Lighting

Did you know about 10 percent of your electricity bill is spent on lighting? Here are some easy ways to save energy.

1. Switch to light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. LEDs use up to 75 percent less energy and last up to 20 times longer than traditional incandescents. Because they’re so energy-efficient, LEDs can save you up to $135 over the life of the light bulb.
2. Keep light bulbs clean. Dirt can absorb as much as 50 percent of the light.
3. When buying new lighting fixtures or bulbs, look for the ENERGY STAR® label. They are the most energy-efficient on the market.
4. Turn off the lights when you leave a room. This energy-saving measure has been around since Edison, and it’s as effective as ever.
5. Have trouble remembering to turn the lights off? Occupancy sensors automatically switch them off once you leave a room – saving you money.
6. Operating outdoor lights all night adds up.  Use outdoor lighting with motion sensors.
7. Timers that automatically turn lights on and off can reduce your energy use and improve safety by making a house seem occupied even when you’re away.
8. Unplug unnecessary lights. When unplugging lights, pull on the plug not the cord. Pulling on the cord will damage it and create a safety hazard.
9. Keep lights off during the day. Use daylight whenever possible, rather than turning on overhead lighting.
10. Buy ENERGY STAR light fixtures and lamps; they can use one-quarter of the energy traditional fixtures use.

Home Electronics

About 75 percent of the power used by electronics is wasted energy called “phantom power.” Don’t let phantom power raise your electricity bill.

1. Use smart power strips with electronics such as your home entertainment center and computer. Smart strips automatically power down electronics you’re not using, while continuing to provide power to those that need it.
2. Unplug chargers and power adapters when not in use. When your cell phone, digital camera or laptop is finished charging, the charger still draws energy unless you unplug it.
3. Make sure your computer’s “sleep” mode is enabled. The computer will switch automatically to a low-energy mode when you’re away, cutting energy usage by more than half.
4. Screensavers don’t save energy. The best way to reduce your computer’s energy use is to turn it off when you are not using it.

Appliances

Energy-efficient appliances and equipment can save money for years to come. If you’re purchasing a new appliance, check out the ENERGY STAR® models. They help you go green by using less energy. Here are some low-cost and no-cost ways to save:

1. Check refrigerator and freezer temperatures to make sure they are not wasting energy. Refrigerators should be 36° F to 38° F and freezers should be 0° F to 5° F.
2. Keep refrigerators and freezers away from heat-producing appliances or direct sunlight and they will not have to work as hard to keep things cold.
3. Unplug kitchen appliances you’re not using. For example, coffee makers draw electricity 24/7. If you don’t use your coffee maker’s timer for automatic brewing, unplug it when you’ve finished brewing your coffee.

Kitchen

Remember that each of your appliances has two price tags: the purchase price and the price you pay to run that appliance over its lifetime. Choosing the most energy-efficient appliances will help reduce operating costs for years to come. Other tips:

1. When you’re cooking, don’t open the oven door to take a peek. Each time you open the oven door the temperature drops 25 to 50 degrees and your oven uses more energy.
2. A clean oven cooks more efficiently. Keep drip pans and oven surfaces bright and shining.
3. Preheating the oven is only necessary for baked goods that require a precise starting temperature. If you must preheat, keep in mind that most ovens preheat in 10 minutes or less.
4. Turn off your oven a few minutes before the cooking time is up. The oven will retain enough heat to finish cooking your meal.
5. Use the microwave for smaller quantities of food. Cooking a potato in an electric oven costs about 10 cents. In a microwave, the cost is about 2 cents.
6. Glass or ceramic pans are more efficient for cooking than metal pans. You can save money by lowering the oven temperature by 25 degrees and still cook in the same amount of time.
7. In the self-cleaning mode, your oven reaches temperatures of 850 degrees. You can save energy by starting the self-cleaning cycle after cooking, while the oven is still warm.
8. Boiling water doesn’t get any hotter, so once your water is boiling you can turn down the burner.
9. Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator instead of the oven. It takes longer, but you’ll save energy. If you are really pressed for time, use the microwave for thawing.
10. The fridge and freezer account for almost 6 percent of the average home’s utility bill. Stick to the right temperature. Keep your fridge between 36° F and 38° F. Set your freezer between 0° F and 5° F.
11. Oversized appliances waste energy. Choose an extra-large dishwasher or fridge only if you have a large family that needs it.
12. Use an exhaust fan to pull hot air out of your kitchen while cooking. The savings in cooling costs outweigh the cost of running the fan.
13. Make sure your refrigerator has enough room behind it, and if you have have an older model, vacuum behind your refrigerator at least once a year to remove dirt and dust from the coils. Dust buildup not only increases energy use, but it also may cause the unit to break down.
14. Use your dishwasher. You can save 5,000 gallons of water each year and $40 in utility costs instead of hand-washing dishes, according to ENERGY STAR.
15. 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 slightly so the dishes will dry faster.

Water Heating

Water heating is the second largest use of energy in most homes. Check out these ways to reduce that expense:

1. Set the water heater thermostat to 120 degrees. It’s one of the easiest ways to save.
2. Ninety percent of the energy used by a washing machine is to heat the water. Go green by washing clothes in cold water, which cleans clothes just as effectively as warm or hot water in most situations.
3. Wrapping your water heater with an insulating blanket can help you save on your electric bill. To see if your tank needs insulation, place your hand on the tank. If it feels warm, a blanket could help.
4. Insulate your hot water pipes. It’s easy to do and inexpensive. Pipe insulation made of fiberglass or foam can be found in building supply stores.
5. Minimize water use while you’re brushing teeth, shaving and washing your hands.
6. Stop the drips. A faucet that drips once per second can waste 400 gallons of water a year. If the drip is hot water, that will cost you if you have an electric water heater.
7. Replacing older showerheads with low-flow units could save a family of four as much as 15,000 gallons of water per year, reducing water heating costs by over $150.
8. If you’re going on vacation, turn down the thermostat on your water heater. If there is no risk of freezing you can turn it off completely when you’ll be away for several days.
9. Buy a water heater that fits your needs. If you buy one that’s too big you’ll pay to heat up water you don’t need.
10. Take short showers; they use less hot water than baths.

Laundry

There are two ways to reduce the amount of energy used for washing clothes: use less water and use cooler water. Here are some tips:

1. Cold water can clean clothes just as effectively as hot water in most situations. Wash in cold water to save energy and money.
2. Two small loads of laundry use about twice the energy as one full load. By combining loads together you reduce your energy use.
3. If you have to wash a partial load, be sure to match the load setting on your washing machine to the size of the load. The load setting determines how much water is used.
4. If you are thinking about a new clothes washer, look for ENERGY STAR® models. These are the most energy efficient models on the market and can cut utility bills by an average of $50 per year.
5. Dry towels and heavier cottons in a separate load from lighter weight clothes.
6. Don’t over-dry your clothes. If your machine has a moisture sensor, use it.
7. Consider air-drying your clothing on clothes lines or drying racks. Plus air drying is recommended by clothing manufacturers for some fabrics.

Water Conservation

1. Fix leaks. Small leaks add up to many gallons of water and dollars wasted each month. Water conservation saves energy and money.
2. Use water-saving faucets, showerheads and toilets to save water.
3. If buying a new water heater, always buy the most efficient model possible.
4. When landscaping, use plants native to Pennsylvania that require minimal watering and possess better pest resistance. If local code allows, consider diverting “gray water” for irrigation.