it’s worth taking a closer look and finding ways you can save on your laundry-related electricity costs.
If you’re in the market for a new washer, there are efficient options available that will help you save over the lifetime of the unit. But if you prefer to hang on to your current machine, there are still plenty of ways to save energy and money:
Wash with cold water. Using warm water instead of hot can cut a load’s energy use in half, and using cold water saves even more. Cold water detergents are helpful to ensure items get clean. Be sure to use high-efficiency detergents when required by the manufacturer.
Wash full loads. You washer uses approximately the same amount of energy no matter the size of the load.
Dry right-sized loads for your machine. If your dryer is too full, it will take longer and use more energy for your clothes to dry. Loads that are too small also can take longer to dry, plus you spend more per item when running the dryer for only a few things.
Air dry when you can. Spring is here! And with sunshine and warmer weather you can hang laundry outside or use a drying rack to avoid powering up the dryer.
Clean the lint filter on your dryer. The dryer will run more efficiently and safely.
We hope these tips make your laundry routine more efficient and less of a chore!
Feb 26, 2021 | Energy Efficiency
Curb appeal can help sell houses, but did you know your landscaping also can improve your home’s comfort and reduce your energy bills year-round?
On average, a well-designed landscape saves enough energy to pay for itself in less than eight years. Appropriately placed trees, shrubs, fences and other landscaping features require less maintenance, reduce water use, cut heating and cooling costs, reduce the toll on your house from wind and sun, and lower noise and air pollution.
While our part of the country is classified as a cool region, leaving us concerned with harsh winters, it’s important to consider the climate immediately surrounding your home, called a microclimate, which could be sunnier, windier or wetter than the region’s climate. That would affect your landscaping choices.
A windbreak is usually made up of one or more rows of trees or shrubs that provide shelter from the wind and protect soil from erosion. They can protect your home from winter winds by lowering the wind chill near your house. Windbreaks also create dead air space to insulate your home in winter and summer. For maximum protection, plant a windbreak at a distance from your home of two to five times the mature height of the trees you select. One study found that planting windbreaks to the north, east and west of your house cuts fuel consumption by an average of 40%.
Trees also protect your home from the heat. Deciduous trees, which lose their leaves in the fall, protect your house from the sun but let in light in the winter. Evergreen trees and shrubs provide continuous shade, so be careful not to plant them too close to the south side of your house or you’ll lose the warmth of the winter sun.
It’s also important to think about the watering needs of your landscaping. Choose plants that require less water, and always water in the morning when evaporation rates are low. Mulching will help reduce evaporation while cutting back on your weeding chores.
As you survey your lawn and garden this spring, think beyond what flowers to put in the planters and consider how properly placed trees, shrubs and plants can save on your utility bills and put some green back in your pocket.
Feb 26, 2021 | Energy Efficiency
Whether it’s an old farmhouse or brand-new construction, your house can develop air leaks over time. That allows heat to escape, which increases your electric bill.
In fact, most existing homes have so many air leaks that it’s like having a window open at all times. Sealing the leaks could save an average of 15% on your heating and cooling costs, but you have to know where to find them first.
Become your own in-house energy detective and start hunting for leaks with this checklist.
On the outside of your house, check for gaps or cracks where different building materials meet. Siding and chimneys, the foundation and brick or siding are often at fault. Also check exterior corners and outdoor faucets.
On the inside, check for cracks and gaps. That includes door and window frames, electrical outlets, switch plates, baseboards, fireplace dampers, wall-mounted air conditioners, attic hatches and recessed lighting, and areas where dryer vents, cable and phone lines pass through walls.
Perform a flashlight test. Pick a likely drafty spot, such as an exterior door. Ask someone to shine a flashlight through potential gaps from inside when it’s dark outside. Stay outside and see if light seeps through. Then, plug the gaps.
Take the dollar-bill test. Shut a door or window on a dollar bill. If you can easily pull it out, you probably have an air leak.
Try the paper test. Hold a piece of paper where there might be a leak, such as around an electrical outlet or window frame. The paper will move if there’s a draft.
Check insulation. Properly insulated walls help keep the warmth inside your home. Energy.gov offers a detailed list of how to evaluate your insulation and determine if it needs to be improved.
If you discovered any air leaks, the next step is to seal them. When gaps are less than a quarter inch wide, and located between stationary building components and materials, caulking is your best bet.
Use weatherstripping for components that move, such as doors and windows. Be sure to choose the weatherstripping that will withstand the friction, weather and temperature changes associated with its location.
Spending the time to find and repair air leaks will make your home more comfortable and save you energy and money.
