Energy-Saving Tips by Appliance
Have a thermostat? How about a washer and dryer? That means you have opportunities to save money on your electricity bill by using them more efficiently.
THERMOSTAT | WASHER AND DRYER
THERMOSTAT
When it comes to thermostats, small adjustments can lead to big savings. Learn some simple tips to reduce energy consumption in your home, just by changing the way you use your thermostat.
- Adjust thermostat settings while asleep or away.
Set your thermostat two to three degrees higher in the summer or lower in the winter from its normal setting for eight hours a day to save up to 10% a year on your heating and cooling costs.
- Automate your settings.
Use a programmable thermostat or smart thermostat to make temperature adjustments a snap.
- Be patient.
Don’t crank the heat up or the air conditioner down to achieve a desired temperature faster. It doesn’t work, and it will result in wasted energy and higher electricity bills.
- Take control, anytime.
Off from work early and want your home cooled when you get there? Forgot to turn your heat down before a road trip? No problem — smart thermostats can be controlled remotely using your smartphone or other Internet-connected device.
- Check the batteries.
For battery-operated thermostats, monitor the batteries — if they aren’t charged, your heater and air conditioner won’t function properly.
- Consult an expert.
To ensure your thermostat is working correctly, have your HVAC specialist check it whenever you have your heater or AC serviced.
- Rely on your thermostat less.
One of our favorite energy-saving tips for winter thermostat settings involves not using your thermostat so much. Instead of inching up the temperature, try wearing more layers around the house and use extra blankets at night.
- Upgrade your system.
When possible, upgrade your major appliances such as your air conditioner to a more energy-efficient model.
THERMOSTAT | WASHER AND DRYER
WASHER AND DRYER
Typically, washers and dryers consume a large amount of energy in homes. But with a few easy changes, they don’t have to in yours. Read these smart ways to get the most efficiency out of your washing machine and dryer.
- Wash clothes less frequently.
Hear us out: just because you wore something once doesn't necessarily mean it's dirty. If it looks and smells OK, there's no need to wash it.
- Choose a good time.
Did you know that some times of the day are better than others for saving energy while doing laundry? Electricity can cost more during peak hours when more people use energy. Washing clothes in the morning during the summer and at night in the winter can help you avoid these higher-cost time frames.
- Choose an ENERGY STAR®-certified washer.
It uses about 25% less energy than traditional models.
- Consider a front-loader.
A front-loading washing machine usually uses less water than a top-loading washer.
- Wash on cold.
According to ENERGY STAR®, 90% of a washer's energy use is from heating up water. Using cold water instead of hot or warm water should be sufficient for most laundry loads.
- Turn down your water heater.
Set your water heater to 120 degrees instead of 140 degrees so that when you do need to wash in hot water (for oily stains or to sanitize items), it will use less energy.
- Wash full loads.
A washer uses the same amount of mechanical energy, no matter the load size. So, washing a full load is more energy efficient.
- Adjust the load level.
If you do have to run a small load, adjust your washing machine settings so you use the right amount of time and water.
- Use high-efficiency detergent.
These low-suds detergents cut down on water usage and time for front-loaders or high-efficiency top-loaders.
- Use detergent as indicated.
Adding more laundry detergent than necessary will only result in more suds, causing your machine to use more energy and water to rinse them away.
- Pretreat and presoak.
Pretreat stains and use the presoak option on your washing machine for heavily soiled items to avoid having to rewash them.
- Increase the spin speed.
A faster spin at the end of a cycle extracts more water from the load, reducing drying time.
- Upgrade your washer and dryer.
When possible, upgrade your major appliances such as your washer and dryer to more energy-efficient models.
- Maintain your appliances.
Stay on top of appliance maintenance — a well-cared-for appliance means less excess energy being spent.
Use these 14 easy energy-saving tips when it comes to your appliances to help lower your usage and energy bill, no matter the season.
Click here to learn more tips or sign up for Discount Power to start saving today!
