During these summer months, reset your thermostat so that the default is 85 degrees. When you need additional cooling, reduce it, but not below 78 degrees. Try using a fan or ceiling fan as an alternative. And regularly replace your filter to ensure greater efficiency.
Seek out power robbers in your home and office. Turn off your computer monitor when you are not using it. Likewise for other electronics. Unplug chargers when they are not in use.
Turn on lights only when they are needed. If you have banks of lights, consider leaving half off. And be sure you are using flourescent lights which use far less energy.
Keep your refrigerator full, even with bottles of water. Full refrigerators are more efficient than empty ones.
Shift your power use:
The highest usage hours are from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. each day. Take steps to avoid power usage during these hours.
Avoid using your major appliances like dish washers, washing machines and dryers during peak hours. When you run these appliances, run only full loads.
If you have a pool, set your pump for off-peak hours.
Consider power upgrades:
If you can, upgrade appliances to more efficient models. Remember that appliance costs include both the initial price plus the lifelong cost of operation.
If you can, upgrade your windows to more efficient ones. While initial costs are high, efficient windows can result in 40 percent savings over old windows.
