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Eleven Energy Saving Tips
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General Interest
By:JoAnn P.

Some of these are basic, but added all together, can make for significant savings.

Air conditioning: Cool your home at 78° or warmer with the thermostat fan switch on "auto." For additional savings, raise your thermostat to 82° or warmer when you're away from home.

Avoid pre-rinsing dishes before putting in dishwasher. It can save up to $70 a year.

Heat your home at 68° or cooler with the thermostat fan switch on "auto." To save even more, lower your thermostat to 65° or cooler at bedtime or when you're away from home.

Limit the time you run your pool pump: Summer – run it no more than six hours a day. Winter – no more than four hours a day.

Install a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature automatically and maximize your energy savings. It also helps to maintain a comfortable temperature when you wake up or return home. We did this and saw immediate results. It's great for when we're away.

Adjust the water level on your washing machine to match the load size, especially when using hot water.Always use a cold rinse.

Clean or replace your air conditioner's filter every month to trim your cooling costs and help your unit run more efficiently.

Clean the lint filter in your dryer before every load to dry your clothes faster and save money.

Turn off your ceiling fan when you leave the room. A fan that runs constantly can cost up to $7 a month depending on size and age.

Use the auto sensor function on your dryer, if you have one, to conserve energy by not over-drying your clothes.

My 11th tip is very simple, yet very cost effective. Every morning, whoever  takes the last shower, turns off the circuit breaker. If we need hot water to wash clothes or something, then we turn it on 10 - 15 minutes ahead of the time. Here in Florida the water stays hot all day, sometimes even into the next morning. Depending on where you live and the time of year will determine when and for how long you need to heat up the water. It's amazing how doing these small things really add up to big savings.

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JoAnn P. Aug 27, 2008
We've been doing this for ten years now. It shouldn't burn your elements since your heating element turns on and off all day anyway to keep the water at a certain temperature. By keeping the circuit breaker off, you're using the elements even less.

countrymom Aug 27, 2008
This is not always cost effective for everyone i have a electric water heater and the elements would go out costing me more money if i did this one


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