101 TSE NEW Energy tips booklet 16.qxp_Layout 1 1/5/16 1:01 AM Page 1
101
EASY WAYS TO SAVE
ENERGY AND MONEY
For more energy-saving ideas,
visit Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative’s website:
www.blueridge.coop
1-800-240-3400
TOUCHSTONEENERGY.COM
Printed on recycled paper.
COPYRIGHT © 2015. TOUCHSTONE ENERGY COOPERATIVES
12-16-1M-10051501
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101 TSE NEW Energy tips booklet 16.qxp_Layout 1 1/5/16 12:54 AM Page 9
T
HOME ENERGY USE
WHERE DOES YOUR ENERGY GO?
H
1.
REFRIGERATION
2
HEA
ATING & COOLING
MISCELLANEOUS
8%
8%
9%
43%
9%
APPLIANCES
6
ELECTRONICS
LIGHTING
WATER HEA
ATING
TING
H o m e e n e r g y u s e i s di f f e r e n t f o r e v e r y o n e a n d h i n g e s o n s e v e r al f a c t o r s , i n c l u di n g s i z e o f
home, member s in your household, your location and preference s . K nowing how your energ y
s p e n d i s d i v i d e d w i ll h e l p y o u p r i o r i t i z e y o u r e n e r g y s a v i n g h a b i t s .
101 WAYS TO SAVE
7
7.
8
12%
2
4
5
11%
S ou r c e: U. S . E ner g y In for m a t ion A dmini s t r a t ion . w w w. E I A . g ov.
3
9
10
CES
NICS
101 TSE NEW Energy tips booklet 16.qxp_Layout 1 1/5/16 12:54 AM Page 10
TOP TEN
He r e a r e t he to p te n t i p s t h a t a n y g o o d e ne r g y s a ve r s h o ul d do f i r s t .
1. Replace any lig ht bulb, e specially one s that are on more than one hour per day, wi th a
lig ht-emi t ting diode ( L ED) bulb.
2. Close shade s and drape s during the day to help keep heat ou t in summer.
3 . P l u g e l e c t r o n i c d e v i c e s s u c h a s c a b l e b oxe s , p r i n t e r s a n d T V s i n t o p o w e r s t r i p s t o t u r n o f f
du r i n g v ac a t i o n s o r l o n g p e r i o d s w i t h o u t u s e .
4. O u t s i d e y o u r h o m e , c a u l k a r o u n d a l l p e n e t r a t i o n s i n c l u d i n g t e l e p h o n e , e l e c t r i c a l , c a b l e ,
g a s , w a te r s p i g o t s , dr y e r ve n t s , e tc .
5. Change H VAC air fil ter s monthly.
6. Use dishwasher’s air-dr y cycle ins tead of the heat-dr y cycle to dr y dishe s .
7 K e e p y o u r g a r a g e do o r do w n . A w a r me r g a r a g e i n t he w i n te r a n d c o ole r g a r a g e i n t he
7.
summer will s ave energ y.
8. Set water heater temperature no hig her than 12 0 F.
o
9. M a k e s u r e d r y e r v e n t h o s e i s n o t k i n k e d o r c l o g g e d .
10. Ensure refrigerator door seals are tigg ht.
y
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LIGHTING
E
Tradi tional lig hting can amount to 1 1% of your monthly energ y use. E nerg y s aving lig ht bulbs
c a n s li c e li g h t i n g c o s t s by 7 5 % .
O
11. Replace ou tdoor lig hting wi th i ts equivalant ou tdoor-rated L ED bulb. L EDs wor k well in
cold weather.
15
12 . Use fix ture s wi th elec tronic ballas ts and T-8, 3 2 Wat t fluore scent lamps .
16
13. Use ou tdoor securi t y lig hts wi th a photocell and /or a motion sensor.
17
14. Tur n of f unnece s s ar y lig hting.
18
19
A l u m e n i s a u n i t u s e d f o r t h e m e a s u r e m e n t o f v i s i b l e l i g h t . A t r a di t i o n al 6 0 W a t t l i g h t
b ul b p r o du c e s 8 0 0 lu m e n s . S e e t h e c h a r t b el o w to s e e h o w m a n y Wa t t s o t h e r b ul b s u s e to
p r o du c e t h e s a m e a m o u n t o f li g h t .
