Here are some quick tips to help you save on energy costs:

• Turn up the thermostat
For each degree you raise the thermostat, you should save about 1 percent on your cooling bill.

• Use ceiling fans
Fans circulate room air, which cools your skin and allows you to raise the thermostat temperature in the home.  By raising the thermostat temperature, you can reduce your energy footprint.

• Install CFLs
Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) are cooler than conventional electric lightbulbs and help lower the temperature in each room where they are used.

• Change filters regularly
Keep furnace/air-conditioner filters clean to help ensure that the unit is operating as efficiently as possible. If filters become clogged, your heat pump or air conditioner must work harder and longer than it should and could cause unnecessary service calls. Schedule filter check-ups monthly and clean or replace them as needed.

• In the dark
Keep drapes or shades closed to block sunlight. Also, check to make sure drapes, plants and furniture don't block air vents.

• Take a break
During the hottest part of the day, avoid cooking, doing laundry, showering or other activities that add humidity to your indoor air.

• Check doors and windows for drafts
Replacing or adding standard weatherstripping around door and window frames can stop drafts. You also may need caulking between the frame and the siding on the outside.

• Button up
Keep windows closed at night, even when outdoor temperatures are lower, since humidity can enter the home and make it feel clammy and uncomfortable. The next day, the air-conditioner or heat pump must work harder to take the humidity back out of the home.

• Air-sealing your home 
Just like in winter, caulk, foam-spray, and electrical foam gasket covers used around the home to help reduce the money you spend keeping your home cool.

• Check the temperature and location of your hot water heater
Ideally, the thermostat on your water heater should be set at 120°. Install an insulating jacket and insulate hot-water pipes.

• Check attic insulation
A large energy loss can occur if your ceiling is not properly air-sealed and insulated. The first stage of making the attic energy efficient is to air-seal the attic and make sure the attic ventilation is adequate before adding insulation.  One key thing to remember, insulation does not stop air from moving in and out of your home.  The recommended R-value of insulation is a minimum of R-38 up to a maximum of R-49. Make sure that insulation is evenly distributed.

• Check attic ventilation
Do not cover attic ventilators. If no vapor barrier exists in the ceiling, one square foot of unobstructed ventilator area is needed for every 150 square feet of attic area. If the ceiling has a vapor barrier, the attic area coverage increases to 300 square feet per square foot of ventilator area.  Once you have determined the right formula to use, the ventilation must be divided evenly so half of the ventilation is up high on the roof and half is down low on the roof system (typically in the soffit-eaves area).


For more information on conserving energy, call the OPPD Energy Advisor at 636-3850 or 1-800-648-2658.