Energy Savings Tips

Lowering Overall Consumption: A Snapshot

There are some simple steps you can take to cut your energy consumption in every area of your home.

  • Set the temperature in your refrigerator between 38° and 42° F; your freezer should be set between 0°F and 5°F.
  • Keep them full. It takes less energy to cool a full refrigerator than an empty one.
  • Twice a year, clean the condenser coils that are located on the bottom or the back side of most models.
  • Check the seals and replace any that are cracked or worn.
  • Open the refrigerator door less.
  • Let food cool before storing in the refrigerator.
  • Always cover everything. Humidity escapes from uncovered foods, which causes the compressor to work harder.
  • Replace worn out or inefficient appliances with Energy Star® models.
  • Use your microwave for most cooking. A microwave does small and medium cooking jobs more efficiently than an oven or range top.
  • Choose the right pan for the job. When using the range top, remember that pans with flat bottoms heat more efficiently than those without.
  • Wash only full loads in the dishwasher.
  • Wash clothes in cold water on the economy cycle and always have a full load.
  • Don’t over dry clothes in the dryer. Use air dry clothes on the lightweight loads. Hang clothes on a drying rack or outside in the summer.
  • TVs, VCRs, DVD players computers and printers, stereos, microwaves, coffee machines, and rechargeable power tools use electricity around the clock. You think they may be off, but they are still running.
  • Unplug appliances directly from the wall outlets when not in use. To make the job easier, plug your electronics on a power strip and switch off the power strip after you are finished using them.
  • If you are not going to be using your computer for a while and don’t want to shut it down, simply turn off your monitor. Screen savers do not reduce the amount of energy used.
  • Install energy-efficient shower heads and faucet aerators.
  • Heat water to the right temperature (120°F). Some dishwashers require the temperature to be slightly higher.
  • Repair leaks at once.
  • Insulate hot and cold water pipes.
  • Turn your water heater off when you plan to be away for more than five days.
  • Take a shower instead of a bath. The average bath uses twice as much hot water as a five-minute shower.
  • Do not leave the faucet running while you wash dishes, brush teeth, or shave.
  • Apply weather stripping to stop drafts around doors and windows. Beneath doors, install draft guards available at most hardware stores.
  • Caulk smaller cracks. Most homes have cracks and leaks that are equal to a 2’x2’ open window. For large cracks without moving parts, such as in walls, floors or foundations, apply spray foam insulation.
  • Double insulate windows. An economical alternative is plastic sheeting.
  • Use drapes to insulate. Keep drapes closed to keep warm air in. Keep them open to allow the sun’s rays to help warm chilled rooms.
  • Switch to LED (light-emitting diodes) bulbs in the light fixtures used often. Traditional incandescent bulbs are not energy efficient.
  • If you’re not in the room, you don’t need the light on. Try to get into the habit of turning off the lights.
  • Use low-wattage bulbs where applicable like closets.
  • Dust off light bulbs.
  • Paint and decorate in light colors, Dark colors absorb light, light colors reflect light.
  • Install dimmers in areas where dimmed lighting makes sense, like the dining room. And bedroom.
  • Use task lighting. If you’re working diligently at a desk or workbench, other lights in the room could be turned off or dimmed.
  • Keep the thermostat between 65° and 68°F.
  • Add extra insulation.
  • Clean or replace furnace filters monthly. Shake reusable filters outside or spray them with a garden hose. Make sure they are dry before replacing.
  • Close your chimney damper as soon as you are sure the fire is completely out.
  • Use sweaters and blankets. Throw an extra blanket on the bed.
  • A ceiling or portable fan running at a very low speed can help distribute warm air more evenly and reduce the desire to turn up the heat.
  • Keep drapes and blinds closed.
  • Check heat ducts for leaks. Any you find should be sealed tightly using mastic. Ducts in unheated areas should be insulated.
  • Keep heating vents unobstructed.
  • Air conditioner filter should be cleaned or replaced once a month during use.
  • Keep an unobstructed air flow.
  • Maintain 78°F. For every degree you lower the temperature, the energy costs rise by 6%. A temperature setting of 75°F costs 18% more; a 72°F setting costs 36% more.
  • Use a programmable thermostat.
  • In the summer, proper amounts of insulation in walls, attics and crawlspaces helps keep warm air outside.
  • Plant shade trees that lose their leaves in the winter. Not only will shade trees absorb the radiant heat before it hits your roof, planting trees helps clean the air too.
  • Install a ceiling fan above the area where you spend most of your time.