0
Wa t t u s a g e
800 lumens
20
Incande scent bulb
60
6 0 Wa t t s
CF L
L ED
40
13 Wa t t s
7 Wa t t s
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
44
101 WAYS TO SAVE
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ELECTRONICS
Other plug loads around the home can add up to be 8-15% of monthly energy use.
15. Turn computers and monitors off when not in use.
16. When buying a new computer, select an ENERGY STAR® model. Consider buying a laptop
as it uses less energy than a comparable desktop.
17. Turn large-screen TVs off completely when not in use.
18. Check for energy saving settings on flat-panel TVs like automatic brightness control and
a power saving sleep mode.
19. Request an ENERGY STAR® set-top box from cable or satellite provider.
20. Turn off stereos and radios when not in use.
21. Enable auto power down feature on gaming consoles.
22. If you don’t unplug them, use energy-saving modes or automatic sleep functions on
electronics.
23. Remember to turn off hair irons.
24. Make sure electric blankets are turned off in the morning.
25. Ensure all new appliances, electronics and lights are ENERGY STAR® labeled.
26. Turn off pool pumps and heaters when not needed.
27. Verify livestock water tank heaters are off when not needed.
28. Make sure heat tape is off when not needed.
29. Unplug battery chargers when not needed.
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DO A LIT T LE.
SA
AVE A LOT.
K
T
a
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
EVER
RYTHING YOU DO - FROM FLIPPING A SWITCH TO
3
SA
AVINGS FOR YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS.
4
UPGRADING YOUR LIGHTING - CAN ADD UP TO BIG
SO TTAKE
AKE YOUR PICK, AND SA
AVE
VE YOUR MONEYY.
3
4
4
4
4
6
101 WAYS TO SAVE
101 TSE NEW Energy tips booklet 16.qxp_Layout 1 1/5/16 12:54 AM Page 14
KITCHEN
T he ki tchen can amount to 15 -2 0 % of your monthly energ y use, which include s appliance use
and ref rigeration.
30. Tur n of f cof fee maker s when not in use.
31. Use ref rigerator’s anti-sweat feature only i f nece s s ar y.
32. Swi tch your ref rigerator’s power-s aver to “ON,” i f available.
33. Clean ref rigerator coils annually.
34. I f not f ros t-f ree, reg ularly def ros t refrigerator or f reezer to avoid ice buildup.
35. Set the refrigerator temperature to 3 4 o - 37oF and f reezer temperature to 0o - 5 oF.
3 6. U n plu g u nu s e d r e f r i g e r a to r s o r f r e e z e r s . Re c y cle t he m i f y o u do n o t ne e d t he m .
37. Use microwave for cooking when pos sible.
38. W hen cooking on the oven range, use pot lids to help food cook fas ter.
3 9. I f y o u a r e h e a t i n g w a t e r o n t h e s t o v e , u s e h o t t a p w a t e r i n s t e a d o f c o l d .
40. Remember to use the ki tchen exhaus t fan when cooking. Tur n i t of f af ter cooking.
41. Use a slow-cooker ins tead of simmering foods on the s tove.
42 . I f rinsing dir t y dishe s before pu t ting them into the dishwasher, do so wi th cold water.
4 3 . U s e c o l d w a t e r f o r g a r b a g e di s p o s al .
44. Only run dishwasher when fully loaded.
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WATER HEATING
L
Water Heating can amount to 12% of your annual energy use.
La
45. For households with 1 or 2 members, a 115 OF setting may work fine.
5
46. Install a water heater wrap, also known as a water heater blanket, per
manufacturer’s instructions.
5
47. Drain 1-2 gallons from bottom of water heater each year to reduce sediment build up.
5
48. Install heat traps on hot and cold water lines when it’s time to replace your water heater.
5
49. Insulate exposed hot water lines.
5
50. Limit shower length to 5-7 minutes.
5
51. Install water saving shower heads.
6
52. Fix dripping faucets.
6
53. Don’t let the water run while you are shaving or brushing your teeth.
6
6
6
6
6
8
101 WAYS TO SAVE
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LAUNDRY
Laundry can amount to 5-9% of your monthly energy use.
