UGI Utilities » Electric Service » For Homes » Save Energy » Habbits
MODIFY ENERGY-USAGE HABITSWatch your thermostat
Set your thermostat lower at night and when you're away from home. Find the lowest setting that's comfortable for you, and you'll see a difference in your heating bill. Individuals who are vulnerable to hypothermia due to age, illness, medication, inadequate clothing, or too-low temperatures should keep their home at about 70°.
How to stay warmer
- Open curtains and shades when the sun is shining, and close them at night or when it's overcast outside.
- Make sure furniture doesn't block the heat supply.
- If you're not using certain rooms, close the doors and turn off the heat in those rooms.
- Weatherstrip doors that lead to cold areas. Make a "draft dodger" by rolling up a small rug to put across the bottom of an outside doorway to keep cool air from seeping through.
Save when using appliances
Your major appliances contribute significantly to the total amount of energy used in your home. By following these tips, you can save energy and money.
Electric Hot Water Heaters
Keep thermostat turned down to 125° or lower. A minor adjustment like this can really save you insulate your hot water heater tank and hot water pipes for more savings. Insulation jackets are available at hardware or home project stores. Consider using a timer, and always locate your water heater as close as possible to the area of use.
Washing Dishes
Use your dishwasher's energy-saver feature. Run the dishwasher only when it's full. Stop the machine early and allow your dishes to air-dry.
Washing Clothes
Did you know that using cold water cleans your clothes as well as hot water? It's an easy way to save. Also, try to put the right size load into washers and dryers. Overloading makes machines work harder and wastes energy. Putting in too little is wasteful, too.
Bathing
Take a quick shower instead of a bath. It uses less water. Also, put a flow-restrictor in your showerhead to cut your use of water even more.
Cooking
In the Oven...
- Don't preheat your oven earlier than you have to. Find out how long it takes for your oven to heat to the desired temperature. Next time you bake, you'll know exactly how long you need to preheat.
- Turn heat off for the last 10 minutes.
- Bake in ceramic or glass instead of metal, and you can set your oven 25° lower on any given recipe.
- Keep the oven door closed instead of opening it to look inside. This prevents a great deal of heat loss.
On the Range...
- Clean range pans often so they reflect more heat.
- Boil or heat on the range with a cover on the pot to save 1/3 energy.
- Use the right size pan for each burner. A larger burner doesn't cook faster; it just heats the air.
The Refrigerator
Use this trick to test the door seal: close the door on a piece of paper. If the paper pulls through easily, the seal needs to be replaced. Keep the freezer as full as possible, and defrost when the ice is 1/4" thick.
Save when using lights
Follow the "3-minute rule." If you're leaving a room for three minutes or more, turn off the lights. Also, choose light colored walls to reflect natural light better. Your room will need less artificial light.
When selecting light bulbs...
- Choose compact fluorescent light bulbs which use about 75% less electricity and last about ten times longer than regular incandescent bulbs.
- Use lower wattage bulbs.
- Select fluorescent lights that are three to five times more efficient than regular bulbs.
