Make new choices to better manage your costs and help the environment.

Use these links to jump down this page for information on these topics:

• Around the house
• Heating & cooling
• Water heating

Around the house

• Allow about 2 inches of air space around your refrigerator. This helps it run most efficiently. A refrigerator has to work harder if it is in direct sunlight or right next to your stove or dishwasher (good to keep in mind if you are planning a remodel).
• Vacuum refrigerator coils. Unplug the refrigerator first. Dirty coils make the condenser work harder, wasting electricity and shortening the lifespan of your refrigerator.
• Match the burner size to your pan when cooking, and use lids, whenever appropriate, to speed up cooking.
• During hot weather, use major appliances during cooler evening hours. Your dishwasher, washer, dryer and oven generate heat and make your air conditioning work harder.
• Use the microwave whenever possible. Because it cooks faster than your oven, it saves energy.
• Line dry clothes outside whenever possible.
• Close your fireplace damper when your fireplace is not in use (but first allow the fireplace to cool completely after a fire, to prevent smoke in your house). If you have fireplace doors, keep those closed, too.
• Turn off lights, computers, home electronics and battery chargers when not in use.
• Get rid of halogen floor lamps. Compact fluorescent torchieres are much more energy efficient. Halogen lights burn much hotter than other lights and can pose a fire danger.
• Turn off ventilation fans in your bathroom and kitchen as soon as their job is done, otherwise they will pull warmed or cooled air out of your house. About 10 minutes after your shower or cooking is done is usually sufficient.
• Lock your windows. It creates a tighter air seal to help prevent heat loss.

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Heating & cooling

• Turn down the heat. 68 degrees is a good energy-saving setting. Each degree you lower your thermostat saves an estimated 2 percent on your heating bill. In summer, raise the thermostat setting to save on air conditioning. (For heat pump recommendations, see our Heat Pump section.)
• Drop the heat overnight. Lowering your heat to 60 degrees at bedtime, or while you’re at work, can work wonders on the bill. (Exceptions: ceiling cable heat, maximum setback 2-3 degrees. Heat pump systems vary; see our Heat Pump section for setback recommendations.)
• Higher heat is not faster heat. Turning the thermostat higher will not warm your house faster; it just wastes energy. And lowering the air conditioning won’t cool faster, either.
• Check filters. Do this every couple of months and clean or replace if dirty.
• Use zonal heat efficiently. If you have zonal heat, turn heat down or off in unused rooms and close the doors; but watch for mold or mildew problems.
• Keep vents clear. Make sure furniture and window coverings are not blocking the flow of heat (otherwise you might be tempted to turn up the heat).
• Capture free solar heat. On cooler days, open curtains to catch heat from the sun.
• Block the sun in hot weather. To keep your home cool and save on air conditioning, adjust shades, blinds and draperies to block the sun’s hot summer rays. Open windows to catch cool evening breezes, but use caution on ground levels to keep your home secure. Make sure attic vents and soffit vents are not blocked; this allows hot air to escape your attic.
• Use fans. When it’s warm, try using fans to keep you cool and save the air conditioning for really hot days. But operate fans only in occupied rooms; fans cool people, not rooms. The exception is box fans which you can use to circulate the air. Place one on the north side or shady side of your house (upstairs if you have a multi-level home) to draw in cool air, and place the other fan on the opposite side of the house to expel hot air.
• Don’t heat or cool an empty house when you’re on vacation. Unless you have pets, turn off your air conditioning or lower your heat before you leave town.

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Water heating

• Lower your water heater thermostat to 120 degrees, for energy savings and safety. See our Water Heater section for details.
• Save on laundry. Wash laundry in cold water whenever possible; 90 percent of energy used for washing laundry goes toward heating water. Run full loads only.
• Use the dishwasher energy-saver mode and run the dishwasher only when it is full.
• Take showers. A quick shower saves more energy than a bath.
• Don’t let the hot water run while shaving or doing dishes.
• Turn off hot water during vacations. Turn your water heater off at the breaker panel if you’re leaving town for more than a couple of days. But don’t do this during freezing weather. (If it’s a natural gas water heater, just turn it to the “low” or “vacation” setting, but don’t turn it off.) Allow at least an hour for reheating when you return.

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