MONEY SAVING TIPS
Heating and cooling tips
No-cost
Use shades, blinds and drapes to help with heating and cooling. Open them to gain the sun’s heat during heating season and close them to block the heat during cooling season. Make it a habit today.
Adjust your thermostat when you are asleep or away from home. You can save as much as 10 percent a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit from its normal setting for 8 hours a day. Recommended thermostat settings when you are home are 68 F in winter and 78 F in summer.
Leave thermostat’s fan switch on “auto” so the fan only runs when the furnace runs. Setting the fan to “on” causes it to run all the time, whether or not heating or cooling is needed.
Turn thermostat down to 55 F when using a fireplace. Older, wood-burning fireplaces tend to be inefficient and can be costly, drawing more heated air out of your home through the chimney than a fire can produce. So, turn the thermostat down when you cozy up in front of the fire. After the smoldering embers are out, close the flue damper to keep warm air in the house.
Low-cost
Seal cracks and gaps around windows, doors and siding with caulk and weather stripping. This prevents loss of heated or cooled air and improves the comfort of your home.
Use fans in summer, even if you have air conditioning. Circulating cool air makes it feel cooler. Using an air conditioner and fan together means you can set the thermostat at a higher-than-normal setting to save energy. Keep in mind that it does little good to run fans when you are not around. Similar to an outdoor breeze on a hot summer day, air moving across your body is what makes you feel cooler.
Install a programmable thermostat for your comfort and convenience. It can adjust the heat or air conditioning for times you typically are away (when you go to work) and again for times you typically are home. You also can program it to turn the heat down when you go to sleep and turn it back up before you wake up in the morning. It adjusts automatically, so you don’t have to remember to do it.
Schedule regular tune-ups for your furnace and air conditioner. Seasonal maintenance keeps equipment running safely and efficiently, and saves money in the long run.
More ways to save
Furnaces and air conditioners
Choose efficient furnaces and air conditioners when it’s time for replacement. Furnaces and air conditioners are expensive to operate and to replace. If you need a new one, do not assume the size of the current unit is appropriate. Look at the unit’s efficiency rating. Furnaces with an AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating of at least 92 and an electrically efficient blower motor (ECW or variable speed) are best. If you use your central air conditioner a lot, look for a model with a SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) of 14 or more for the best efficiency.
Choose efficient furnaces and air conditioners when it’s time for replacement. Furnaces and air conditioners are expensive to operate and to replace. If you need a new one, do not assume the size of the current unit is appropriate. Look at the unit’s efficiency rating. Furnaces with an AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating of at least 92 and an electrically efficient blower motor (ECW or variable speed) are best. If you use your central air conditioner a lot, look for a model with a SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) of 14 or more for the best efficiency.
Focus on Energy (in Wisconsin) and Efficiency United (in Michigan) may offer rebates for higher-efficiency furnaces and air conditioners.
Windows
If you just look at energy savings, window replacement should be your lowest priority, since replacing windows involves a large investment. However, if you are getting new windows for other reasons – appearance, condensation, comfort – look for Energy Star qualified windows.
If you just look at energy savings, window replacement should be your lowest priority, since replacing windows involves a large investment. However, if you are getting new windows for other reasons – appearance, condensation, comfort – look for Energy Star qualified windows.
Natural gas
Consider switching to natural gas. Compared to other traditional energy sources, natural gas is the least expensive way to heat your home and water, dry your laundry and cook your food.
Consider switching to natural gas. Compared to other traditional energy sources, natural gas is the least expensive way to heat your home and water, dry your laundry and cook your food.
Lighting tips
No-cost
Turn off lights when no one needs them.
Low-cost
Use dimmer switches on indoor lights and timers or motion sensors on outdoor lights.
Look for the blue and white Energy Star® label on compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) or light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. They use up to 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs.
