Nov 10, 2020 | Energy Efficiency
It’s not too late to prep your home for winter energy savings. All it takes is several small changes to achieve big savings for you and your family.
Capture the sun’s light and heat. During the day, leave your curtains and blinds open to illuminate your rooms naturally and gain warmth from the sun. At night, close your curtains and blinds to prevent that free heat from escaping.
Prevent fireplace heat loss. When you’re not using your fireplace, keep the damper closed so warm air doesn’t escape through the chimney. Energy-efficient fireplace grates also help you save by pulling cool air out of your room and into the fireplace, while bringing warm air back in the room.
Reverse the direction of your ceiling fans. Sometimes we forget that ceiling fans are just as important for keeping you warm as they are for keeping you cool. Flip the switch to change the direction of the blades so they spin clockwise, which will push warm air downward.
Adjust the thermostat according to the time of day. When you’re home and awake, set the heat as low as it feels comfortable. Aim for 68 degrees as an optimal temperature. Wearing warmer clothing or grabbing a blanket can help keep you cozy. Then, while you’re sleeping or out of the house, lower the thermostat by 10 to 15 degrees. Doing so for at least 8 hours can save around 10% on your heating bill. A programmable thermostat will make it easy to save. You also don’t have to heat all rooms equally. Using an energy-efficient space heater in your most common rooms allows you to keep the main temperature lower.
Winterize your windows and doors. First, if you haven’t removed any window air conditioning units, do that now! Next, you’ll want to inspect all your doors, windows and ductwork for gaps that could leak heat from your home. Many of these cracks and leaks can easily be fixed with caulk and weatherstripping, which can add up to a lot of savings.
Following these energy-efficiency tips can help you save. For more info on our tools, tips, and programs, visit savewithppl.com.
Aug 7, 2020 | Energy Efficiency
While you’re spending most of your spare time outdoors enjoying the summer sun, you could be wasting electricity inside the house. Routine cleaning does more than leave your home looking great. It can also help you save money every month.
Whether you’re dusting or disinfecting, here are some ways to reduce your energy use, and save a few bucks:
- Redirect ceiling fans. Change the direction of your ceiling fans according to the season. In the summer, they should rotate counter-clockwise to push cool air downward. That will help keep your rooms cooler and give your air conditioning a break.
- Clean your oven. A clean oven can reach temperature faster and cook more efficiently. Self-cleaning ovens make the process easier, and they’re more energy efficient because they have better insulation. Only run the cleaning cycle on your self-cleaning oven once a month, but do it immediately after you use the oven. You’ll use less energy because the oven will already be hot.
- Dust your electronics. Televisions, smart speakers, DVD players, video game consoles, and internet routers are just a few surfaces where dust loves to settle. Keeping these areas dust-free helps motors run better, extending their shelf life and performance.
- Vacuum refrigerator coils. When’s the last time you looked behind your refrigerator? If it’s been a while, you may want to roll it out. Dust tends to build up on the coils, forcing your refrigerator to work harder to do its job. So, go ahead, give it a quick vacuum or wipe-down.
- Tune up your HVAC system. Heating and cooling can add up to 50% of your in-home energy use. Routine HVAC maintenance may require a small out-of-pocket expense, but the return on investment is incomparable. Regular maintenance keeps your system running efficiently throughout the year.
PPL’s Energy Efficiency Programs can offer simple tips and tools to reduce your electricity use inside and outside your home. Check out more ways to save.
Jul 29, 2020 | Energy Efficiency
Warm summer days are here!
Whether you’re lounging outside or catching up on home projects, these five tips will help you save energy — so you can put more money toward that beach trip and less toward your electricity bill.
- Plant a shade tree. Go green — literally. In Pennsylvania’s climate, shading the south and west sides of your home from summer sun is the most cost-effective way to counteract solar heat and lower your air conditioning costs. In addition to trees, well-planned landscaping that includes bushes, shrubs, vines or ground-cover plants can reduce your home’s air conditioning costs by up to 50%.
- Install smarter lighting. Your porch or front light can benefit from LED bulbs, which use up to 90% less energy than standard bulbs. For landscape lighting, consider low-voltage fixtures or solar-powered lights. You can also install timers or sensors so your lights don’t need to stay on all day.
- Seal from the outside. To help keep air conditioning inside, inspect the outside of your home for any leaks that might let that cool air escape. Caulking around your windows is a simple and inexpensive way to seal air leaks when new windows aren’t in the budget. Check the weatherstripping on exterior doors to see if there are any gaps. A combination of new weatherstripping and a door sweep (to fill gaps along the bottom of the door) can save on your utility bills in summer and winter.
- Reach for manual tools. Swapping power tools for a little elbow grease can save you money. Here are some ideas: Shape your shrubs with a hand pruner instead of a power hedge trimmer. Reach for clippers rather than the weed whacker. Opt for a rake over a leaf blower.
- Cool down your roof. Check your roof for air leaks and insulate it from inside the attic as a way to save on your air conditioning bill. When it comes time for a new roof, choose a cool roof, which uses special coatings that reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than a regular roof. Bonus: Decreasing your roof’s temperature may actually extend its life.
PPL’s Energy Efficiency Programs offer simple tips and tools to reduce electricity use inside and outside your home. Check out more ways to save.
Jan 27, 2020 | Energy Efficiency
Supercharge Your Game Day Menu
The big game is this Sunday. Think about all the electricity it takes to power such a spectacular event – the stadium lights, the global TV hookups, the concession equipment, the glitz and glitter of the halftime show, and the hundreds of devices in the press box.
Thankfully, your game day menu at home doesn’t have to be an energy hog. We’ve fallen in love with slow cookers and Instant Pots® as convenient, energy-efficient options to supercharge your game day menu. Whether you prefer low and slow, fresh and fast or both, these appliances are perfect for feeding your family.
Here’s a round up of recipes for wings, dips and more – all offering energy efficient and delicious game day inspiration.
What’s on your game day menu? If you’ve got a good energy-saving tip or recipe, leave it in the comments below. And enjoy the game!
Oct 30, 2019 | Energy Efficiency
Instead of distributing candy this Halloween, we’re dishing out energy-saving tips! This year’s treat is learning how to cut down on phantom load, or energy vampires, that suck up your power and result in wasted energy.
Energy vampires are small appliances or devices such as cell phone chargers, computers and coffee makers that drain energy when they’re plugged into outlets, but not being used. These sneaky monsters could cost you more than $100 each year!
So how can you avoid wasting energy and scare these vampires away for good? Simply unplug your small appliances and electronics when they’re not being used or when you’re away for the day.
Have a safe and Happy Halloween!
