No one likes higher-than-expected energy bills. Here are some tips to reduce your energy use during the warmer months – without sacrificing your family’s comfort.
- Turn off ceiling fans when you leave the room. Remember that fans cool people, not rooms, by creating a wind chill effect.
- On hot days, avoid using the oven; cook on the stove, use a microwave oven, or better yet – grill outside!
- If you use air conditioning, a ceiling fan running concurrently will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4°F with no reduction in comfort.
- If you live in a climate where it cools off at night, turn off your cooling system and open your windows while sleeping. When you wake in the morning, shut the windows and blinds to capture the cool air.
- Avoid placing lamps or TV sets near your room air-conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
- Minimize activities that generate a lot of heat, such as running a computer, burning open flames, running a dishwasher, and using hot devices such as curling irons or hair dryers.
- Water heating accounts for about 18% of the energy consumed in your home. Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F). You’ll not only save energy, you’ll avoid scalding your hands.
- Wash clothes in cold water. About 90 percent of the energy used in a clothes washer goes to water heating.
- Postpone using heat-producing appliances like the oven, dishwasher and clothes dryer to after 9 p.m.
- On hot afternoons, consider leaving home, and going someplace cool like the shopping mall, movie theater or library. Find a Cool Zone near you at com/coolzones.
Watch SDG&E’s one-minute video tips for more energy-saving ideas on cooling, weatherization, refrigerators, home electronics, indoor/outdoor lighting and pools.