Energy Saving Tips
An energy-efficient home will keep your family comfortable while saving you money. 无论你是采取简单的步骤还是进行更大的投资，让你的家更有效率, you’ll see lower energy bills. Over time, 这些节省下来的钱通常会用来支付改进的费用，并把钱放回你的口袋里. Your home may also be more attractive to buyers when you sell.
Take a look at our Watt Watcher’s Guide (PDF) for a list of common appliances and their average costs.
For more energy saving questions, contact our Energy Efficiency Services Team at (360) 501-9514 or (800) 631-1131.
No Cost Options
There are many no-cost options to lower your energy use and reduce your energy bill. Here are a few ideas to give you a jump start on saving energy now.
- Lower your thermostat when you go to bed or when you’re not home. Use a programmable thermostat, so it’s automatic. 温度每降低一度，你的能源账单中的供暖部分就会减少2%.
- 当你不用灯、电脑和其他设备时，养成关掉它们的习惯.
- Close your fireplace damper when there’s no fire. Leaving it open is like having a 48-inch-square hole in your house.
- Set your water heater at 120º F., which is comfortable for most uses. 如果你要离开家超过一个星期，把热水器的温度调低，或者设置为度假模式.
- 在洗碗机和洗衣机里装满衣物，用冷水洗衣服.
- Air-dry your dishes or use the air-dry feature on your dishwasher. Use a clothesline to dry clothes when weather permits.
- Use kitchen and bathroom fans to reduce moisture in the home as needed.
- In the winter, 白天打开朝南的窗帘和百叶窗，让热量进入，晚上关闭所有的窗帘和百叶窗.
- Unplug laptop or cell phone battery chargers when not in use. Many draw power continuously, even when the device is not plugged into the charger.
- Set your refrigerator between 36 – 39º F.
- 经常清理冰箱盘管和干衣机上的绒毛，以提高效率.
- Use a microwave or toaster oven for cooking and heating small portions.
- Use zonal-heat (baseboard, ceiling or wall heat) to your advantage by only heating rooms that are in use.
- Consider using jugs of water to occupy the empty spaces in your fridge. It takes more energy to cool an empty fridge than a full one.
Low Cost Options
There are many low-cost ways to lower your energy use and reduce your energy bill. These tips can have a wide range of costs up to about $100. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
- Weatherstrip your windows and doors to reduce winter heat loss and summer heat gain.
- Check and replace your air filters every month to improve air quality, reduce heating and cooling costs, and improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.
- 考虑为您的电子产品或家庭娱乐中心使用“智能”条，以减少虚拟负载. 这些贴片通过关闭进入待机模式的产品的电源来努力减少你的能源消耗.
- Switch to LED light bulbs. They use a fifth of the energy used by regular bulbs.
- 绝缘插座和电灯开关，以减少热量损失，让你在家里更舒适.
- 安装节能莲蓬头，既能减少热水的使用量，又不会影响你的舒适度.
- Use fans instead of air conditioning to stay cool on warm days. 这比给整个房子降温更划算，因为它们只针对一个特定的区域.
Smart Investments
From heating and cooling to electronics and appliances, it takes a lot of energy to power our daily lives. Making a smart investment in efficiency now could pay off big over time, increase your comfort, and lower your energy bills.
- Install a programmable thermostat for your heating system. 这样你就可以控制供暖系统的运行频率，从而减少能源消耗.
- 通过安排定期预防性维护来维护您的供暖系统，以保持您的炉子和空调在最佳性能下运行. This is a great energy-saving decision every homeowner should consider.
- Inadequate home insulation can drive your energy costs through the roof. 确保你的房子有足够的绝缘是节约能源的最有效的方法.
- 在加热或冷却的空气到达你的居住空间之前，漏水的管道会损失高达20%. To reduce energy waste, 确保管道系统密封良好，如果自己无法密封泄漏，请聘请专业人员.
- 除了加热和冷却，水加热通常是你家里最大的能源用户之一. 将热水器升级为热泵热水器，可以节省高达50%的水加热成本. Make sure you contact Energy Efficiency Services about possible rebates.
