Changing small habits in the way we use electricity can have huge results over time. As a Green Team Member, we invite you to make some changes in your energy usage and save money and show some environmental love in the process. And by all means, share the ideas you like with friends!

• Set your thermostat at 78 degrees F., a reasonably comfortable and energy efficient indoor temperature.
• Don’t set your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn your air conditioner on. It will not cool faster, but it will cool to a lower temperature than you need and use more energy.
• Consider using a ceiling fan with your window air conditioner to spread the cooled air to other rooms. But be sure the air conditioner is large enough to help cool the additional space.
• Don’t place lamps or television sets near your thermostat. Heat from these appliances is sensed by the thermostat and could cause your system to run longer than necessary.
• Clean or replace air conditioning filters. Dirty air filters should be cleaned or replaced every month. Foam filters can be rinsed with water and wrung dry. Fiberglass filters need to be replaced.
• No matter what kind of central air conditioning system you have, clean the outside condenser coil once a year. To clean, urn off the unit and spray the coils with water at a low pressure. (High water pressure may bend the fins.) Try to spray from the top of the unit down and outward.
• Keep out the daytime sun with vertical louvers or awnings on the outside of your windows. Draw any draperies, blinds and shades.
• Keep lights low or off when not needed. Electric lights generate heat and add to the load on your air conditioner.
• Plant shade trees strategically around your home. Properly selected and planted shade trees can save up to $80 annually on the average electric utility bill.
• Use window or whole-house ventilating fans to cool your home.
• Use vents and exhaust fans to pull heat and moisture from the attic, kitchen, bath and laundry directly to the outside if you don’t have air conditioning.
• Don’t let air seep into your home through the attic access door. Check the door to make sure it is well insulated and weather stripped - otherwise, you’ll be wasting fuel to heat or cool the attic.
• Test your windows and doors for air tightness. Add weather stripping and caulk where necessary. It's low cost and can save you 10 percent or more annualy.
• Turn down the water heater temperature dial to 120 degrees F. or less, or to the “warm” setting. If you have a dishwasher, be sure to check your manufacturer’s instructions for minimum water temperature.
• Insulate the outside of your water heater with an insulation blanket to reduce heat loss and save $10 to $20 a year.
• Use cold water rather than hot to operate your food disposal. Cold water also helps get rid of grease by solidifying it, so it can then be ground up and washed away.
• Never boil water in an uncovered pan. Water will come to a boil faster and use less energy in a kettle or covered pan.
• Get in the habit of turning off the elements or surface units on your electric stove several minutes before completing the allotted cooking time. The heating element will stay hot long enough to finish the cooking without wasting electricity.
• Turn off the oven five to 10 minutes before cooking time is up and let trapped heat finish the cooking.
• When using the oven, cook as many foods as you can at one time.
• Avoid opening the oven door repeatedly to check food that is cooking. This allows heat to escape and results in the use of more energy to complete the cooking of your food. Instead, watch the clock or use a timer.
• Use small electric cooking appliances or ovens for small meals rather than the kitchen range or oven. They use less energy.
• Use pressure cookers and microwave ovens if you have them. They save energy by reducing cooking times.
• Don’t preheat the oven unless absolutely necessary, and then for no more than 10 minutes.
• Avoid using the broiler. It is a big energy user.
• Thaw frozen foods before cooking. It will save time and energy.
• Scrape dishes and rinse with cold water from the faucet before loading them into the dishwasher. Avoid using the dishwasher's pre-rinse cycle.
• Be sure your dishwasher is full but not overloaded when you turn it on.
• Don’t keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold. Recommended temperatures: 38 degrees F. to 40 degrees F. for fresh food compartments of the refrigerator; 5 degrees F. for the freezer compartment. Separate freezers for long-term storage should be kept at zero degrees F. 68. Open the refrigerator or freezer door only when necessary, and don’t hold it open any longer than necessary.
• Regularly defrost manual-defrost refrigerators and freezers. Frost buildup increases the amount of energy needed to keep the refrigerator at its proper temperature. Never allow frost to build up more than one quarter of an inch.
• If possible, don’t place your refrigerator or freezer in direct sunlight or near the stove.
• Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. Test them by closing the door on a piece of paper or dollar bill so it is half in and half out of the refrigerator. If you can pull the paper or dollar out easily, the hinge may need adjusting or the seal may need replacing.
• Wash clothes in warm or cold water, rinse in cold.
• Fill washers and clothes dryers but do not overload them.
• Keep your clothes dryer’s lint screen clean and its outside exhaust free of obstructions. Clean the lint screen after each load of laundry, and check the exhaust regularly. A lint screen in need of cleaning and a clogged exhaust can lengthen drying time and increase the amount of energy used.
• Save energy by using the old-fashioned clothesline. Doing so can make clothes seem fresher and dryer than those emerging from a dryer.
• Remove from the dryer and hang clothes that will need ironing while they are still damp.
• Save energy needed for ironing by hanging clothes in the bathroom while you’re bathing or showering. By doing so, you can steam some wrinkles out and cut down on ironing time.
• Avoid piecemeal ironing. If possible, iron a large load of clothes at a time.
• Take showers rather than tub baths, but limit both your showering time and the water flow if you want to save energy.
• Use compact fluorescent bulbs. They produce about three to four times as much light per watt as incandescent bulbs. While compact fluorescents are initially more expensive, they last up to 10 times longer. Compact fluorescent bulbs work best in the kitchen, bathroom or a work area. Deluxe white fluorescent bulbs produce the most pleasing light.
• Halogen bulbs are another energy-efficient choice for indoor and outdoor lighting. They use about 25 percent less energy than traditional incandescents, and produce an intense white light, making them ideal for spot, flood and security lighting. Halogen torchieres, however, can pose a fire hazard due to the high temperatures produced by these bulbs.
• Turn off lights in any room not being used, even if your absence will only be momentary.
• When using incandescent bulbs, use the lowest wattage possible or convenient. In many cases, a lower wattage bulb can be substituted for the one currently being used.
• Use one large bulb instead of several small ones in areas where bright light is needed.
• Socket extenders and special adapters let you use compact fluorescent bulbs in your table lamps.
• When choosing a new lamp, buy three-way lamps. They make it easy to keep lighting levels low when intense light is not necessary, and that saves electricity. Use the high switch only for reading or other activities that require brighter light.
• Turn on outdoor lights only when needed.
• Use timers, motion detectors, heat sensors or photocell controls for light fixtures when possible.