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Energy Saving Tips
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Today's Energy Saving Tip
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Keep your cooling system well tuned with periodic maintenance by a professional service representative. Ask your service representative how the energy efficiency of the system may be increased.
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More Tips
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Clean or replace Air Conditioning filters monthly or as needed. Clean filters allow your A/C to run more efficiently.
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Raise your thermostat temperature by 5-10 degrees when leaving your home for 3 or more hours.
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Shift energy-intensive tasks such as laundry and dish washing to late in the evening or early in the morning. When used during the day, these appliances produce additional heat, causing your air conditioner to work harder. Switch to cold-water washing of laundry, if possible.
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Keep shades and curtains closed during daylight hours. Heat from sunlight through windows can raise the inside temperature of your home and cause your Air Conditioner to work harder.
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Utilize ceiling and/or other fans to better circulate the air in your home and allow you to raise your thermostat.
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Keep your heating equipment well tuned with periodic maintenance by a
professional service representative.
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Insulate your attic floor or top-floor ceiling to a minimum of R-49 for these
spaces. R-values or numbers indicate the resistance of an insulation material
to heat flow. The higher the R-number, the more effective the insulating
capability. R-values appear on the packages of insulation materials.
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Buy a high-efficiency water heater. When you need a new water heater, purchase a
unit with a high Energy Factor (EF) rating. EF ratings—such as those of .91 and
above—correspond with greater efficiency. The higher the rating, the more
efficiently the unit will operate.
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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.
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When buying a dishwasher, look for an energy-efficient model with air power
and/or overnight dry settings. These features automatically turn off the
dishwasher after the rinse cycle. This can save you up to 10 percent of your
dishwashing energy costs.
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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. Open the refrigerator or freezer door only
when necessary, and don’t hold it open any longer than necessary.
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Take showers rather than tub baths, but limit both your showering time and the
water flow if you want to save energy.
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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.
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