Stay Home, Stay Safe and Save Energy
Spending more time at home has become the new normal for many people. But, that doesn't mean you have to get used to higher energy costs as well. In fact, a few small changes in your everyday routine can make a big difference when your energy bill arrives. With these simple tips, you can flatten the curve on your energy budget.
Turn off lights. Sure, everyone's around the house more, but you're still wasting energy lighting the entire house when half the rooms are empty. Remind everyone to turn off lights when they're the last one to leave a room. Also, take advantage free natural daylight as much as you can.
Adjust the thermostat. That old household thermostat battle may be really heating up these days, but adjusting temperatures is still the easiest way to cut your energy bills. If you have a programmable thermostat, set it to save energy while keeping everyone comfortable day and night. Even better, install an ENERGY STAR-certified smart thermostat, which automatically adjusts to energy-saving temperatures, and take advantage of a $75 SWEPCO Smart Thermostat Rebate!
Work smart. Keep energy use in mind as you're working from home. Do you need to light up your entire workspace? Maybe a small desk lamp would work just fine. Also, enable sleep settings on your computer so it isn't using energy when you're not using it.
Close the fridge. All that food in the fridge is tempting, but don't spend too much time gazing at it. The average person spends about 10 hours a year looking at an open refrigerator. That’s a lot of time for cold air to escape, making your fridge work harder. Decide what you want ahead of time, and open and close the door quickly.
Cook efficiently. Cooking at home more doesn't have to be a recipe for big energy bills. Simple things can make a difference. Keep the oven and rangetop clean, and use the lowest temperature setting possible. Cover pots and pans so foods will cook more efficiently. Microwaves and slow cookers are great for simple meals, and they use less energy than conventional ovens.
Run full loads. Just because you're home more, that doesn't mean it's a good idea to frequently run partial loads of dishes or laundry just to stay ahead. A half-loaded dishwasher or clothes washer still uses a full load of energy and water. Save energy by waiting until the appliance is full.
Take shorter showers. A long shower is a great to just tune everything out, but you'll remember it when your energy bill comes. Save energy and water by reminding everyone in your household to limit their showers to 10 minutes or less.
With a little cooperation, your household can spend more time together without spending more on your energy bills.
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