Tip 1 - Upgrade Your Lights
Replace standard incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and save 75% off lighting costs.
Tip 2 - Keep Fridge Cold
Don't put hot foods in the fridge. You can greatly cool items by putting them in a container and soaking them in a pot of cold water for 15-30 minutes, which reduces the amount of heat the fridge will have to remove once you place them in the fridge.
Tip 3 - Be Aware of Your Air
For Central AC, install a programmable thermostat with a built-in timer. For window AC units, just buy a plug-in timer from a home improvement store. Either way, set the timer or thermostat to turn off about the time you leave for the day, and to turn back on a half hour before you get home. Contrary to popular belief, this does NOT use more electricity than having the AC constantly maintain a cool temperature; it uses less.
Tip 4 - Efficiency
Purchase Energy Star appliances. They will cost a bit more to purchase but you'll quickly make up the extra cost in monthly energy savings – and continue to save money every month throughout the life of the appliance.
Tip 5 - Know Your Home
Your water heater is the second largest user of energy in your home. To reduce its cost – use less hot water by taking shorter showers and washing clothes in cold water. Limit shower length to 5-7 minutes. Try using a low- flow shower head to keep pressure up but water usage down.
Tip 6 - Don't Tumble Dry
Electric tumble dryers are commonly the second biggest energy user in the home, after the fridge. They are obviously used a lot less, but still use a huge amount of electricity when switched on. You can avoid using the dryer so often by line drying clothes whenever possible or using an indoor clothes dryer when the weather is bad.
If you do need to use the dryer, then ensure the clothes are as dry as possible after washing, eg, they have gone through a fast spin so that there is minimum excess water. This will reduce drying time considerably.
Tip 7 - Appliances Aren't OFF...
when they are ON STANDBY!
Many of us with use the remote to switch off the TV or stereo, leaving the appliance running on standby. This actually means the appliance is still using up electricity and wastes a considerable amount of energy. By switching off at the main power button, or even the socket, you could be saving both energy and money.
Items left on standby use up to 85% of the energy they would use if fully switched on.
Tip 8 - Screensavers Don't Save
A screensaver that shows any image on the screen doesn't save any energy at all, you save energy only if the monitor goes dark by going to sleep. If you turn the monitor off at the switch it will use 0 to 10 watts.
Tip 9 - Tune & Inspect
Have your heating system tuned and inspected by a service professional before each heating season. Heat losses from a poorly maintained system add up over time—sometimes at a rate of 1 percent to 2 percent a year.
Tip 10 - Don't Block the Heat
Keep furniture, carpeting and curtains from blocking heat registers and air return ducts.
At United REMC, we urge all of our consumers to manage their electric use as best they can, to both save on their energy bills as well as to use electricity wisely. And to help accomplish that you may want to consider contacting 