Residential Energy Management
The simplest way to reduce energy utility bills is to reduce usage. SOPEC strongly encourages customers to exercise energy conservation practices and to adopt energy efficiency technology when cost-effective. Below are the top five SOPEC residential energy management tips for reducing energy utility costs. Adopting these five practices and technologies will add up quick and will offer substantial savings throughout the year. Below these tips, additional information is provided on energy management practices, as well rebates and financing programs to make these energy efficiency strategies a reality.
Turn off the lights when you leave a room and unplug appliances that are not in use. A power strip can help turn off multiple items at once.
Turn your water heater down to 120°F. The higher the temperature, the more energy will be needed to maintain that heat until you need it.
Install LED light bulbs or LED strip lights in the areas where you use the most lighting.
Turn your thermostat 1°F toward the outside temperature compared to your normal setting. For example, if you keep your indoor temperature in the winter months at 65 °F, turn it to 64 °F. If you keep your indoor temperature at 70°F in the summer months, turn it to 71°F. This 1°F change tip will save approximately 2% of annual electricity costs.
Wash clothes in cold water.
Up to 90% of the energy consumed in washing clothes is used to heat the water. There are many great detergents designed to work well in cold water.
Has your home already adopted the top five SOPEC energy management tips? If so, SOPEC encourages you to explore additonal residential energy efficiency strategies and see how much you can save. For a complete review of residential energy management practices, review the EnergySavers guide below published by the U.S. Department of Energy.
And to identify additional energy efficiency strategies that are specific to your home, take a few minutes to complete the Home Energy Yardstick assessment at www.EnergyStar.gov.