Here are ways to save energy by lowering your community peak energy demand (sorry, sending your kids to bed at 5pm doesn’t count). These money-saving ideas can help you lower your energy bill by reducing energy consumption in your house or apartment.

You can also help to reduce the demand of electricity at peak electrical demand times – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. These energy saving tips below may help cut down on the amount of energy you use and trim your household energy costs, while lowering peak demand on your electricity utility company.

Lower Your Community Peak Energy Demand
* Use major appliances after 7 p.m.

Here are ways to save energy on cooling your home – fans & air conditioning (sorry, a cold beer at your local pub doesn’t count). These money-saving ideas can help you lower your energy bill by reducing energy consumption in your house or apartment.

You can also help to reduce the demand of electricity at peak electrical demand times – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. These energy saving tips below may help cut down on the amount of energy you use and trim your household energy costs, while lowering peak demand on your electricity utility company.

Cooling Your Home – Fans & Air Conditioning
* Set your thermostat at 78 degrees F when you’re home and 85 degrees F when you’re away. The best energy savings temperature for your air conditioner’s thermostat is 78°F or higher. A setting of 78°F instead of 72°F can save up to 12% of your cooling costs.
* Add Insulation. According to the U.S. Department of Energy 80 percent of older homes are under insulated. You can save hundreds of dollars a year on your energy bills and the payback period can be in as little as two years. The best place to start is by sealing large gaps around chimneys, furnace flues, plumbing pipes, ductwork, light fixtures, and soffits in your attic to save energy. Don’t forget to examine that mother-in-law for leaky windpipes as well. You can also place insulation between attic-floor joists and on the hatch or door, or add more if it’s already there. Next, seal air leaks in the basement and insulate ceilings in unheated basements and around the walls in heated basements or unvented crawl spaces.
* Use ceiling fans to help circulate air throughout the house.
* Use portable fans to cool your home.
* Turn off fans when not at home.
* If you use a window air conditioner, set it on low for the most savings.
* Keep all windows and doors closed when using the air conditioner.
* Close blinds and drapes to keep cool air inside, especially to the side of your home facing the sun.
* When purchasing a window air conditioner or any other new appliance, look for models with the ENERGY STAR
® label–they are more energy efficient and will help keep costs down
* Keep cool air inside. Check weatherstripping around doors and caulking around windows. Properly sealed doors and windows help prevent warm or cold outside air from entering the home. Weather-stripping and caulking your doors and windows can save as much as 6% of your cooling costs.
* Don’t let the cool air escape. Keep doors and windows closed on hot nights.
* Proper insulation will keep your home cool in the summer. “R” stands for resistance to heat flow. The higher the “R value,” the greater the insulating power.
* Don’t block cooling vents. Check to see that cooling vents are unobstructed so your system doesn’t over-work itself getting air conditioning into your home. An obstructed vent, inside or outside your home, wastes both energy and money. Move furniture away from vents and window air conditioners.
* Replace air filers. Check filters at least twice during the heating season and either vacuum or replace them.
* Use fans when you can. By using fans instead of central air-conditioning, you can save 80 to 90% on cooling costs. In fact, if every residence with air conditioning in a major city used fans for just three hours on one warm summer day, the energy saved could power over 3,000 homes for a full month.
* Landscaping. Keep bushes away from central air conditioner.
* Window treatments. Consider installing reflective films or solar shade screens on windows with the greatest exposure to the summer sun.
* Awnings: Shade your house awnings and overhangs to provide shade around the windows and the outside of your home.
* Landscaping. A shaded house is easier to cool than one in direct sunlight, so plant trees to help keep your home cool.
* Proper air conditioner maintenance. Proper maintenance helps your air conditioner run more efficiently. In addition to regular do-it-yourself maintenance, it’s a good idea to have your entire system checked yearly by a qualified air-conditioning contractor.
Buying a new air conditioner. Important factors to consider when shopping for a new air conditioner are: size of area to be cooled, climate, your home’s construction, sun exposure, wiring, insulation and the number and location of windows. Once you have this information, determine which unit will cool your home for the lowest cost.

Here are ways to save energy on heating your home – heat pump. These money-saving ideas can help you lower your energy bill by reducing energy consumption in your house or apartment.

