Manage your energy costs
Now is a good time to learn about weatherizing your home and other ways to manage energy use. PSE has customer rebates available for select energy-efficient products. Call a PSE Energy Advisor at 1-800-562-1482 for more information!
Top ten tips to save energy
As the temperature drops and the days get shorter, the lights go on, the heat goes up and energy bills just get higher and higher. Using less energy is as good for the environment as it is for your wallet and guess what, there’s no need to sacrifice the comfort of your home.
To see the most savings, we recommend you start with the easiest, lowest-cost, highest-value options at the top of this list. Then, as your budget and schedule allow, move down the list to more involved energy-saving options requiring a higher investment.
- Set the thermostat to 68 degrees or lower when you’re at home and awake and lower it at bedtime or while you’re away during the day (See Tip #7). Setting the thermostat to 58°F while you’re asleep (you may need an extra blanket!) can cut your utility bill by up to seven percent.
- Keep draperies and shades on your south facing windows open during the day to allow sunlight to warm your home. Close all draperies and shades at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
- Set the water heater thermostat to 120°F or the “low” setting. This will help to lower energy usage and reduce the risk of scalding.
- Install water-efficient showerheads and faucet aerators and minimize hot water use by taking shorter showers, washing clothes in cold water and only running full loads in your clothes washer and dishwasher.
- Seal up air leaks around doors and windows with weather-stripping, caulking and door sweeps to keep heated air in so you can enjoy it longer. Keep the damper closed on a fireplace or wood-burning stove when it’s not in use, and seal up any leaks or gaps in heating ducts that extend through unheated basements or crawl spaces.
- Have your furnace inspected and tuned every two to three years (before the heating season starts) and clean or replace the air filters on your furnace every two months during the heating season.
- Install a programmable thermostat and properly set it to automatically adjust to the heating temperatures suggested in Tip #1.
- Replace the lights you use most – particularly your porch light - with ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs and fixtures. CFLs use up to 75 percent less energy and can last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. PSE offers instant discounts at participating retailers and showrooms.
- Make sure you have adequate insulation in your home’s attic and walls, and around heating ducts that pass through unheated spaces.
- Invest in ENERGY STAR qualified heating equipment such as furnaces, heat pumps and water heaters when it’s time to replace worn-out models. Consult a professional to ensure you purchase the right-sized equipment for your home.
PSE offers rebates on many of the energy-efficient products and services recommended above and can also provide referrals for independent, pre-screened contractors to help you with energy-efficient home improvements.