energy saving tips: Tips On How To Save Money On Your Heating Bills

The Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP) offers suggestions to save money on your heating bills:

Heating & Cooling

Use your thermostat wisely
For heating, set your thermostat between 65 and 70 degrees during the day and at 58-60 degrees at night or when away from home for more than a few hours.
Wear hats, sweaters or socks to retain body heat
For cooling set your thermostat no lower than 78 degrees
Look for energy leaks and plug holes and cracks in walls and windows
Cover the inside of windows tightly with plastic
Insulate your attic, outer walls, and basement
Replace furnace filters and window air conditioning filter regularly
Close doors and windows to rooms in the house that aren't used often
In the summer, close window shades and curtains to reduce the amount of sunlight that comes in and in the winter open shades to allow sunlight
Set your water heater temperature at 120 degrees and/or on low or warm
Close fireplace damper when not in use - air goes up/down

Washer & Dryer

Select the lowest temperature setting on the washer necessary to do the job
Wash one large load instead of two or three small loads and Use cold water for the rinse cycle
Select the correct water level for each load
Clean lint vent after every use and dry two or more loads in a row

Lighting & Kitchen

Use compact fluorescent light bulbs in fixtures
Turn off lights, computers, and other electronic equipment when not in use
Clean your light bulb to get more per bulb and use daylight whenever possible
Never boil water in an uncovered pan and keep range-top burners and reflectors clean
Turn off the oven five to ten minutes before cooking time is up and let trapped heat finish cooking your meal
Avoid opening the oven door to check the food repeatedly
Use a toaster oven, crockpot, or small microwave when cooking small to moderate sized meals
Scrape dishes and rinse with cold water from the faucet before loading them in the dishwasher.
Avoid using the dishwasher's pre-rinse cycle
Avoid using the "rinse-hold" on your dishwasher for just a few soiled dishes. It uses three to seven gallons of hot water each time you use it
Turn on outdoor lights only when needed
Consider using timers, motion detectors, heat sensors or photocell controls for light fixtures when possible

Refrigerator & Freezer

Keep your refrigerator at 38-40 degrees and your freezer at 5 degrees.
Limit the number of times the doors are opened and remove dust from coils and cooling elements
Let hot items cool before placing them in the refrigerator
Defrost freezer regularly and keep refrigerator and freezer away from heat sources

Bathroom

Food Preparation Electricity Use

Appliance	Typical Wattage	KW Used Per Yr.
Coffee Maker	1,200	80
Dishwasher	1	170
Microwave Oven	400 - 1,200	40 - 200
Range with Oven	12,200	500 - 700
Range with Self-cleaning Oven	12,200	600 - 800

Food Preservation Electricity Use

Appliance	Size in Cubic Feet	KW Used Per Yr.
Freezer - Manual Defrost	20	790
Refrigerator/Freezer - Manual Defrost	14	710
Refrigerator/Freezer - Automatic Defrost	19	820

Laundry Electricity Use

Comfort Conditioning Electricity Use

Health and Beauty Electricity Use

Appliance	Typical Wattage	KW Used Per Yr.
Hair Dryer	1,200	20 - 70
Shaver	15	1

Home Entertainment Electricity Use

Appliance	Typical Wattage	KW Used Per Yr.
Radio	20-50	20-50
Television (B&W Solid State)	45	90
Television (color Solid State)	100	100-300
Home Computer	150	80-170
VCR	30	20-60

Sources - Pepco website, BGE, OPC, Edison Electric, MEA, etc.

Remember

You have control on your energy consumption and you can reduce your energy bill by cutting down on your usage.

Tips On How To Save Money On Your Heating Bills