Conserving Energy: A Closer Look

Appliances

Lighting

Water

Water Heating

What stays on when you go out?

“We are never home – we couldn’t have used this much electricity.” Or, “We went on vacation for two weeks and our electric bill shows barely a drop in usage.” We often hear comments like these, especially in summer. How can electric bills scarcely change when a house is empty for most of the billing period? Here are some things to consider.

Turn Off the Unnecessary Energy Eaters
Hanging light bulbs illuminate vibrant green plants inside a cozy, modern interior
Nighttime scene with lightning over two cars parked on a street, beside residential houses and streetlights. Power lines cross the sky.

Whole home surge protection

Homes today are in more need of whole-house surge protection than before. Due to the advanced electronics, appliances, heating, lighting, and high-tech entertainment centers, the average home has a huge investment in electronic equipment. Surge protectors extend the lifetime of sensitive electronic equipment by protecting it against harmful power surges and overvoltage problems.

Protect Your Valuables

Landscape to save energy

Are you looking for cost-effective yet eye-pleasing ways to lower your energy bills? Look no further than your backyard. Planting trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, and hedges may be your best long-term investment for reducing energy costs. That’s because a well-designed landscape will cut your heating and cooling costs dramatically, protect your home from winter wind and summer sun and reduce water consumption.

Plant, Grow & Save
Two striped chairs and a small table on a sunlit porch, casting shadows against a white house with a glass door. Peaceful ambiance.
A large residential air conditioning unit installed beside house.

Why is a heat pump a good idea?

If you’re looking for ways to cut your heating bill, consider that heating and cooling account for about half of your home energy use. Also, the easiest way to take a bite out of that part of your bill is with an energy-efficient heat pump.

Increase Efficiency with a Heat Pump

Sizing air conditioners

Studies have shown that one-third of home air conditioners do not work the way they should because they are oversized. And an oversized air conditioner does not mean more cool comfort for you; it means higher purchase costs, higher operating costs and a home that is too cool to be comfortable.

Choose the Right Air Conditioning System
Two air conditioning units, one labeled "Toshiba," are placed on a flat, concrete rooftop surface, surrounded by light panels.

Cold Weather To-Do’s

A cold snap can challenge even the most hard-working home heating system. And the older, and more poorly-insulated and air-sealed your home is, the harder it is to keep up with the cold weather.

Warm Weather To-Do’s

KPUD encourages adding energy-saving and safety tasks to your spring cleaning list, from changing filters and cleaning gutters to checking HVAC ducts and resetting programmable thermostats.

More Resources for Saving Energy

One of the best sources of energy efficiency information today is the Internet. Many utilities, product manufacturers, governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, and individuals maintain Web sites with energy information that is just a click away. Here are some other handy Web sites when you are looking for energy saving tips:

Energy Ideas Clearinghouse. A powerhouse of energy information is available here free of charge. Search the Energy Ideas Clearinghouse (EIC) energy solutions database for information on everything from appliances to weather data.

Energy Star This web site provides lists of Energy Star qualified products and a store locator to help you find qualified products at local retailers. Energy Star products are made by all major manufacturers and are available at stores everywhere. Energy Star is a voluntary partnership among the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, product manufacturers, local utilities and retailers.

Energy Star Refrigerator/Freezer Calculator. Find out how much your refrigerator or freezer costs to operate in energy and money and how much you can save with Energy Star.  

Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy. Keep current on the latest developments with this comprehensive monthly newsletter on Northwest energy conservation and renewable energy. At this site your can track what is happening with utilities, energy policy, salmon recovery, industry restructuring and other issues related to efficiency and renewables. The site also has information about programs and projects such as refrigerated storage, irrigation scheduling, fuel cells, green power, buildings and more.

Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting both economic prosperity and environmental protection.

Solar Washington.  Solar Washington is a 501©3 non-profit association of solar energy equipment manufacturers, system integrators, distributors, dealers, designers, consultants, students, and interested citizens.  Their mission is to further the development and use of solar energy, and support related technologies.