Energy-saving measures that cost little or nothing

Low cost/no cost solutions

Palmetto Electric Cooperative wants to help you make the power you purchase from us an even better buy. We have compiled an extensive list of low cost/no cost energy-saving measures to help you better manage your home’s energy costs. Here is a sampling.

Water heating

• Set water heater temperature at 120°- 140° F.
• Install water-heater wrap as per manufacturer’s instructions.
• Drain 1-2 gallons from bottom of water heater each year to reduce sediment build-up.
• Install heat traps on hot and cold water lines when its time to replace your water heater.
• Insulate exposed hot water lines.
• Limit shower length to 5-7 minutes.
• Install low-flow shower heads.
• Wash clothes in cold water. Use hot water only for very dirty loads.
• Do only full laundry loads.
• If you must do smaller loads, adjust the water level in the washing machine to match the load size, especially when using hot water.
• Always use cold-water rinse.
• Use bath towels at least twice before washing them.
• Fix dripping faucets.
• Don’t let water run while you are shaving or brushing your teeth.

Laundry

• Clean dryer lint trap before each load.
• Verify the outdoor dryer exhaust door closes when dryer is off.
• Verify dryer vent hose is tightly connected to inside wall fitting.
• Verify dryer vent hose is tightly connected to dryer.
• Verify dryer vent hose is not kinked or clogged.
• Minimize clothes drying time; use moisture sensor on dryer if available.
• Dry consecutive loads to harvest heat remaining in dryer from last load.
• Consider using a “solar-powered” clothes dryer -- an old-fashioned clothes line.

Kitchen

• Use your refrigerator’s anti-sweat feature only if necessary.
• Switch your refrigerator’s power-saver to “ON,” if available.
• Clean refrigerator coils annually.
• Set the refrigerator temperature to 34-37 degrees and freezer temperature to 0-5 degrees.
• Ensure gaskets around door seal tightly.
• Unplug unused refrigerators or freezers.
• Use microwave for cooking when possible.
• When cooking on the range, use pot lids; food will cook quicker.
• If you are heating water, don’t start with hot water from the tap -- start with cold.
• Remember to use the kitchen exhaust fan when cooking and turn it off after cooking.
• Let hot food cool before storing it in the refrigerator.
• Scrape dirty dishes with cold water before putting them into the dishwasher.
• Use cold water for garbage disposal.
• Only run dishwasher when fully loaded.
• Use air-dry cycle instead of heat-dry cycle to dry dishes.

Lighting

• Replace any light bulb that burns more than one hour per day with its compact fluorescent bulb equivalent.
• Turn unnecessary lighting off.
• Replace outdoor lighting with its outdoor-rated compact fluorescent bulb equivalent.
• Use 4-foot fluorescent fixtures for your workroom, garage, and laundry areas.
• Use outdoor security lights with a photocell and/or a motion sensor.

Miscellaneous

• Turn computers and monitors off when not used.
• Turn waterbed heater off when not needed.
• Turn large-screen TVs off completely when not in use.
• Turn off stereos and radios when not in use.
• Remember to turn off hair curling-iron and hot rollers.
• Turn off coffee makers when not in use.
• Turn off pool pump and/or heater when not needed.
• Verify livestock watering tank heaters are off when not needed.
• Verify battery chargers are off when not needed.
• Ensure all new appliances you purchase are Energy Star-approved.

Air conditioning

• Set thermostats to 78 degrees in summer
• Run ceiling paddle fans on medium, blowing down, in summer
• Change HVAC filters monthly.
• When installing new air filters, make sure they are facing in the correct direction. (Look for arrow on side of filter.)
• When heating or cooling, keep windows locked; they seal better.
• Insulate electric wall plugs and wall switches with foam pads.
• Caulk along baseboards with a clear sealant.
• Caulk around plumbing penetrations that come through walls beneath bathroom and kitchen sinks.
• Caulk electrical fixture wire penetrations at the top of the interior walls.
• Close shades and drapes during day to help keep heat out during summer.
• Ensure attic access door closes tightly.
• Insulate attic access door.
• Verify blown insulation in your attic has not shifted over into your soffit area, blocking your soffit vents.
• Do not close off unused rooms that are conditioned by forced-air systems.
• Do not close supply air registers.
• Ensure return air grilles are not blocked by furniture or bookcases.
• Ensure windows and doors are properly weather-stripped.
• While outside, verify soffit vents in roof eaves allow for free air passage to keep attic cooler in summer and dryer in winter.
• Do not use roof-top power ventilators for attic exhaust as they may evacuate conditioned air from your home.
• Have your HVAC system serviced once per year by a NATE-certified technician. (Visit natex.org to find one.)
• Monitor your home’s relative humidity in the summer. If it consistently stays in the 60% range or higher, ask your HVAC technician about lowering your central air conditioning unit’s indoor fan speed.
• Ensure window A/C units are weatherstripped.
• Ensure windows with window A/C units are weather-stripped between middle of top pane and top of raised bottom pane.
• Remove and clean window A/C filter monthly.
• Keep “fresh-air” vents on window A/C units closed.
• Caulk around basement windows.
• In a basement, seal the sill and band joist with durable caulking or foam sealant.
• Ensure floor registers are not blocked with rugs, drapes or furniture.
• Ensure your outdoor heat pump/air conditioning unit’s coils are kept clean and free of debris.
• Outside your home, caulk around all penetrations including telephone, electrical, cable, gas, water spigots, dryer vents, etc.
• Caulk around storm windows.
• Verify your supply air duct “boots” (behind supply air registers) are caulked to your ceiling or wall sheetrock, or flooring.
• If in unconditioned space, verify your ducts are tightly connected and sealed to your HVAC equipment.
• Verify all outside doors and storm doors close and seal tightly.
• In two-story homes serviced by one HVAC system, a paddle fan at the top of the stairs can push down hot, second-floor air.
• Install 15 minute, spring-wound timers on bathroom ventilator fans.
• Always run your HVAC system fan on “AUTO.” Running it on “ON” uses more electricity and can decrease your air conditioner’s ability to remove moisture.
• Keep your garage door down. A warmer garage in the winter and cooler garage in the summer will save energy.