Quick Money (And Energy) Saving Tips

Use a programmable thermostat: Programmable thermostats automatically adjust the temperature of your home while you are away and while you are sleeping, allowing you to reduce the temperature when appropriate.

Replace traditional lightbulbs with CFLs: Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year.

Maintain the right temperature in your refrigerator and freezer: Refrigerators can use up to 20 percent of total electricity in your home. To keep your power bills low, use only as much energy as is necessary. The  refrigerator should be set between 38º F and 42º F. The freezer should be set between 0º F and 5º F.

Wash clothes in cold water: With today's cold temperature detergents, most modern clothing cleans just as well in cold water. Wash in cold water on economy cycles and always have a full load. Keep in mind, 15 minutes of presoaking and 5 minutes of agitation get clothes cleaner than 15 minutes of agitation.

Take advantage of incentives and rebates: Check with your local utility to see what incentives or rebates are available for the purchase of energy-efficient appliances, lighting or heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems and renewable energy technologies. Or just ask your Ecosociate™.

Install low flow toilets: A state-of-the-art low-flow toilet may consume less than two gallons of water per flush compared to five or more gallons with "old" technology toilets.

Upgrade your refrigerator if it is 10 years old or older: Energy-efficient models can reduce energy consumption by up to half that of a 10-year-old conventional model.

Source: The above information was collected from "Energy Star's Home Improvement Tips" and Bonneville Power Administration's "Appliance Tips."

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