54. Wash clothes in cold water. Use hot water only for very dirty loads.
55. Only do full laundry loads.
56. If you must do smaller loads, adjust the water level in the washing machine to match the
load size, especially when using hot water.
57. Always use cold-water rinse.
58. Use bath towels at least twice before washing them.
59. Clean dryer’s lint trap before each load.
60. Make sure the dryer’s outdoor exhaust door is not blocked or clogged.
61. Verify dryer vent hose is tightly connected to the inside wall fitting.
62. Check that the dryer vent hose is tightly connected to dryer.
63. Minimize clothes drying time by using an auto moisture sensor, if available.
64. Dry consecutive loads to harvest heat remaining in dryer from last load.
65. In hot weather, avoid running the dryer during the heat of the day.
66. Consider using a “solar-powered” clothes dryer: an old fashioned clothes line.
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WEEKEND WARRIOR.
A
HOME EFFIICIENCY
ANALLYSIS
S TOOL
H
H
4
6
6
6
70
71
72
73
74
75
BECOME THE ULLTIMATE
TIMA
ATE WEEKEND W
WITH A CONTRACTOR TO TTAKE
AKEE YOUR SA
AVINGS
VINGS TO THE
NEXT LEVEL. JUST TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR HOME.
TOUCHSTONEENERGY.COM
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101 WAYS TO SAVE
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101 TSE NEW Energy tips booklet 16.qxp_Layout 1 1/5/16 12:55 AM Page 18
HEA
ATING | A/C
C
H e a t i n g & A i r C o n d i t i o n i n g a r e u s u all y t h e l a r g e s t l o a d s i n a h o m e a n d r e s p o n s i b l e f o r
4 0 - 5 0 % o f y o u r a n n u al e n e r g y s p e n d .
o
o
67. Set ther mo s tats to 7 8 F in summer, 6 8 F in winter.
6 8 . I n s t all a p r o g r a m m a b l e t h e r m o s t a t t o s a v e e v e n m o r e .
69. Run ceiling paddle fans on medium, blowing down in summer and paddle fans on low,
blowing up in winter.
70. Tur n of f ceiling fans when leaving the room. Fans cool people, not rooms .
7 1 . W h e n i n s t all i n g n e w a i r f i l t e r s , m a ke s u r e t h e y a r e f a c i n g i n t h e c o r r e c t d i r e c t i o n ( l o o k f o r
ar row on side of fil ter).
72 . W h e n h e a t i n g o r c o o l i n g , ke e p w i n d o w s s h u t a n d l o c ke d .
7 3 . I n s u l a t e e l e c t r i c w all o u t l e t s a n d w all s w i t c h e s w i t h f o a m p a d s .
74. Caulk along baseboards wi th a clear sealant.
75 . C a u l k a r o u n d p l u m b i n g p e n e t r a t i o n s t h a t c o m e t h r o u g h w all s b e n e a t h b a t h r o o m a n d
ki tchen sinks .
76. Caulk elec trical wire penetrations at the top of the interior walls in the at tic.
77. Close shade s and drape s at nig ht to keep heat in during the winter.
78. Make sure drape s and shade s are open during the day to catch free solar heat in winter.
79 . E n s u r e a t t i c a c c e s s d o o r c l o s e s t i g h t l y a n d i s i n s u l a t e d .
8 0. M a ke s u r e i n s u l a t i o n i n y o u r a t t i c d o e s n o t b l o c k s o f f i t v e n t s .
T OUC H S T O N E EN E R G Y.C
COM
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HEA
ATING | A/C
C
H e a t i n g & A i r C o n d i t i o n i n g a r e u s u all y t h e l a r g e s t l o a d s i n a h o m e a n d r e s p o n s i b l e f o r
4 0 - 5 0 % o f y o u r a n n u al e n e r g y s p e n d .
o
o
67. Set ther mo s tats to 7 8 F in summer, 6 8 F in winter.
6 8 . I n s t all a p r o g r a m m a b l e t h e r m o s t a t t o s a v e e v e n m o r e .
69. Run ceiling paddle fans on medium, blowing down in summer and paddle fans on low,
blowing up in winter.
