COOLING

• In summer, keep the sun out by closing draperies, blinds or shades. This helps reduce the energy required to cool your home.
  
• In summer, a thermostat set at 78 degrees is recommended if the home is occupied. Your kilowatt-hour usage for cooling increases approximately 3% for each degree of temperature setting below 78 degrees. During unoccupied hours, turn off the air conditioner.

HEATING

• In winter, a thermostat set at 68 degrees or lower during the day when the home is occupied is recommended. Your kilowatt-hour usage for heating increases approximately 3% for each degree of temperature setting above 68 degrees.

APPLIANCES

• Turn off non-essential lights and appliances.
  
• Avoid running large appliances such as washers, dryers, and electric ovens during peak energy demand hours from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  
• Operate the dishwasher only when fully loaded, avoid rinse and hold cycles. For additional savings, don't use the drying cycle.
  
• When using the electric range, plan ahead and cook a number of dishes or meals for later use. Open oven doors only when necessary.
  
• Reduce the water heater thermostat setting to 120º F and reduce use of heated water for clothes washing. (Caution-some dishwashers require 140º F water.)

MISCELLANEOUS

• Close shades and blinds at night to reduce the amount of heat lost through windows. This also applies during the day for warm climates.
  
• Avoid unnecessary opening of doors and windows and be sure they are not left open.

• Use the correct amount of detergent. Too many bubbles make your machine work harder and use more energy.
• Presoak or use the soak cycle when washing heavily soiled garments like your child's soccer uniform. You'll avoid two washings and save energy.
• Up to 90 percent of the cost of washing clothes comes from heating the water, so use hot water only for very dirty clothes, and always use cold water in the rinse cycle.

• Fill your dryer, but do not pack it like luggage bound for Europe.
• A dirty lint screen can cause your dryer to use up to 30 percent more energy-and it can be a fire hazard.
• Clean the lint screen after each load. Lowly lint has little use, and maybe you'll find that missing sock!
• Keep your dryer's outside exhaust clean. A clogged exhaust lengthens drying time and increases energy use.
• If your dryer has an automatic dry cycle, use it rather than a timed cycle.
• Since lightweight items take less drying time, separate loads into heavy and light items. Underwear and rugs do better if kept apart!
• Install a solar clothes dryer (a clothesline)! It will give your clothes a "fresh outdoors" smell.

• Microwave ovens use around 50 percent less energy than conventional ovens; they're most efficient for small portions or defrosting. For large meals, stovetop cooking is usually more efficient.
• Use your microwave as often as possible in the summer. You'll be more comfortable and save on air conditioning costs.
• Use toaster ovens or microwave ovens to cook small- to medium-sized meals.
• With conventional ovens, minimize the preheating time. Unless you're baking breads or pastries, you may not even need to preheat.
• Don't open the oven door too often when checking your food, especially if it's your prize recipe for a baking contest. Each time you open the door the oven temperature drops by 25°. Watch the clock or use a timer instead.
• Turn off electric burners several minutes before the allotted cooking time. The heating element will stay hot long enough to finish cooking those eggs or favorite side dish without using more electricity. The same principle works with your oven cooking.
• Cook with the oven door closed. A partially open door wastes energy, costs you money, and warms you instead of the food.
• Stagger pans and baking sheets on upper and lower racks to improve airflow, and don't cover racks with foil. Food cooks more quickly and efficiently when heat circulates freely.
• Use glass or ceramic pans in ovens. You can turn down the temperature about 25° and foods will cook just as quickly.
• Match the size of the pan to the heating element; more heat will get to the pan and less will be lost to the surrounding air or found by the pan handle! A 6-inch pan on an 8-inch burner will waste over 40 percent of the energy.
• On electric stovetops, use flat-bottomed pans that make full contact with the element. A warped or rounded pan may be a conversation piece, but will waste most of the heat.

• Leave enough space between your refrigerator and the walls or cabinets so air can circulate around the condenser coils. Trapped heat increases energy consumption.
• For food safety keep your refrigerator between 36° and 40° F and your freezer between 0° and 5° F. A refrigerator that is colder than safety dictates uses up to 25 percent more energy, and will freeze your milk and lettuce.
• As your food budget permits, keep your freezer and refrigerator full-but not so full that air can't circulate. The mass of cold items inside will help your refrigerator recover each time the door is opened. Here's a hint: If your refrigerator is nearly empty, store water-filled containers inside.
• Check door seals regularly to make sure they're airtight. To test them, close the door on a dollar bill and try to pull it out. (Larger bills are harder to come by, but work just as well!) If the dollar slides out easily, you're wasting energy and money.
• Unless it has untold sentimental value, get rid of that older, energy-hogging second refrigerator in your garage! It's costing you about $120 a year to operate. One large refrigerator is cheaper to run than two smaller ones. (Warning: If you get rid of an older refrigerator or freezer, please dispose of it properly, and make sure the door is removed so children cannot be trapped inside.)
• Side-by-side refrigerators use approximately 7 percent to 13 percent more energy than similar-sized models with the freezer on top.
• Chest freezers are typically more efficient than upright freezers, because they're better insulated and cold air doesn't spill out when the door is opened.
• Brush or vacuum dirty refrigerator or freezer coils. You'll improve your appliance's efficiency by as much as 30 percent.