Ways to Conserve Electricity

Conserving electricity has become increasingly important as energy rates and shortages have increased. Consumers can find a number of ways to cut back on their electrical use, especially with appliances commonly found in the home.

Uses of Electricity

How to Conserve Electricity

Air conditioners	Check and clean the air conditioner's filter once a month; make sure the air conditioning unit is the proper size for the room it is cooling; locate the air conditioner on the north or east side of a house in a shady area; ventilate the house's attic to reduce heat buildup; install ceiling fans to improve air circulation.
Dishwashers	Wash only a full load; turn off drying cycle, open door to air dry dishes.
Clothes washers and dryers	Use only with a full load; use warm or cold water, reserving hot water use only for heavily soiled clothes; use only full loads for the dryer and if a second load is necessary, dry that load immediately after the first to retain as much heat as possible; clean lint filter before each load.
Computers	Turn off computers when not in use or set the computer to energy-saving mode.
Lights	Replace incandescent bulbs with screw-in fluorescent bulbs, which use 75 percent less electricity and last at least 8 times longer; turn lights off when not needed; install light dimmers or photoelectric switches that automatically turn off lights during daylight or install timers to control use of lights; for lights used for home security, install motion detectors so lights come on only when motion is detected.
New appliances	Replace aging appliances with new, more energy-efficient models when possible; look for Energy Star label designating an energy-efficient appliance.
Ovens and stove tops	Use microwave instead of oven where possible; food in glass dishes can be cooked at lower temperature; preheating oven is usually unnecessary; on the stove top cook with covered pans and match pan size to the size of the burner.
Refrigerators	Check door seals to make sure there are no air leaks; clean condenser coils on the back of the refrigerator; keep refrigerator away from oven or dishwasher and give the unit breathing room; turn thermostat down to 37 degrees Fahrenheit; turn on energy saver switch.
Water heaters	Lower the heater setting to 120 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit; insulate the water heater and any exposed hot water pipes; use low-flow shower heads.

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Energy Supply, World; Electric Power Systems

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