70. Tur n of f ceiling fans when leaving the room. Fans cool people, not rooms .
7 1 . W h e n i n s t all i n g n e w a i r f i l t e r s , m a ke s u r e t h e y a r e f a c i n g i n t h e c o r r e c t d i r e c t i o n ( l o o k f o r
ar row on side of fil ter).
72 . W h e n h e a t i n g o r c o o l i n g , ke e p w i n d o w s s h u t a n d l o c ke d .
7 3 . I n s u l a t e e l e c t r i c w all o u t l e t s a n d w all s w i t c h e s w i t h f o a m p a d s .
74. Caulk along baseboards wi th a clear sealant.
75 . C a u l k a r o u n d p l u m b i n g p e n e t r a t i o n s t h a t c o m e t h r o u g h w all s b e n e a t h b a t h r o o m a n d
ki tchen sinks .
76. Caulk elec trical wire penetrations at the top of the interior walls in the at tic.
77. Close shade s and drape s at nig ht to keep heat in during the winter.
78. Make sure drape s and shade s are open during the day to catch free solar heat in winter.
79 . E n s u r e a t t i c a c c e s s d o o r c l o s e s t i g h t l y a n d i s i n s u l a t e d .
8 0. M a ke s u r e i n s u l a t i o n i n y o u r a t t i c d o e s n o t b l o c k s o f f i t v e n t s .
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101 WAYS
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101 TSE NEW Energy tips booklet 16.qxp_Layout 1 1/5/16 12:55 AM Page 20
8 1. D o n o t cl o s e o f f u n u s e d r o o m s t h a t a r e c o n di t i o n e d by f o r c e d- ai r s y s te m s .
82 . D o n o t clo s e s u p pl y ai r r e g i s te r s .
83. Check to be sure retur n air g rille s are not blocked by fur ni ture or bookcase s .
84. E nsure windows and door s are properly weather-s tripped and use door sweep s .
8 5 . M a ke s u r e o u t s i de s o f f i t v e n t s a r e n o t b l o c ke d .
86. Do not use roof-top power ventilator s for at tic exhaus t as they may draw condi tioned air
from your home.
87. Have your H VAC sy s tem ser viced once per year by a N AT E-cer ti fied technician.
88. Moni tor your home’s relati ve humidi t y in the summer. I f i t consis tently s tay s in the 6 0
percent range or hig her, ask your H VAC technician abou t lowering your central air
condi tioning uni t ’s indoor fan speed.
89. E nsure window A /C uni ts are weather-s tripped. Remove the uni t in the winter and clo se
and lock the window.
90. Remove and clean window A /C fil ter monthly.
91. K e e p “ f r e s h - ai r ” v e n t s o n w i n do w A / C u n i t s cl o s e d .
92. Use heav y-du t y, clear shee ts of plas tic sealed tig htly on the inside of windows to reduce
the amount of cold air entering your home during the winter.
9 3 . M i n i m i z e u s e o f e l e c t r i c s p a c e h e a t e r s , exc e p t f o r l i m i t e d o r t e m p o r a r y s p o t h e a t i n g .
Tur n space heater s of f when leaving the room.
94. E nsure your ou tdoor heat pump /air condi tioning uni t is kept clean and free of debris .
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101 TSE NEW Energy tips booklet 16.qxp_Layout 1 1/5/16 12:55 AM Page 21
95. When using the fireplace, turn down your heating system thermostat.
96. When using the fireplace, open the outside air vent (if provided)
or open the nearest window slightly.
97. Keep fireplace dampers closed unless a fire is burning.
98. Ensure floor registers are not blocked with rugs, drapes or furniture.
99. Caulk around storm windows and basement windows.
100. Turn off bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans 15 minutes after the job is complete
or install 15 minute timers on bathroom ventilator fans.
101. Plant trees and shrubs to provide shade on the east, south and west sides of
your home. Evergreen trees and shrubs can provide a windbreak on the north side.
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101 WAYS TO SAVE
101 TSE NEW Energy tips booklet 16.qxp_Layout 1 1/5/16 12:55 AM Page 22
NOTES
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YOUR NOT-FOR-PROFIT
ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE.
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