Don’t Overwork Your Thermostat

By adjusting your thermostat to a warmer setting during the hot summer and a cooler setting during the cold winter months, you could save up to $180 per year!

• Did you know that by adjusting your thermostat just one degree, your family can save as much as 3% on your home’s heating and cooling costs? Imagine how much money could be saved in an entire year with this small change.
• For maximum savings, set your thermostat at or below 70°F during the day and 65°F at night in winter months. In the summer, set your air conditioner at or above 78°F during the day and 80°F at night.
• Make sure all the windows and doors in your house are closed before turning on either the furnace or air conditioner. More energy is spent on heating and cooling our homes than anything else.
• Can you feel or hear the wind coming in through your windows or doors, even when they are shut? If you can feel a draft, use rope caulk or weather stripping to prevent air from coming in or going out.
• Make the most out of the air in your house by installing a fan. In the summer months, the fan should spin counter-clockwise to keep you cool. In the winter, put it in reverse and spin the fan to the right. And don’t forget to turn it off when you leave the room! A fan cooling the air for an empty room is only wasting precious resources.
• Keep the vents in your home clear. It costs less energy to get warm or cool air into a room when the vents are not blocked.
• Change the air filters in your home once a month to keep your heating and cooling systems running at their most efficient levels. Neglecting this necessary maintenance ensures a steady decline in air conditioning and heater performance while energy use steadily increases.
• Landscape your yard with shade trees. Save 10% or more on your energy bill and contribute to better air quality. Shade trees are both a beautiful and cost-effective way to lower your energy use.

Minimize Your Appliance Use

• Use your major appliances, like the washing machine and dishwasher, during non-peak hours. For example, during summer months, washing your clothes after 8 p.m. may save energy, water, and money. Check with Austin Energy to find the peak times in your area so you know what times to avoid.
• Turn off the dishwasher before the drying cycle begins and let the dishes air dry.
• Even if you are using the appliances in your home the most efficient way, older models may still be costing your family more money and energy than necessary. Replace your old, inefficient appliances with those that have the ENERGY STAR® label. ENERGY STAR-certified products use less energy and can save your family money.
• Clean the dryer lint trap after every load and wait to do laundry until you have a full load. Interested in how you can be twice as efficient in the laundry room? Washing clothes in cold water saves not just hot water, but energy as well. Wash full loads in cold water and you save twice.
• Save energy tonight by cooking dinner on the grill instead of in the oven or on the stovetop.
• Make sure your water heater isn’t losing heat. Install an insulating blanket around the tank. Check with the manufacturer first before installing to avoid any warranty issues.
• Did you know your small appliances continue to drain energy even after they are turned off? To avoid energy usage when your appliances are off, be sure to unplug your computer, TV, CD players, video game consoles, and other small appliances.
• Do you have an under-used or nearly empty refrigerator or freezer in your garage? Unplug it until it is being used again and at full capacity. An empty refrigerator actually uses more energy to cool than a full one.
• If you have a fireplace in your home, check to see if the damper is open or closed. A damper left open when the heating or cooling system is on will allow heated or cooled air to escape up the chimney.