Conserving electricity has become increasingly important as energy rates and shortages have increased. Consumers can find a number of ways to cut back on their electrical use, especially with appliances commonly found in the home.
- Air conditioners. Check and clean the air conditioner's filter once a month; make sure the air conditioning unit is the proper size for the room it is cooling; locate the air conditioner on the north or east side of a house in a shady area; ventilate the house's attic to reduce heat buildup; install ceiling fans to improve air circulation.
- Dishwashers: Wash only a full load; turn off drying cycle, open door to air dry dishes.
- Clothes washers and dryers. Use only with a full load; use warm or cold water, reserving hot water use only for heavily soiled clothes; use only full loads for the dryer and if a second load is necessary, dry that load immediately after the first to retain as much heat as possible; clean lint filter before each load.
- Computers. Turn off computers when not in use or set the computer to energy-saving mode.
- Lights. Replace incandescent bulbs with screw-in fluorescent bulbs, which use 75 percent less electricity and last at least 8 times longer; turn lights off when not needed; install light dimmers or photoelectric switches that automatically turn off lights during daylight or install timers to control use of lights; for lights used for home security, install motion detectors so lights come on only when motion is detected.
- New appliances. Replace aging appliances with new, more energy-efficient models when possible; look for Energy Star label designating an energy-efficient appliance.
- Ovens and stove tops. Use microwave instead of oven where possible; food in glass dishes can be cooked at lower temperature; preheating oven is usually unnecessary; on the stove top cook with covered pans and match pan size to the size of the burner.
- Refrigerators. Check door seals to make sure there are no air leaks; clean condenser coils on the back of the refrigerator; keep refrigerator away from oven or dishwasher and give the unit breathing room; turn thermostat down to 37 degrees Fahrenheit; turn on energy saver switch.
- Water heaters. Lower the heater setting to 120 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit; insulate the water heater and any exposed hot water pipes; use low-flow shower heads.
