No-Cost Energy-Saving Tips

Lights

Turn lights off when you leave the room.

Refrigerator/Freezer

• Turn off or unplug your second (third) fridge/freezer when you don’t need it. If it is only partially filled, fill the empty spaces with gallon jugs of water (for the fridge) and bags of ice in the freezer. Solid objects retaining the cool temperatures better than air when you open the doors.

• Set the refrigerator thermostat to 37-40 0F and the freezer at 0-5 °F.

• Make sure the refrigerator door seals are clean and tight.

• Clean the condenser coils at the back or bottom of the refrigerator.

Washer and Dryer

• Wash in warm or cold water, instead of hot, and rinse in cold water.

• Always wash full loads.

• Hang your clothes on a clothes line!

• Use the moisture-sensor setting on your dryer rather than timed dry. Set the duration to low or normal rather than max.

• Clean the lint trap before every load.

• Dry heavier items such as towels separate from lighter items.

Dishwasher

• Only run the dishwasher when it’s full.

• Scrape and load dishes; no pre-rinsing is necessary.

• Use the energy saver option for washing the dishes.

• Use the air-dry option to dry your dishes.

Reducing Water and Energy Usage

• Turn the heater down to 120 degrees F.

• Take 5-minute showers.

• Shower instead of bathe.

• Don’t let the water run while you brush your teeth.

• Place a couple of bricks or a plastic container full of water in the tank of the toilet (older models ONLY) to reduce the amount of water used with each flush.

• Check the toilet tank for leaks.

• Replace the water cooler and use a faucet filter or filtering container (Brita, Culligan, Pur etc.)

• Unplug electronic equipment that is not being used (anything with a clock and all modern computers and printers) or when you leave on vacation.

• Install a power strip and turn the switch off.

Computers

• Plug your computers, monitors, printers, and all the peripherals into one power strip if you can.

• Turn them off AND switch off the power strip when it’s not it use. (Older {15 + years} computers were recommended to be kept on all the time; this is no longer true.) Ditch the screen saver; rather, enable the “sleep” mode (the computer screen goes dark after the specified period of inactivity.)

• Donate or recycle your old computer equipment.

Heating and Cooling System (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning-HVAC)

• Clean the floor vents or radiators when vacuuming.

• Room AC: Check the drain and unclog it if necessary. Clean the filters frequently. Remove the unit in the winter if possible; otherwise, cover it and seal it well.
  Check the seal between your unit and the window frame; add weather-stripping or caulk if necessary.

• HVAC usage: Open windows and use ceiling fans, especially at night. Minimize oven and stove use in the summertime. When using the stove, always turn on the vent fan. Use (heavy) curtains or insulated window shades on windows on the east, south or west sides of the house. Close fireplace dampers when not in use.

Reduce use of paper & frequency of junk mail

• Use the fax function on the computer to send and receive faxes.

• Print on both sides of the paper.

• Request your bills be sent electronically.

• To stop pre-approved credit card offers, go to: www.optoutprescreen.com

• To get your address on a DO NOT MAIL list, register with the Mail Preference Service of the Direct Marketing Association (DMA). It won’t guarantee you a life free of junk mail, but it can help. DMA will list you in its database in the “Do Not Mail” category. Direct marketers are not required to check the database, but most companies that send large volumes of bulk mail do use the DMA service.

• Join a stop junk mail service such as www.catalogchoice.org

Miscellaneous

• Use a pressure cooker to speed cooking times.

• Use the microwave to defrost food instead of using running hot water.

• Use the microwave more and the stove/oven less in the summertime.