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energy-saving tips
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Air Conditioners
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Every year, inspect and clean your air conditioner or cooling system. A well-maintained unit uses less electricity. Clean or replace your air conditioner filter at least once a month during the summer. |
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Set your air conditioner to no cooler than 78 degrees. Setting your air conditioner lower than 78 degrees can increase your energy costs by up to 40 percent. On average, for every degree you set back your thermostat, you can save three percent on your energy bill. |
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Don't cool rooms that aren't used. |
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Don’t run your air conditioner when the outdoor temperature is below 70 degrees. Open the windows instead. |
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Make sure your air conditioner is the proper size for the area you are cooling. |
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Turn off your air conditioner when no one is home. |
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Set the automatic timer to turn on your air conditioner 30 minutes before you arrive home. |
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If you use central air-conditioning, our free programmable thermostat will help you better manage your energy use. To learn more about this offer, click here. |
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Alternate the use of air-conditioning and fans. When you’re comfortable, shut off the air conditioner and turn on the fan. |
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Refrigerators
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Set your refrigerator at 40 degrees and the freezer to zero degrees. |
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Vacuum or dust refrigerator coils regularly. |
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Make sure the refrigerator and freezer doors shut tightly and have a good seal. |
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Lights
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Use Energy Start-qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). They use less than 25 percent of the electricity standard bulbs use and last 10 times longer. |
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Keep bulbs and fixtures clean. |
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Replace ordinary light switches with dimmers or motion sensors. Certain Energy Star- qualified CFLs are made to work on dimmers. Check the CFL packaging to be sure it can work with a dimmer. |
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Use timers to turn your lights on and off when you’re away from home. |
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When you go away, use timers to turn your lights on and off. |
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If every U.S. household replaced their five most frequently used light fixtures or the bulbs in them with ones that have earned the Energy Star, each home would save more than $60 a year in energy costs, and collectively we would prevent air pollution equivalent to the emissions from eight million cars. |
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As a nation, we spend about one-quarter of our electricity on lighting, at a cost of more than $37 billion annually. |
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Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) save energy and last a long time. When they do burn out, recycle them! Bring your expired, unbroken CFLs to any Home Depot for free recycling. For store locations and more information, visit www.homedepot.com/ecooptions. For additional recycling locations, visit www.recycleabulb.com. |
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New York City also accepts CFLs for recycling at five special drop-off sites – one in each borough. For locations and times visit www.nyc.gov/html/nycwasteless/html/at_home/special_waste.shtml. Westchester County residents can call 211, the county’s Recycling HelpLine, or visit www.westchestergov.com. |
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General
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Use the energy-saving setting for all appliances, particularly your refrigerator, air conditioner, washing machine, clothes dryer, and dishwasher. |
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Cook outside on a barbeque grill rather than using the oven. |
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Drapes, shades, and awnings shield windows from the hot sun, keeping your home cooler. |
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Run the dishwasher only when it's completely full. |
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Run your clothes washer only when you have a full load of laundry. |
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Clean your dryer's lint filter before each load. |
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Washing your laundry with cold water whenever possible can save energy and money. |
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Overloading the dryer makes it work harder. |
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Unplug appliances and home electronics when not in use, including TVs, cable boxes, computers, and monitors. Use power strips so you can easily switch electronics on and off. |
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