Energy Saving Tips

We cannot afford to waste electricity.

It is important to take steps to conserve electricity whenever possible, especially on the hottest and coldest days of the year when the grid may be facing excess demand and system stress. Customers don’t necessarily need to spend tons of money to cut their electricity costs. Weatherization, efficient appliances, and LED lighting are all excellent measures that can be implemented to reduce consumption, but simply turning off the lights or unplugging the toaster can also go a long way. In tandem with utilizing HMLP’s rebate programs and conservation services, check out our list of energy saving tips below that you can implement to reduce your day-to-day consumption and help HMLP address peak demand periods.

Turn it off when you’re done.

• Save your wallet and the light bulbs by turning off the lights when you leave a room.
• Unplug any appliances when they are not in use. For every item you unplug, that’s a little less energy being charged to your electric bill.
• Use electronic power strips for electronic equipment like computers and make sure to turn them off when you are not actively using those electronics. 
• Exit out of any computer games or applications that may prevent your computer from going to sleep when you are not using it. 

Complete routine maintenance checks.

• Replacing or cleaning the air filters on air conditioners lowers the system’s energy consumption. Try routinely checking the evaporator coil every spring.
• Pay attention to drafts in your home that are causing you to lose heat or AC. Seal up small air leaks, cracks, and openings with a calking gun. 
• Check refrigerator door seals by closing the door over half a piece of paper or a dollar bill. If you can pull out the paper, the latch or seal may need to be adjusted. 
• On natural gas appliances, the flames should be blue. If the flames are yellow, gas is burning inefficiently and an adjustment is needed by the manufacturer.  

Think outside the box. 

• Get some clothespins and try hang drying clothes on a line outside instead of running the dryer. 
• Open up the windows for fresh air and a breeze that can naturally cool buildings without turning ACs on. 
• Cook outside! Opt to use the grill instead of an indoor oven to consume less energy and avoid heating up the house. 
• Let the sunlight in and switch off artificial lights during daylight hours.
• Landscaping can use up energy as well. Consider native plant species that work well in this climate and require less maintenance.
• Plants can also provide shading, helping to cool buildings and the air around them. Explore trees, shrubs, and groundcover plants that offer desired shading.

Keep the temperatures mild.

• In warmer weather, opt for a higher temperature setting on the thermostat and use alternative methods for cooling. 
• If you know you are not going to be home, set your thermostat to be higher (or lower, depending on the season) and rack up energy savings. 
• Reduce energy for water heating by reducing the water heater’s temperature and installing low-flow showerheads. 
• Run the washer machine on a cooler setting instead of hot to reduce the energy it consumes. 
• Set the temperature between 35-38 degrees Fahrenheit for refrigerators and 0 degrees Fahrenheit for stand-alone freezers for long-term storage. 
• Move the kitchen faucet to a colder position whenever possible, especially when using small amounts of water. 

Use it as efficiently as possible. 

• Don’t run the dishwasher if it isn’t full! Wasted space in a dishwasher is wasted energy. Make sure to fill it up before running (do not overload either). 
• Open up the dishwasher after the wash cycle and let the dishes air dry instead of using the dishwasher’s heated dry setting. 
• Ovens are massive appliances that draw a lot of power. If you are using the oven, try cooking as many things as possible at the same time. 
  
• Use small appliances instead of the large oven to reduce the heat produced in summer, like toasters, slow cookers, or microwave ovens. 
• Cover pots and pans whenever possible to reduce the time needed to cook and thus the amount of energy consumed. 
• Place 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 as much as possible to avoid energy loss. 
• Make sure the clothes washer is full (not overloaded and not partially-full) when you do laundry to get the most out of the energy consumed. 
• Use the appropriate water setting on clothes washers, especially if you are washing a small load. 

Take advantage of energy conservation programs and services. 

Help with energy conservation is a phone call away (1-888-772-4242). If you have questions concerning energy conservation, or if you simply have a concern about a specific end-use, such as an appliance, or conservation measure, such as insulation, our Energy Advisor service can assist. Simply call 1-888-772-4242. The call is free, so we encourage you to take advantage of this professional resource. This service is available Monday thru Friday, during business hours, and you will be able to speak with a highly trained — and totally objective — Energy Conservation Representative.

A Representative will assist with your energy questions or concerns and will be happy to send you information on energy conservation as well as additional tips on how to save energy. If you would like to participate in an energy audit of your residence, the Representative will coordinate that service on your behalf, as well. If requested, a state-certified Energy Advisor will visit your home and compile a comprehensive energy evaluation report. The report will identify the measures you could take to enhance the energy efficiency of your residence and, potentially, ways to reduce your energy costs. If you would like more information on our energy conservation initiatives, please call the Energy Hotline at: 1-888-772-4242.

You can find all of these tips and much more in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Saver Guide for saving money and energy in homes.