Appliances and electronics tips
No-cost
Choose a drying cycle that uses the moisture sensor rather than the timer to save energy and extend clothing life. Moisture sensors monitor laundry dryness and stop the drying when moisture is gone. This saves time and energy costs, and also prevents over drying that may cause clothes to shrink.
Hang your laundry for air drying to save energy, reduce wrinkles, eliminate static cling and reduce wear on your clothes. Air drying takes even less time now with high-efficiency washers.
Unplug electronic devices that you’re not using – especially when you go on vacation. When you return, plug in items only as you need them.
Use computer and game console power management features. Factory default settings are not always the most efficient – so check settings and adjust if needed. Turn off your computer or game when finished to save even more.
Get rid of an extra freezer or fridge you don’t need to save up to $120 per year on your energy bill. Focus on Energy (in Wisconsin) and Efficiency United (in Michigan) will haul away the old one for recycling – and pay you a recycling reward.
Low-cost
Use power strips for your electronic equipment. Many electronics consume energy even when you are not using them. Often called energy vampires, these devices use about $100 of energy a year. Plugging chargers, computers and printers into a power strip lets you turn them off with one switch. Better yet, use a smart power strip. It turns off automatically when devices are not in use.
More ways to save
Energy Star®
Look for the Energy Star label. The most efficient computers, TVs, washers, dryers, kitchen appliances and even fans have the Energy Star label on the box. They save money.
Look for the Energy Star label. The most efficient computers, TVs, washers, dryers, kitchen appliances and even fans have the Energy Star label on the box. They save money.
Natural gas
Consider switching to natural gas. Compared to other traditional energy sources, natural gas is the least expensive way to heat your home and water, dry your laundry and cook your food.
Consider switching to natural gas. Compared to other traditional energy sources, natural gas is the least expensive way to heat your home and water, dry your laundry and cook your food.
Refrigerators and freezers
See if it makes sense to replace your refrigerator or freezer. Efficiency improves each year, so old refrigerators and freezers cost a lot more to operate than newer models. Your old fridge could be using more than twice the energy of a new Energy Star qualified model.
See if it makes sense to replace your refrigerator or freezer. Efficiency improves each year, so old refrigerators and freezers cost a lot more to operate than newer models. Your old fridge could be using more than twice the energy of a new Energy Star qualified model.
Water heating tips
No-cost
Check that your water heater is set to 120 F. If not, adjust the setting.
Fill your clothes washer and dishwasher for each use. Full loads are most efficient.
Use a lower temperature setting on your clothes washer. Make sure you always rinse with cold water, and switch to cold instead of warm or hot for the wash cycle.
Low-cost
Install water-saving faucet aerators and shower heads. Look for shower heads that are rated to use no more than 1.5 gallons of water per minute.
More ways to save
Energy Star®Look for the Energy Star label. The most efficient water heaters, computers, TVs, washers, dryers, kitchen appliances and even fans have the Energy Star label on the box. They save money.
Tankless water heaters
Tankless water heaters cost less to operate but much more to install – especially if you are replacing an older tank model and additional plumbing work is necessary. Compare estimates for both the tankless model and the highest-efficiency tank models to see what is best for you. If you must install an electric water heater because your home does not have access to natural gas, consider getting a heat pump model. Heat pump water heaters can be two to three times more energy efficient than conventional electric storage water heaters.
Tankless water heaters cost less to operate but much more to install – especially if you are replacing an older tank model and additional plumbing work is necessary. Compare estimates for both the tankless model and the highest-efficiency tank models to see what is best for you. If you must install an electric water heater because your home does not have access to natural gas, consider getting a heat pump model. Heat pump water heaters can be two to three times more energy efficient than conventional electric storage water heaters.
Natural gas
Consider switching to natural gas. Compared to other traditional energy sources, natural gas is the least expensive way to heat your home and water, dry your laundry and cook your food.
Consider switching to natural gas. Compared to other traditional energy sources, natural gas is the least expensive way to heat your home and water, dry your laundry and cook your food.
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