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Conservation
Tips for Electric BWL'S
TOP TEN LIST
1. Limit use
of Electric Space Heaters
2. Lower the thermostat
3. Improve water heater efficiency
4. Consider buying a jacket
5. Eliminate drips
6. Read the label to spot energy
guzzlers
7. Keep appliances in good
repair
8. Maintain minimal operation
to do the job
9. Replace incandescent bulbs
with fluorescents
10. Use timers and light sensors for increased
security and cost savings
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SITES ON ELECTRIC CONSERVATION
- Limit
use of Electric Space Heaters
Limit use of freestanding or in-wall space heaters to short
periods of time. Electric space heat can cost as much as
25 percent more than fossil fuel heat. Because of the high
energy required, the use of extension cords with space heaters
is not recommended. Also to avoid fire hazard, electric
heater power cords should never be placed under a carpet
or rug to be hidden from view.
- Lower the thermostat
In homes with individual electric heat controls in each
room, thermostat settings should be checked against a thermometer
to see if they are calibrated correctly. Incorrectly calibrated
thermostats may result in higher settings than necessary
and increased electric usage.
To maximize savings, consider lowering the heat temperature
during sleeping hours as well. The same goes for raising
the temperature during the air conditioning season. Depending
on individual preferences, setting the thermostat back five
degrees in the heating season, or up five-degrees in the
air conditioning months, can result in significant savings.
You can also save money on central air conditioning by using
an automatic programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat
can control the temperature of your home during non-occupancy
hours, thus reducing your energy bill. It can be programmed
to shut off the air conditioning system after you leave
your home and turn it back on before you return. Maintaining
constant pre-determined settings is advised for best results.
- Improve water heater
efficiency
Electric water heaters have two thermostats and two doors
that provide access to the settings. For efficient operation,
both thermostats should be set at the same temperature.
However, before performing this check, be sure to turn the
power off to the water heater or have a qualified technician
do it for you. For conservation purposes and safety reasons,
the temperature should not be set higher than 120 degrees.
You may also wish to have a timer installed that will automatically
shut off the heater during periods of non-use, such as during
the nighttime sleeping hours. The timer will turn on your
heater at the most convenient time to allow enough time
to have hot water available to you.
- Consider buying a jacket
If you have an older water heater, or your basement is extra
cold, consider installing a water heater insulation jacket.
Water heater jackets cost less than $10.00, but can save
you at least three times that amount over the course of
a year. Follow the installation instructions on the package
to maximize safety and savings.
- Eliminate drips
If you heat water with electricity, check your kitchen and
bathroom faucets for hot water drips. This type of water
loss is particularly expensive, because you are paying for
the water and the electricity to heat that water. For best
results, inspect and replace all washers on drippy faucets.
It is also important to check the safety valve on your electric
water heater for drips. A small leak can lose thousands
of gallons of heated water over the course of one month.
- Read the label to spot
energy guzzlers
In certain circumstances, even small appliances, such as
the heater on a child's aquarium, can be a big energy draw.
To find out, check the rating on the aquarium heater. A
small 100-watt heater can use about two and one half kilowatts
of electricity per day. Even with low BWL electricity rates,
it will cost about $4.50 per month to run that aquarium
heater twenty-four hours a day. Keep in mind, too, aquarium
heaters operate in relation to room and water temperature.
The colder the room, the longer the heater operates, the
higher the cost.
- Keep appliances in
good repair
If you have purchased a new refrigerator or freezer, safely
dispose of the old one. It can cost up to three times more
to operate an older refrigerator or freezer than a newer
model. A new unit may cost as little as $2.50 per month
to operate, as opposed to $10 per month with an older model.
If you have an older model still in use, check the seals
by closing the door on a sheet of paper. The door should
have a snug hold on the paper as you pull it out. If you
plan to keep your older model refrigerator, you could save
money by replacing the seals. Remember to keep the area
behind the refrigerator or freezer clear and at least four
inches from the wall. This will allow heat that is being
removed from the unit to dissipate into the room making
the unit more efficient. Do not place a refrigerator or
freezer in a hot garage or other unconditioned area. The
hotter the air around it, the harder it has to work to keep
things cold resulting in higher electricity use.
- Maintain minimal operation
to do the job
Some common kitchen appliances can actually consume more
power than one would presume. A simple coffee maker for
example can draw up to 1400 watts. If it operates for about
4 hours per day, that can add up to $10.20 per month. It
is wise to check all thermostatically controlled appliances
to see how many hours they may actually be operating, versus
how may hours they really need to operate. Basement dehumidifiers
are often overlooked. A dehumidifier operating at 600 watts
can cost up to $13.00 per month if it operates twelve hours
per day. For best results, dehumidifiers should be operated
at a setting that removes moisture while maintaining minimal
operation. Find the de-humidification setting that does
the job at minimal cost.
- Replace incandescent
bulbs with fluorescents
You can save money by using the most appropriate light bulb
for the job. Check the wattage on your light bulbs and replace
them with the lowest setting that will provide adequate
lighting for the particular area. If possible, it is worth
it, in terms of maintenance and energy savings to replace
an incandescent light bulb with energy saving fluorescent
light bulb. Incandescent light bulbs waste 90% of their
energy to produce 10% usable light. Do not use dimmer switches
with compact fluorescent bulbs. Check the rating on the
package before you buy. And make sure your light fixture
will accommodate the bulb. Most energy-saving compact fluorescent
bulbs have now been re-designed to fit conventional fixtures.
- Use timers and light
sensors for increased security and cost savings
Timers can be a valuable tool to give your home an occupied
look for safety. They can also be used to automatically
shut off unnecessary lighting and save you money. Occupancy
sensors can be used to automatically turn-on a light when
someone enters a room and shut off the light when occupants
leave the room.
For more energy conservation tips, visit:
BWL Hometown Energy SaversSM
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