Smart Summer Appliance Use

No matter what the season, it's always time to save money on your energy bills.  Here are a few tips for the summer to help you do just that!

You can also, figure out how natural gas can reduce your carbon footprint with this calculator.

Do your laundry efficiently by using the warm or cold water setting for washing your clothes. Always use cold water to rinse clothes. Newer ENERGY STAR clothes washers can save 7,000 gallons of water each year, on average, compared to conventional washers.

Choose a high efficiency natural gas dryer, which dries loads in half the time of an electric dryer. When you need to use the dryer, run full loads, use the moisture-sensing setting, and clean the clothes dryer lint trap after each use.

Constant Comfort
Install an ENERGY STAR® programmable thermostat in your home and USE IT. Programmable thermostats can save you up to 10% annually on your home energy costs when used properly. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for proper use.

Close the Gaps
Just as you would in the winter, weather-strip, seal, and caulk leaky doors and windows and install foam gaskets behind outlet covers. Investing in a home energy audit can pay for itself fairly quickly by identifying areas where your home leaks energy and cool air.

Replace Air Filters Regularly
Dirty filters restrict airflow and can cause your HVAC system to run longer, increasing energy use. Replace filters monthly for maximum benefit.

Less Hassle, Less Waste
Your dishwasher uses less water than washing dishes by hand. Letting your dishes air-dry saves even more!

Fill Up Your Fridge
Having lots of food in your fridge keeps it from warming up too fast when the door is open. Keeping a full fridge means it doesn't have to work as hard to stay cool.

Home is Where the Summer Energy Savings Are
Install ceiling fans. Set your thermostat above 72 degrees when you’re home and 85 degrees or off when you are away. You can save between 1 – 3% per degree for each degree the thermostat is set above 72 degrees. Using ceiling or room fans allows you to set the thermostat higher because air movement helps cool the room.

Attic fans save even more. Also called “whole house fans,” attic fans are permanently installed in the ceiling and draw warm air up and out of your attic vents. Using the attic fan when the outside temperature drops below 80 degrees, and in the early morning to cool your house, can help reduce your air conditioning use, saving up to 5% on your home energy expenses.

Install patio covers, awnings, and solar window screens to shade your home from the sun. For additional future savings, use strategically planted trees, shrubs and vines to create shade and reduce annual energy costs.

Insulate attic and crawlspaces in your home. This can save you up to 10% on your annual energy costs. Use the U.S. Department of Energy’s ZIP Code Finder for recommendations on how you can make your home more energy efficient.

The Department of Energy has more great tips on how to seal attic spaces and ensure maximum efficiency here. 

Source: www.consumerenergycenter.org