Renters
About half the energy used in a residential structure goes to the climate control system. But there are savings to be had throughout your home.
Heating and Cooling
- Control your thermostat setting. The temperature at which you set the thermostat will affect your energy savings. In the summer, raise your thermostat setting.
- On sunny winter days open blinds, shades, and curtains, especially if your windows face south, to help keep you warm. At night, close the blinds, shades, and curtains to help keep heat inside.
- In the summer keep heat out by closing window shades and blinds. It's helpful to keep windows closed to prevent hot air from blowing inside.
- Change the filters in your heating and cooling system regularly.
- Use fans to distribute air.
Water Heating
- Use less hot water.
- Turn down the thermostat on your water heater to a temperature of 115 degrees. If you have a dishwasher, check to make sure this lower temperature will clean the dishes properly.
- Insulate your water heater if it's an older unit and in an unconditioned space.
- Make sure leaky faucets are repaired. A drip can waste up to 48 gallons of water per week. If it's a hot water faucet that's leaking, you're probably losing over a tank of hot water per week. That's at least a couple of showers down the drain.
Appliances and Lighting
- Use warm rather than hot setting when drying clothes.
- Wash clothes in cold water.
- Clean dryer filter after each load.
- Cook everything at once and use pots that fit the burners.
- Clean refrigerator coils annually.
- Let food cool before putting it in the refrigerator.
- Run only full loads in the dishwasher and scrape dishes with cold water.
- Microwave when possible.
- Turn lights off when not in room.
- Use fluorescent or energy savings lights.