You can also help to reduce the demand of electricity at peak electrical demand times – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. These energy saving tips below may help cut down on the amount of energy you use and trim your household energy costs, while lowering peak demand on your electricity utility company.

Heating Your Home – Heat Pump
* If you have a heat pump, raising and lowering the thermostat could cause the electric heating strips to come on, significantly increasing your heating costs.

Here are ways to save energy on heating your home – furnace (sorry, 8 layers of clothing and a hat doesn’t count). These money-saving ideas can help you lower your energy bill by reducing energy consumption in your house or apartment.

You can also help to reduce the demand of electricity at peak electrical demand times – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. These energy saving tips below may help cut down on the amount of energy you use and trim your household energy costs, while lowering peak demand on your electricity utility company.

Heating Your Home – Furnace

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, roughly 50 percent of homeowners don’t change temperature settings at night. By lowering your home’s temperature just 5 to 10 degrees at night and when no one is home to save energy can reduce your heating costs by up to 20 percent per year. Programmable thermostats can help you manage your heating demand.

Considering buying a new energy efficient furnace? A new furnace or boiler will probably take quite a few years for you to save enough to recoup the entire $4,000 to $5,000 purchase price. You may want to consider keeping your existing furnace and making your current system more efficient by sealing any cracks or gaps in ductwork and by insulating the ducts. Additionally, you can caulk any holes in your walls or around electrical outlets, especially if they directly connect to an unheated basement or attic. Those small holes can turn into laser beams of cold air, which always seem to aimed at exactly where ever you are.

* Set your thermostat at 68 degrees F when you’re home and 60 degrees F when you’re away.
* Buy a programmable thermostat. They save energy and they are easier to program than your VCR.
* Add Insulation. According to the U.S. Department of Energy 80 percent of older homes are under-insulated. You can save hundreds of dollars a year on your energy bills and the payback period can be in as little as two years. The best place to start is by sealing large gaps around chimneys, furnace flues, plumbing pipes, ductwork, light fixtures, and soffits in your attic to save energy. Don’t forget to examine that mother-in-law for leaky windpipes as well. You can also place insulation between attic-floor joists and on the hatch or door, or add more if it’s already there. Next, seal air leaks in the basement and insulate ceilings in unheated basements and around the walls in heated basements or unvented crawl spaces.
* Use ceiling fans to help circulate air throughout the house.
* Use portable fans to help distribute the heat throughout your home.
* Turn off fans when not at home.
* Keep all windows and doors closed when using the furnace.
* Open blinds and drapes to let solar energy inside, especially to the side of your home facing the sun.
* When purchasing a heating furnace or any other new appliance, look for models with the ENERGY STAR
® label–they are more energy efficient and will help keep costs down
* Keep the heat in. Check weatherstripping around doors and caulking around windows. Properly sealed doors and windows help prevent warm or cold outside air from entering the home. Weather-stripping and caulking your doors and windows can save as much as 6% of your heating costs.
* In the winter, your heating system is probably your biggest energy user (except for your father-in-law), accounting for 13-16% of your monthly bill. If we all turned down our thermostats just two degrees, we’d save enough energy to heat 20,000 homes for a day.
* Choose the correct temperature setting. You can save energy and reduce your heating costs by turning your thermostat down. For every two degrees you lower your thermostat you can save approximately 5% percent on your heating costs.
* Heat your home normally. Thermostats should never be turned up high to heat a home in a hurry. It won’t heat your home any faster.
* Don’t let heat escape. Keep doors and windows closed on chilly nights.
* Up to 20% of your heating can be lost through your ceiling. Proper insulation will keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. “R” stands for resistance to heat flow. The higher the “R value,” the greater the insulating power.
* Don’t block heating vents. Check to see that heating vents are unobstructed so your system doesn’t over-work itself getting heat into your home. An obstructed vent, inside or outside your home, wastes both energy and money. Move furniture away from vents.
* Replace air filers. Check filters at least twice during the heating season and either vacuum or replace them.
* Proper Furnace maintenance. Proper maintenance helps your furnace run more efficiently. In addition to regular do-it-yourself maintenance, it’s a good idea to have your entire system checked yearly by a qualified heating contractor.