- 考虑将旧电器更换为能源之星®评级的电器，并比较不同型号的黄色能源指南标签.
- Replace old refrigerators and freezers with new Energy Star® rated models. Since these appliances run 24 hours a day, this investment could start saving you money and energy right away.
- Consider going ductless and increase your comfort year round. 无管道供暖和制冷系统是一种经济实惠的方式来加热和冷却你的家更少. Talk to an Energy Efficiency Specialist to see if your home qualifies for a rebate.
Spring and Summer Specific Options
As spring and summer months start heating up, many of us look for ways to keep cool without breaking the bank. Consider adopting some of these tips to increase your comfort while saving some cash.
- 在温暖的月份，把窗帘关上，防止热量进入你的家. 透过窗户的阳光给你的房子加热，使你的空调工作得更辛苦.
- 考虑安装遮阳篷、遮阳篷或窗膜或百叶窗，以防止太阳热量的增加.
- Hang laundry outside when weather permits. Not only does this save energy, but reduces the wear and tear on your clothes to help them last longer.
- Switch to LED light bulbs. 它们的能耗是普通灯泡的五分之一，在温暖的日子里可以让你的家更凉爽.
- 在温暖的日子里，合适的树木和景观可以帮助减少热量的增加，增加你的舒适度.
- If you need to replace your window air conditioning unit, consider investing in an efficient Energy Star® certified unit. They typically use about 10% less energy than conventional models.
- Make sure the unit you purchase is the right size for the area you are cooling; a unit that is too large will operate less efficiently.
- 在寒冷的天气来袭之前，一定要把你的设备从窗口拿开，这样可以让它持续更长时间.
- Use fans instead of air conditioning to stay cool on warm days. 这比给整个房子降温更划算，因为它们只针对一个特定的区域. It’s important to have the blades spinning in the right direction to improve cooling.
- Seal air leaks inside and outside of your home to minimize heat gain. 确保检查填缝和/或聚氨酯泡沫的标签，以确定您计划密封的适当用途和表面.
- Raise your thermostat a few degrees during the Spring/Summer months. For each degree, 你提高恒温器的温度，你可以节省3-5%的冷却费用. 一个好的规则是在春季和夏季将温度设置至少高10度.
- In the late evening and early morning, 利用“自由”冷却，打开门窗，产生良好的交叉流，用凉爽的外部空气冲洗你的家. 这可以在没有任何空调的情况下迅速将室内温度降低几度. If you have an air conditioner, 一定要在早上晚些时候，在室外温度开始高于室内温度之前，重新关闭门窗.
Fall and Winter Specific Options
在凉爽的秋冬季节，通过控制你的能源使用来节省能源和金钱. Check out these energy tips to help reduce your energy use.
- Add or repair weatherstripping on windows and doors to reduce heat loss and drafts.
- Reverse the direction of your ceiling fan in colder weather. 将风扇反向打开，将天花板上的热空气吹散到整个房间.
- Check your air filters every month to improve air quality, reduce heating costs, and improve the efficiency of your heating system. Be sure to change the filters regularly to keep the system running properly.
- If you have a programmable thermostat, program it to automatically change to the temperature at set times for each day. Temperature is a personal/household decision, but the U.S. 美国能源部建议，当你醒着或在家时，把恒温器调到68度，睡觉或离家时调低温度.
- Take advantage of winter sunlight by opening your shades, allowing for natural light and capturing the warmth from the sun.
- 不要让家具、窗帘、地毯和其他物品挡住通风口或寄存器. 堵塞的墙壁/踢脚板加热器或注册通风口会阻止热空气在房间内自由循环，可能会导致供暖系统工作更困难，并阻止房间升温到恒温器上的设定温度.
- 使用壁炉时降低恒温器，不使用时关闭风门.
- Holiday lighting can increase your energy bill, so consider using LED holiday lighting instead of standard incandescent bulbs. 它们消耗更少的能量，保持凉爽以减少火灾和受伤的风险，并且使用寿命更长.
