Save Energy & Money Energy Saving Tips and Tools 66 Ways to Save So Many Ways to Save When it comes to energy, small changes can add up to big savings. Here, we offer 66 ways you can reduce your power usage throughout every area of your home. Kitchen & Laundry Lighting Electronics Heating & Cooling Kitchen and Laundry Savings Kitchen and laundry appliances can be some of the biggest energy users in your home. Follow these energy-saving tips to reduce the impact on your bill. Cooking Did you know each little "peek" to check on your food inside a conventional oven costs you money? Your oven temperature falls every time you open the door. Here are some other things you should know about saving energy while cooking. A microwave oven is an extremely energy-efficient alternative to a conventional oven. Not only does it cook food faster, it uses 70-80% less electricity. Use pots and pans that are properly sized to your stove's burners. Using a small pan on a large burner wastes energy and can be a safety hazard. Always select cookware with flat bottoms and tight covers. When preparing a meal in your oven, choose foods that are cooked at about the same temperature. That way your oven can cook several dishes at the same time. Refrigerators and Freezers Like other appliances that heat and cool, refrigerators and freezers are big energy users-plus, they have to be on all the time. Here are some ways you can reduce the amount of energy they draw. If you're buying a new refrigerator, look for one with an ENERGY STAR® label. They are at least 20% more efficient than new conventional models, and up to 40% more efficient than older conventional models sold before 2001. Make sure the seals on your refrigerator and freezer fit tightly. Leaks can allow cool air to escape, forcing your refrigerator to use more energy to keep food cold. Test the seal by closing the door over a piece of paper (position the paper so that it's half in and half out of the refrigerator). If you can pull the paper out easily the door latch may need to be adjusted, or the seal may need to be replaced. Vacuum and clean the condenser coils on your refrigerator twice a year. Make sure to leave space between the refrigerator and surrounding walls to allow air to circulate so the unit can cool more efficiently. (Search online for directions on how to clean the coils on your specific brand.) If possible, be sure to place your refrigerator away from appliances that generate heat, such as ovens and dishwashers. Being near hot appliances will requires the refrigerator to work much harder to cool. Don't keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold. Check temperature settings by placing a thermometer inside the appliance for one hour. Refrigerator temperatures should be 35-38 degrees Fahrenheit and freezer temperature should be 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Dishwashers Believe it or not, washing dishes by hand more is NOT more efficient than using a dishwasher. Hand washing usually requires more hot water. So go ahead and use your dishwasher-and follow these guidelines to save energy at the same time. ENERGY STAR®-qualified dishwashers are 41% more efficient than conventional dishwashers, using less energy and less water than conventional models. Based on the average of four cycles per week, electric hot water customers can save up to $230 in electric costs over the life of their dishwasher with an ENERGY STAR product. When shopping for a new dishwasher, look for models that require less hot water. Dishwashers differ in the number of gallons of hot water used in the wash cycle. Using a new ENERGY STAR-qualified dishwasher instead of hand washing dishes can save nearly 5,000 gallons of water per year. The manufacturer's specifications or the Energy Guide label should list this information. Take advantage of the energy-saving controls on many dishwashers. For example, set your dishwasher to turn off the heat during the drying cycle. You can also open the dishwasher after the rinse cycle to let the dishes air dry. Laundry Using a clothesline instead of a dryer is the most obvious way to save energy when doing laundry. Here are some other tips you can try. Checking the Modified Energy Factor (MEF) information on the label. The higher the MEF, the more efficient the clothes washer. Up to 90% of the energy your washer uses is for heating the water. However, today's detergents are formulated to work just as well in cold water. Reserve hot water for heavily soiled loads only. Front-loading washers are more energy-efficient when compared to traditional top-loading clothes washers. They are also far more gentle and effective on your clothes. If you're in the market for a new clothes dryer, consider purchasing one with a moisture-sensing device that automatically shuts off the dryer when your clothes are dry. Clean your dryer's lint filter after every load to improve air circulation and efficiency. Lint buildup blocks air flow and lengthens drying time. For greater efficiency, only run the washer and dryer when you have a full load of laundry. Hot Water Savings Using hot water efficiently can add up to big savings. Learn how to reduce the amount of hot water you use and how to boost the efficiency of your hot water heater. Did you know that electric hot water heaters are the second largest energy user in the home? Even if your water heater is oil- or gas-fired, electricity is needed to run the circulator motor, which brings the hot water to your sink or shower. If you have an automatic dishwasher, lower your hot water heater setting to 120-140 degrees. Your dishwasher will still run effectively. Repair leaky faucets promptly. A leaky faucet wastes gallons of water in a short period of time. A small drip can be the equivalent of wasting a bathtub full of hot water each month. Bathing uses the most hot water in the average household. To save energy, take short showers instead of baths. Any hot water you can save not only reduces your energy bill for heating the water, but reduces your water bill as well. Lower your water heater temperature to 120° F (or set to "warm"). You may save even more energy by wrapping an older water heater in a special insulation blanket. If your water heater is warm to the touch, additional insulation may be needed. Sign up and stay connected. The latest in energy saving tips and important account information all delivered to your inbox. 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