Though people up north are looking forward to cooler fall weather, the sun is still shining brightly here on Sanibel and Captiva Islands. In fact, these may be some of the hottest months for keeping your home cool. To help you save money on your electrical bill, we’ve put together a list of helpful tips on energy conservation.
Here are a few ways you can start saving today:
- Air Dry Your Laundry – Instead of filling a drier with a full load of clothes, try air drying some of your lighter materials, dress clothes and beach towels.
- Air Dry Your Dishes – Before the dishwasher starts its drying cycle, open the washer door and let dishes air dry instead.
- Take Shorter Showers – Shorter showers use less hot water and also save water consumption.
- Switch Your Shower Head – Changing your shower head and faucets to a low-flowing device will help reduce hot water use.
- Lower Your Water Heater Temp. – Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120°F. When leaving for long periods, turn the water heater off.
- Set Your Refrigerator Temp. – Your refrigerator should be set between 32°F and 42°F. Set it to power save mode if its available.
- Update Your Appliances – Check to see if your appliances have the ENERGY STAR® label to ensure you are using the most energy-efficient appliances.
- Unplug Electronics – Plug all of your electronics into a power strip, which you can easily turn off when not in use. Electronics in “stand-by” mode still draw several watts of electricity a day.
- Auto-Program Your AC – Set your air conditioner to run on a daily schedule, raising temperatures when no one’s home and adjusting an hour before you return.
- Shade Windows – Use curtains or blinds on windows that get a lot of sunlight to help keep inside temperatures down. Also, plant trees or shrubs near windows or around the house to provide natural shading.
- Change Your Fan’s Direction – In the summer months, change your fan’s direction to rotate counter-clockwise.
- Change Your AC Filter – Every month you should clean or change your air conditioner’s air filter and vent.
- Close Unused Vents – If running a centralize AC unit, close the AC vents in guest rooms that go unused. Keep those doors shut so that you are not paying to cool unused rooms.
- Avoid Over-drying Clothes – Most laundry loads do not need the full 60 minutes to dry. Avoid over-drying your clothes and wasting electricity.
Last But Not Least…
- Turn It Off – When you leave a room, be sure to turn out the lights and turn off the TV, stereo system, computer, etc. We waste the most energy on unused products.
