UNL Extension — helping you turn knowledge into "know how"

Energy Saving Tips

Submitted by Lorene Bartos, UNL Extension Educator

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Energy conservation is a hot topic these days with increased utility costs and higher prices everywhere you go. With these increases families must work harder to save energy and reduce costs. The Department of Energy encourages everyone to be more aware of simple steps that can be taken to conserve energy. Some suggestions are:

* Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable when you are home.

* Install a programmable thermostat that will adjust the temperature according to your schedule.

* By setting back your thermostat from 72 degrees to 65 degrees for eight hours a day (for instance, while no one is home or while everyone is tucked in bed) you can cut your heating bill up to 10 percent.

* During the heating season, keep the draperies and shades on your south facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.

* Weatherize your home — caulk and weatherstrip any doors and windows leaking air.

* Properly maintain and clean heating equipment.

* Replace furnace filters regularly.

* Check the insulation in your attic, ceiling, exterior and basement walls, floors, and spaces to see if it meets the levels recommended for your area.

* Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.

* Energy star labeled products can cut your energy bills by up to 30 percent. Find retailers near you at when you’re ready to replace your heating and cooling systems – as well as appliances, lighting, windows, office equipment, and home electronics.

* Insulate your hot water heater and hot water pipes to prevent heat loss. Insulate heating ducts in unheated areas such as attics and crawlspaces and keep them in good repair to prevent heat loss of up to 60 percent at the registers. Heating can account for almost half of the average family's winter energy bill.

* Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.

* Always look for the ENERGY STAR® and EnergyGuide labels when shopping for home appliances. The ENERGY STAR® label is the government's seal of energy efficiency. The EnergyGuide label estimates an appliance's energy consumption.

* Don't over-dry your clothes. If your machine has a moisture sensor, use it.

* Dry towels and heavier cottons in a separate load from lighter-weight clothes.

* Use the cool-down cycle to allow the clothes to finish drying with the residual heat in the dryer.

* Clean the lint filter in the clothes dryer after every load to improve air circulation.

* Wash and dry full loads. If you are washing a small load, use the appropriate water-level setting.

* When shopping for a new clothes dryer, look for one with a moisture sensor that automatically shuts off the machine when your clothes are dry. Not only will this save energy, it will save wear and tear on your clothes caused by over-drying.

* Periodically inspect your dryer vent to ensure it is not blocked. This will save energy and may prevent a fire. Manufacturers recommend using rigid venting material, not plastic vents that may collapse and cause blockages.

* Consider buying a laptop for your next computer upgrade; they use much less energy than desktop computers.

* ENERGY STAR® computers and monitors save energy only when the power management features are activated, so make sure power management is activated on your computer.

* For older appliances, use a power controlling device to reduce the energy consumption of the appliance's electric motor.

* Many appliances continue to draw a small amount of power when they are switched off. These "phantom" loads occur in most appliances using electricity, such as VCRs, televisions, stereos, computers, and kitchen appliances. In the average home, 75 percent of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. This can be avoided by unplugging the appliance or using a power strip and using the switch on the power strip to cut all power to the appliance.

* Unplug battery chargers when the batteries are fully charged or the chargers are not in use.

Check with your family and see how many of these tips you are already doing. Make a priority list of the tips your family can do to save energy. Remember the energy you save is a return in dollars saved.