No-Cost Summer Energy Savings Tips

Insulating and Sealing Air Leaks

• Keep storm windows and doors in place to reduce the air conditioning load.
• When not in use, make sure the fireplace damper is tightly closed.

Cooling and Ventilation

• Don't constantly move the thermostat up or down throughout the day as it wastes money and energy.
• Consider setting the thermostat as high as comfortable in the summer.
  (Please note: Seniors and people with special medical needs should check with their doctors before changing their normal home temperatures or considering turning off air conditioning units.)
• Make sure your central air conditioning unit outside your home stays clean and free of debris.
• Make sure vents are not blocked by furniture or drapes. Blocked vents restrict air circulation, overwork the cooling equipment and increase operating costs.
• Use ceiling fans to assist in cooling. In the summer, blades should rotate counter-clockwise when viewed from below.

Water Heating

• Turn down the temperature on the water heater to 120 degrees.
• Use cold water to wash clothes. Wash full loads of laundry for maximum efficiency. If loads are less than full, set the water level in the washing machine to suit the size of the load to save energy and water.
• Take short showers instead of baths.

Windows

• Close drapes, shades and blinds during the day to keep passive solar energy from heating up your home.

Lighting

• Turn off lights that are not being used.

Appliances and Electronics

• Vacuum the coils of your refrigerator and check for frost buildup in refrigerators and freezers, which causes an appliance to work harder.
• Turn off computers, monitors, printers and televisions during periods of non-use. These devices use energy even when in stand-by mode.
• Dry laundry on a line to avoid using the clothes dryer. You can place laundry in the dryer when it’s almost dry; adding a fabric softener sheet will take the stiffness out of the clothes.
• Clean the lint filter in the clothes dryer before each load of clothes to improve dryer efficiency.
• Use your microwave, toaster oven, slow cooker, broiler oven or other energy saving appliances for cooking food. They use half the energy of a regular oven and keep your kitchen cooler. Using your outdoor grill to cook dinner also avoids heating up the kitchen. 
• Cover pans when cooking on a stove top and use exhaust fans periodically, as required, to reduce indoor humidity.
• Plan ahead before taking food from the refrigerator - don’t leave door open any longer than necessary.
• Defrost food in your refrigerator - this helps cool the refrigerator - easing energy requirements, and it is better for food than defrosting in room temperature. Keep refrigerator full so that it is cooling less open space (water jugs make good fillers).
• Avoid using extension cords with appliances. Extension cords can reduce the efficiency of the equipment.
• Try to wash full loads of dishes in the dishwasher, and use the short cycle. Except for very dirty dishes, short cycles work just as well as longer ones. If possible, let dishes air-dry. 
• Don’t overload an electric circuit with high-wattage appliances. Overloaded circuits can blow fuses or trip circuit breakers as well as make any appliances on the circuit operate inefficiently.
• Don’t place lamps or televisions near the thermostat.
• Keep refrigerator base clean. To clean underneath the refrigerator, take off the guard and remove dirt and debris.   
• Clear the freezer and around the freezer fan.

Additional Tip

• Monitor your meter(s) weekly to check consumption and for bill planning.