Here are ways to save energy on water heaters, hot water tanks & tankless water heaters (sorry, turning off the water heater doesn’t count). These money-saving ideas can help you lower your energy bill by reducing energy consumption in your house or apartment.

You can also help to reduce the demand of electricity at peak electrical demand times – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. These energy saving tips below may help cut down on the amount of energy you use and trim your household energy costs, while lowering peak demand on your electricity utility company.

Water Heaters, Hot Water Tanks & Tankless Water Heaters

Just by lowering the temperature on your water heater from 130° to 120° can help you save up to 5 percent on your energy bills.

* Take shorter showers, no longer than five-minutes.
* During your shower, you can turn off the water as you shampoo your hair or lather your body, then turn the water back on to rinse off.
* Set your water heater temperature between 120°F­130°F if you don’t use a dishwasher.
* Some say shower with a friend to save energy. That probably is not the best way to save energy as you may end up taking longer showers instead of shorter showers.
* Fix leaky faucets. One drop of hot water per second can waste 2500 gallons per year. If just 1% of us repaired a leaky hot water faucet, the savings would add up to 25 million gallons of water and enough natural gas savings to heat 800 homes all winter long.
* Use cold water – when you can, use cold water to wash clothes or rinse dishes.
* Use a water heater jacket. If your water heater feels warm to the touch, buy a water heater blanket and save up to 9% on your water-heating costs. Check the caution label on your water heater. Newer models come with proper insulation and some even prohibit installing a blanket. Finally, don’t cover the inspection plate with the blanket, it could be a fire hazard. Also note that water heaters in the garage or outside use a lot more energy because they are more directly exposed to cooler weather.
* Install low-flow water savers. Low-flow devices on your faucets and showers can cut up to 11% of your water use, which will help reduce your energy and water bills.
* Insulate hot-water pipes.
* Buy a new hot water heater. You can save money and energy cost by selecting a model with a 9 to 12-year warranty. Those typically have thicker insulation and more powerful burners or heating elements for faster heating than models with shorter warranties.
* Buy a tankless water heater. A tankless water heater saves money by heating water only when you turn on the faucet, and then just heating the water you need for that episode. But smaller, cheaper units probably won’t produce enough hot water to serve a typical family. Larger, gas-fired tankless water units can cost $1,000 or more and are expensive to install because they often require larger gas supply lines and special venting.
* Consider solar water heaters.

Here are ways to save energy on laundry washing clothes: washers & dryers (sorry, going to your parent’s home doesn’t count). These money-saving ideas can help you lower your energy bill by reducing energy consumption in your house or apartment.

You can also help to reduce the demand of electricity at peak electrical demand times – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. These energy saving tips below may help cut down on the amount of energy you use and trim your household energy costs, while lowering peak demand on your electricity utility company.

Laundry Washing Clothes: Washers & Dryers
* Go collegiate and wear clothes a few times before you wash them.
* Use cold water, when you can, to wash clothes. Save washing in warm water for whites or hard-to-clean items. Clothes washed in cold water fade less and have fewer wrinkles (less ironing, means less electricity usage!!). Always rinse in cold. If you wash two loads of laundry per week and switch from hot to cold water, you can save more than 3,300 gallons of hot water per year.
* Wash and dry with full loads. More than 70% of the cost of washing a load of laundry is in heating the water. So get the most for your money, and make every effort to wash full loads.
* Remove the lint (yes, that includes your belly button). Clean your dryer’s lint screen after every use. A lint-free dryer works much more efficiently.
* Check your hose connections. Look for hose cracks and leaky faucet connections (schedule a visit with your proctologist now). Either one can cause you to lose hot water every time you wash.
* Don’t do your laundry during the peak hours of 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. to lower peak demand in your community.
* Use mother nature. Hang clothes outside to dry.
* Fix leaky faucets. One drop of hot water per second can waste 2500 gallons per year. If just 1% of us repaired a leaky hot water faucet, the savings would add up to 25 million gallons of water and enough natural gas savings to heat 800 homes all winter long.

Here are ways to save energy on electrical lighting & indoor lights (sorry, “all the time lights-out” doesn’t count). These money-saving ideas can help you lower your energy bill by reducing energy consumption in your house or apartment.

