Energy conservation

Saving Energy saves on costs.

Air conditioning

• Make sure window air conditioners are properly sized. An oversized unit will use more energy. Choose a window unit that will cool one room only.
• Change or clean air conditioning filters monthly during peak cooling season.
• Turn off unnecessary lights when air conditioning is on.
  

Heating

• During winter daylight hours, open all window curtains and window coverings on the side of the house that is receiving the most sunlight. When the sun goes down, close window coverings and drapes.
• Use Heaters sparingly, opt for oil heaters as they consume the least amount of electricity.

Lighting

• Add dimmers to switches on overhead lights. Soft light uses less electricity.
• Use lower watt light bulbs if possible. Use energy saving lightbulbs instead of incandescent bulbs.
• Replace incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent ones. Fluorescent uses less electricity and lasts 10 to 15 times longer.
• When leaving a room for more than half an hour, turn fluorescent lights off. When leaving for more than five minutes, turn incandescent lights off.
• Install light timers or motion detectors rather than leaving lights on all night.
  

Water heater

• Match geyser size to the needs of the family.
• Insulate geyser with a geyser insulation blanket .
• Turn off geyser if house is empty for more than one day. Consider turning the geyser on at certain times of day only.
• Install a water heater timer that turns the heater off while you sleep and back on again in plenty of time to heat water for morning needs.
• Don't let hot water run continuously while shaving or washing dishes.
• Take showers; they generally take less hot water than baths.
  

Appliances

• Don't leave the coffeepot warming for hours. Instead, transfer coffee to a thermos and turn the coffeemaker off.
• Cook on stove plates whenever possible. The oven uses almost four times the energy as the stovetop plates.
• Select the “energy save” option on your dishwasher, and use the dishwasher only once daily, preferably at night before bed. Run only a full dishwasher.
• Wash all but the most soiled clothes in warm or cold water.
• Use microwave whenever possible. A microwave uses 85 percent less electricity than cooking on gas or electric.
• Preheat oven only when necessary. Many foods can start out in a cold oven with no adverse effects.
• Turn refrigerator to a warmer setting when away from home for more than a day. As long as the door stays closed, the food should be fine.
• Whenever possible, use small appliances such as toaster oven, electric skillet, slow cooker, and so on. On the average, these use half the energy used by a full-sized oven.
• Vacuum the coils at the back and the bottom of refrigerators and freezers frequently to prevent dust build up. Dust makes the appliance run more often.
• Pull refrigerators and freezers away from the wall at least six inches to a foot. They need room to run efficiently.
  

Source: Crown.org