In face of an economic downturn and energy price increases, changing our energy use habits is a quick-fix to keeping expenses down.  Don’t forget we are on the pro-rated time of use pricing schedule! Here are a few tips I liked.

  • To save even more energy, defer use until off-peak hours, after 6:30 pm and before 9:30 am.
  • Put full loads in the dishwasher and use the “energy saving” setting for the drying cycle, or let dishes air dry to reduce energy use
  • Keep your refrigerator away from the stove and heat creaters. By being next to those items, you’re making your refrigerator work twice as hard and decreasing its overall efficiency.
  • When you shut down your computer, don’t forget to turn off the monitor – it can use twice as much energy as the computer!
  • Avoid leaving transformers and charging units for appliances and battery-operated devices on (such as cell phones and tools) when they aren’t being used.
  • Instead of just turning your electronics off it is better to unplug them because even when they’re “off” they still draw electricity from the outlet – something known as a “phantom load.”
  • Plug your chargers, computer, audio, DVD, etc into a power strip to enable you to shut off power with the flick of a switch (avoiding “phantom load”). For even better control, use a power strip with a timer or a programmable power strip.
  • Use energy-efficient, ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs instead of standard incandescent light bulbs and you can use 75% less electricity.  (see Clinton Hill Green program under “Links”)

    • More online at http://www.getenergysmart.org/Resources/Tips.aspx