You can also help to reduce the demand of electricity at peak electrical demand times – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. These energy saving tips below may help cut down on the amount of energy you use and trim your household energy costs, while lowering peak demand on your electricity utility company.

Electrical Lighting & Indoor Lights

San Diego Gas & Electric reports that lighting can account for about 12% of your monthly bill (9% for all-electric homes). If each household in San Diego replaced four 100-watt incandescent lights with equivalent 27 -watt CFLs, 400,000,000 kilowatt-hours would be saved each year. Enough to power over 70,000 homes for a year.

Saving energy in lighting costs can be as easy as replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), which use 75% less energy and last up to ten times longer. Energy Star-qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) are required to save you at least $30 in energy costs over the bulb’s roughly 7,500 to 10,000-hour life. Please note, that the CFL bulbs do have a small amount of mercury content but they contain only a fraction of the mercury in an old-fashioned thermometer.

Each year, the United States throws away 1.741 billion incandescent bulbs– that’s enough to fill two football stadiums. With each CFL, you’ll throw away nine less bulbs.

* Replace old light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). They can reduce lighting costs by up to 75% and they last up to ten times longer.
* When leaving your home each day, turn off all unnecessary lights. Yes, that includes the light to the shrine honoring your favorite sports team.
* Use electrical dimmers: By buying solid-state dimmer switches you can increase incandescent bulb life while reducing electric consumption and cost.
* Use motion sensors. Replace light switches with motion or occupancy sensors, which make the lights go on or off when someone enters or leaves a room. Motion sensors are perfect for the garage, exterior or security lighting.
* Install electrical timers. If you sometimes forget to turn off the lights, think about buying a timer to turn lights off and on automatically.
* Use photocells. Photocells automatically turn on your lights when the sun goes down. Then, when the sun rises, the photocell turns the lights off. They’re great for outdoor or security lighting.

Here are ways to save energy on wood stoves and fireplaces (sorry, that mountain lodge ski trip doesn’t count). These money-saving ideas can help you lower your energy bill by reducing energy consumption in your house or apartment.

You can also help to reduce the demand of electricity at peak electrical demand times – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. These energy saving tips below may help cut down on the amount of energy you use and trim your household energy costs, while lowering peak demand on your electricity utility company.

Wood Stoves And Fireplaces
It is said the wood fireplaces give you energy three times. Once when you cut down the tree, once when you stack the wood and once when you burn it.

* Wood-burning fireplaces look great, can be romantic and feel warm by the fire. Fireplaces can actually suck the heat in your home up and out the chimney (umm, heat rises, you know). Glass doors improve the situation only slightly.
* Wood or pellet-burning stoves provide more heat because they’re not tucked away in the wall and less heat escapes up the flue. But unless you get your fuel free, you’ll end up paying more to heat your home.
* There is no truth to the myth that feeding your father-in-law beer, cabbage and bean burrito’s is a cost effective alternative to heating your home.

Here are ways to save energy on your Evaporative Coolers (sorry, moving to a cooler city doesn’t count). These money-saving ideas can help you lower your energy bill by reducing energy consumption in your house or apartment.

You can also help to reduce the demand of electricity at peak electrical demand times – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. These energy saving tips below may help cut down on the amount of energy you use and trim your household energy costs, while lowering peak demand on your electricity utility company.

Evaporative Coolers
* Check cooler pads monthly.
* Clean the water pan to prevent clogging.

Here are ways to save energy on your stove, electric range & microwave cooking (sorry, eating-out more often doesn’t count). These money-saving ideas can help you lower your energy bill by reducing energy consumption in your house or apartment.

You can also help to reduce the demand of electricity at peak electrical demand times – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. These energy saving tips below may help cut down on the amount of energy you use and trim your household energy costs, while lowering peak demand on your electricity utility company.

Stove, Electric Range & Microwave Cooking
* Use microwaves and toaster ovens when cooking instead of your oven and gas range.
* If you do use your stove, defrost food first and cover pots to shorten cooking time.
* Keep your oven & range clean. An oven or range that’s free of grease and baked-on residue uses energy more efficiently.
* Don’t pre-heat (sorry Martha Stewart) if you don’t have to. If you’re baking breads and cakes, pre-heating your oven may be necessary. But for most foods, like casseroles and broiled items, pre-heating simply isn’t necessary.