Green Energy

It’s important to save energy whenever you can.

Not only does this contribute to the health of our communities, but also to our wallets. Here are a few simple tips anyone can follow to save energy and be more green.

• Close your curtains and window shades at night to trap warm air inside. Open them during the day to allow the sun inside your home.
• If you have single-pane windows, consider installing storm windows over them to create better insulation. Better yet, replace single-pane windows with double-pane for maximum efficiency.
• To keep air from escaping your home, caulk and seal around doors and windows with weather stripping. Additionally, look for places where plumbing, ductwork or electrical wires come into your home through exterior walls, floors and ceilings. Seal these as well.
• Keep exterior doors closed at all times and make sure they have a tight seal without any drafts.
• Add insulation to your attic or crawlspace. This is one of the most cost effective ways to make your home more comfortable year round.
• Turn your thermostat down to around 65 degrees during the day while you are at work. This will help you save money on your heating bill.
• Regularly clean and replace furnace air filters and make sure registers are not blocked with furniture or other household items.
• Inspect all ducts for air leaks and obvious holes.
• Make sure all ducts are insulated. Homes can lose up to 60% of heated air prior to reaching the register if ducts are not insulated. This can be especially problematic if the ducts run through unheated spaces such as the attic or crawlspace.
• Check hot water lines for leaks, which can waste heat and cause your gas bill to be higher.
• Preheat ovens only when necessary. Unless you are baking bread or pastries, oven rarely need to be preheated at all. With conventional ovens, keep preheating to a minimum.
• Food cooks more quickly and efficiently in ovens when air can circulate freely. Keep racks free of foil and stagger pans on upper and lower racks to improve air flow.
• Operate dishwashers with a full load only and choose energy saving cycles when possible.
• Don’t use the “rinse hold” cycle on your dishwasher for just a few dirty dishes. This setting uses three to seven gallons of hot water each time you use it.
• If your dishwasher has a booster heater, turn down your water heater thermostat setting to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Select the air-dry option if your dishwasher has one. If not, shut off the appliance before the drying cycle begins and open the door so the dishes can air-dry.
• Install your clothes dryer in a heated space. Putting your dryer in a cold room or damp basement will make it work harder and less efficiently.
• Clean the lint filter in your clothes dryer after every load. This improves air circulation and prevents overheating that can cause fires.
• Dry only full loads of clothing. Small loads are less economical. However, don’t overload the dryer.