Energy Tips

Winter Summer Year 'round

Be Energy Wise - Tips That Can Save You $$$

Don't Rev Up The Thermostat

Most home thermostats are simple on/off switches. As long as the temperature is below the set point, the heat comes on. Once it reaches the set point, the heat shuts off. Setting the thermostat much higher than the temperature you really want won't warm your house any faster. It will cost you more and you'll get hot when you forget to turn it back down and the temperature keeps on climbing.

Pay Only For the Heat You Need

A programmable thermostat can pay for itself in as little as one or two heating seasons, depending on the temperature schedule you choose. With a programmable thermostat, you won't have to remember to turn the heat down while you're away or asleep. It will also ensure that the house is at your preferred temperature by the time you awaken or return home.

Check Out Low-E Windows

If you're building a new home or planning to replace old windows in your current home, consider paying a little extra for low-emissivity (low-e) windows. Low-e windows will reduce your heating and cooling costs for years to come as well as improve the comfort of your home.

Alas, Poor Insulation

A lack of insulation can result in high heating bills and can make your home cool and drafty. Ideally, your attic should have insulation with an R-value of 38, which is about 15 inches of loose-fill fiberglass or 12 inches of fiberglass blanket. There may also be opportunities to add insulation in other areas, including crawl spaces and unfinished walls. Check with a building supply store for the appropriate thickness for the type of insulation in your attic.

Be a Caring Neighbor

Check on a senior citizen who doesn't have air conditioning or offer to check his or her air conditioner for a clean filer and efficiency. You can also buy a fan for a senior citizen who doesn't have air conditioning or a fan.

Be a Fan of Fans

Operating an air conditioner can cost up to 25 times as much as an oscillating, box or window fan. The fan will not change the air temperature, but you will feel cooler because of the air movement. Make sure you turn the fan off when you're not in the room.

Would the Last to Leave...?

When leaving the house for a significant amount of time, please remember to turn off the lights and raise the air conditioning thermostat to 80 degrees, or higher. A programmable, 7-day thermostat can assist by automating this task.

Follow the "Cool Rule"

Set your air conditioner thermostat at 76-78 F degrees and leave it set at that temperature unless you leave the home for an extended time period. In this case, set the thermostat to 82 until you return home again. Every 1 F degree equals two percent savings.

Made in the Shade

Strategically planted trees and shrubs can reduce your air conditioning costs. Trees planted to the south and west provide shading, but might take years to grow. Hardy shrubs can be planted close to your home to provide immediate shading.

It's Cool to Save

An evaporative cooler (a.k.a. swamp cooler) provides ample cooling in Colorado's dry climate while costing 75 to 90% less to operate than an air conditioner. Not only are they less expensive to operate, but evaporative coolers also cost less to purchase and install.

Don't Block Vents

Never place a bed, dresser, couch or other piece of solid furniture in front of vents. Doing so wastes energy and keeps your home from being as comfortable as possible.

No Peeking

Every time you open the oven door to check an item, you lose 25-50 degrees, even if it's just a peek. That makes your oven work harder to maintain the temperature. Try a timer instead.

"Off" Means Not Used

Turn off all unnecessary lights, television, stereo and other electrical appliances when they're not in use.

Shorten Your Showers

Seven-minute showers can save up to $60 per person per year in hot water costs compared to 15-minute showers.

I See the Light

Lighting accounts for 6 percent of the total energy use in the average American home and costs between $50 and $150 per year in electricity. Save money by turning off lights when leaving a room and by putting energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs in your light sockets.

Dry, Dry Again

Dry laundry loads right after each other so your dryer doesn't have to reheat for each load. Your clothes will dry faster, too.

Twist and Turn

Twist an energy-saving compact fluorescent bulb into your light sockets and turn on the energy savings-up to $50 over the life of one bulb. Energy-saving compact bulbs use up to 75% less energy than standard bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.

This vs. That

When buying new appliances, compare energy-efficiency ratings and annual operating costs. The energy and cost savings from a high-efficiency appliance can more than make up for a higher initial cost in a short time.

Less is Better

You can save more than 10 percent on your water-heating bill by turning down your water heater just ten degrees-from the standard 140 degrees to 130 degrees. You can also install flow-restricting showerheads and reduce hot water usage by up to 50 percent without affecting shower pressure.

Energy Smart Computing

Turning off a computer, monitor and printer when not in use can save 100 to 300 watts. According to most computer manufacturers, turning a computer on and off will not adversely affect equipment life if not done excessively (more than six times daily). Activating the computer's Energy Star™ features can also save energy while the computer is on, but idle.

Is Your Refrigerator Running?

Your refrigerator may be running away with your energy dollars. If you are using an old, extra refrigerator in your garage, it could be adding an extra $4-$6 on your monthly energy bill. If it is usually almost empty, consider emptying it and unplugging it until the additional space is really needed. For any refrigerator, use a thermometer to make sure it is set no colder than necessary-typically 37 to 40° F for the fridge and 0 to 5° F for the freezer.

Not Just Any Hot Air

Your clothes dryer will use less energy when it is loaded to its rated capacity. A dryer filled to only one-third of its capacity uses about 25% more energy per pound of laundry than a fully loaded dryer. With fewer clothes in the dryer, heated air flows through the dryer more rapidly without contributing to the drying process. Conversely, overloading a dryer can result in wrinkled clothes, uneven drying and extended drying times.

Choices Are Blowing In The Wind

Sign up for wind energy from Platte River through your municipal electric utility. Wind does cost a little more than the electricity from our mix of hydropower, natural gas and coal-fired power plants due to the wind's variability. On average the wind blows at full power about 35% of the time. By signing up, you'll be supporting zero emission, renewable energy.

For more information on energy savings and services, contact - energyservices@prpa.org.