- Home
- Our Community
- Residents
- Utilities
- Home Energy Conservation Tips
Home Energy Conservation Tips
Save resources and money - and, if you do it right, you don’t have to be uncomfortable.
Seal Up Your Home
- Insulate! We recommend R-38 (about 12 inches) in ceilings and R-19 (about 6 inches) in floors over unheated spaces Check:
- The attic
- Floors above unheated areas
- Foundation walls
- Outside walls
- Walls next to unheated areas
- Insulate ducts where they run through cold areas
- Install storm windows and doors or use plastic sheeting
- Weather-strip and caulk! Check for drafts around windows, door frames, foundation cracks, electrical outlets, etc.
- Don’t block radiators and vents (including cold air returns) with furniture, drapes or rugs.
- Insulated attics need proper ventilation so they can
breathe
.
Maintain Electrical Equipment
- Maintain your heating and cooling system by replacing air filters often and doing regular maintenance.
- Buy energy efficient appliances and use them efficiently.
- Clean dust and lint away from appliances (heating/cooling unit, refrigerators, hot water heaters, etc.) on a regular basis so the motors run more efficiently.
- When choosing new appliances, base your decision on what your needs are - don’t buy something too big for your needs.
- Consider moving your extra refrigerator or freezer out of the garage to the basement and your appliance won’t have to work so hard to stay cool.
- Make sure gaskets on the doors of refrigerators and stoves are tight.
Live an Energy Efficient Lifestyle
- Light only the area where you are working, not the whole room.
- Turn off lights and appliances when they are not being utilized.
- Close vents in rooms that are not being used on a regular basis and close the door.
- Run full loads in dishwashers and washing machines.
- Choose a stove burner to fit the size of the pan you are using.
Cold Weather
- Open window shades that receive direct sunlight during the day.
- Close shades at night.
- Set the thermostat at 68 degrees and lower the setting a few degrees at night, or when the home is unoccupied.
- Wear layers of clothing and use extra blankets.
- Keep fireplace chimney dampers closed when not using the fireplace.
Hot Weather
- Leave window shades that receive direct sunlight down during the day.
- Try to use the oven, dishwasher and other appliances that produce heat during the late evening and early morning.
- Set the thermostat no lower than 78 degrees and turn it up a few degrees when the house is unoccupied.
- Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes