Energy Saving Tips

Use power strips for electronics 
A power strip allows you to easily turn multiple devices on or off at once. Some advanced power strips may offer timers or programmable features to schedule when devices turn on or off.

Install timers for devices
Timers can control devices like aquarium filters, fans, and decorative lighting. Use timers to limit a device’s operation to specific times.

Close your applications and games when done  
Computer games and applications consume power for background tasks, graphics, memory, network activity, etc. and can prevent your device from going to sleep or reduce its battery life.

Turn on Energy-Saving Mode
Also known as ‘power-saving mode’ or ‘eco-mode’, this setting is available on devices such as TVs, computers, monitors, etc. Turn on this feature to reduce a device’s power consumption when it is not in use.

Check out HMLP’s appliance rebates here. 

Turn off the lights when you leave a room   
One 100-watt bulb left on overnight costs $25 per year. Save money on the electric bill and extend the life of your lightbulbs by turning lights off when you don’t need them.

Let the sunlight in with ‘daylighting’    
Switch off artificial lights during daylight hours and rely on natural light when possible.

Use EnergyStar LED light bulbs, fixtures, and lamps     
Replace incandescent and fluorescent bulbs or fixtures with energy-efficient LEDs to use less electricity for lighting and extend the bulb’s lifetime. 

Shop for sales     
There are often sales on LEDs, especially in October for National Energy Action Month.

Keep lights clean & install dimmers      
Dust can cut a bulb’s light output by 25%. Use dimmer switches whenever possible to reduce the electricity when full lighting is not needed. 

Verify the color temperature  
LEDs come in a variety of colors depending on consumer preference, and they are rated on the Kelvin temperature scale. Lower numbers are warmer (i.e., 2000K is like the warm glow of a candle) and higher numbers are cooler (i.e., 6500K is like bright daylight). A warm, yellow light would most resemble incandescent lighting. 

Check out HMLP’s lighting rebates here. 

Check your refrigerator door seals  
Try closing the door over half a piece of paper or a dollar bill. If you can pull the paper out, the latch or seal may need to be adjusted.

Check your refrigerator temperature
You lose money if you keep it too cold. To check, put one thermometer in a glass of water in the center of the refrigerator and another between packages in the freezer. Read them after 24 hours. The temperature should be between 36°F and 38°F in the refrigerator and 0°F to 5°F in the freezer.

Use small appliances to cook small meals
Try microwaves, slow cookers, or toasters. They use less energy than the stove or oven.

Get the most out of your oven 
If you are using the oven, cook as many things as possible at the same time. Ovens are massive appliances that draw a lot of power.

Keep the inside of your microwave clean
It improves the efficiency of your microwave.

Use lids when you cook
They keep steam in and help food cook faster, which saves energy.

Appliance placement matters
Keep the refrigerator away from the oven or dishwasher and out of direct sunlight so that it does not need to work harder to keep things cool.

Keep the refrigerator door closed
Keep the door closed as much as possible to avoid energy loss. If you really need to stare at all of the food in the fridge, take a picture.

Cook outside!
Opt to use the grill instead of an indoor oven during the summer to consume less energy and avoid heating up the house.

Keep the sink water cold
Whenever possible, move the kitchen faucet to a colder position, especially when using small amounts of water.

Check out HMLP’s appliance rebates here. 

Dry clothes outside in nice weather
Sunlight is free. Get some clothespins and try hang drying clothes on a line outside instead of running the dryer.

Wash and dry only full loads
The machines use roughly the same amount of water and energy to wash or dry one item as they do to wash or dry a full load. Don’t overfill or partially fill. 

Wash with cold water, instead of hot
It takes energy to heat up water, and hot water is only necessary for very dirty laundry.

Separate fast-drying and slow-drying clothes
This helps you use the dryer only as long as you need to.

Choose the right setting on the machine
Use the appropriate water setting on the washer, especially if washing a small load.

Clean the lint filter in the dryer after every use
A clogged filter can prevent your dryer from doing its job.

Choose Energy Star washing machines
They use less than half the water and energy of standard machines.

Use the high-speed spin cycle of your washing machine
It extracts more water, so your laundry won’t need to dry as long.

Buy a dryer with an automatic switch
The dryer senses when your clothes are dry and automatically turns off to save energy.

Check out HMLP’s appliance rebates here. 

Turn down the heat when you leave for vacation
Reduce the thermostat on your water heater before leaving on vacation. If there is no risk of freezing, you can turn it off completely when you’ll be away for several days.

Buy a water heater that fits your needs
If you buy a new water heater that is too big, you will pay to heat up water you don’t need. That’s a waste of both energy and money.

Take short showers
They use less hot water than baths.

Fix leaky water faucets
Thirty drops of water per minute can waste up to 50 gallons of water per month.

Install low-flow aerators on faucets
They reduce the amount of water that flows from your faucet, saving both water and energy.

Buy an Energy Star heat pump water heater
You may be able to reduce your costs by taking advantage of rebates.

Check out HMLP’s appliance rebates here. 

Use a shutoff nozzle when watering 
It saves water when you use a hose to water plants.

Plant trees that lose leaves on your home’s south side 
Shading with trees, shrubs, and groundcover plants can help cool buildings and the air around them. Deciduous trees will protect your home from the summer sun, and then after the leaves fall they will let the winter sun help heat your home.

Don’t hose down the driveway, garage, or sidewalk 
Using a broom instead saves water.

Choose drought-resistant plants 
If maintained properly, a landscape of drought-resistant and native plants will use less than half the water of a traditional yard. Consider native plants that work well in this climate and require less maintenance.

Use a bucket of water to wash a car 
It uses less water than a hose.

Opt for Natural Ventilation When Possible
Reduce the need for cooling before using the AC. Open up windows and make the home more comfortable while maximizing savings.

Use a Fan
Fans don’t use as much energy as an AC.

Clean filters monthly
Dirty or clogged filters block airflow and reduce efficiency.

Install room air conditioners correctly 
If the unit isn’t installed tightly, cooled air will escape from your home.

Place your room air conditioner properly
If the thermostat of your unit is near electronics or appliances that produce heat, it will read higher than it should. Put the unit in a shaded window where it won’t be heated by sunlight.

Set the thermostat at 78°F in the summer
The smaller the difference between the inside and outside temperatures, the lower your cooling bill will be.

Choose new windows with a low-E coating 
Much of your home’s heat enters through the windows. Low-E helps block that heat. also look for Energy Star-rated windows.

Check out HMLP’s heating and cooling rebates here.