How old is your water heating system? Unless you have an on-demand gas water heating system, you most likely have an electric water heater. Electric water heaters use a lot of energy (approx. $40 to $50/month) to keep water heated. If it is more than 10 to 13 years old, you most likely need a new water heater. It should be inspected annually along with your HVAC system for optimal efficiency.
What is the temperature of your water heating system? Your system should not be set any higher than 115˚ F for a 1 to 2 person home and 120˚ F for a 3 or more person home.
Is your water heater insulated on the outside? Wrapping your water heater can help increase its efficiency, especially if its located in a garage or an area with more exposure to cold temperatures in the winter.
Do you use your stove and oven significantly in the summer? Oven cooking adds heat to your home and makes your AC work harder to cool your home, which is already warm. Use a microwave, a toaster oven, or a slow cooker when you can.
How old is your washer and dryer? If your washer and dryer are more than 8 to 12 years old, you should upgrade. With modern detergents you can wash most everything in cold water. Only use warm or hot for very dirty loads. Wash full loads. Multiple small loads use more energy.
How old is your refrigerator and freezer(s)? If your refrigerator and/or freezer are more than 15 years old, you should upgrade to a more efficient Energy Star® unit. Older units must work harder to keep food and beverages cool.
Do you have a freezer in a garage? Asking a freezer to work in a hot summer garage that can reach 120˚ F just uses more energy. If you rarely use it, unplug it and sell it as a home energy upgrade project.
What is the temperature set on your refrigerator and or freezer(s)? Set your refrigerator between 34˚ to 37˚ F and freezers to 0˚ to 5˚ F.
Have you changed all your light bulbs to LEDs? This is 1 of the easiest investments and can actually lower costs associated with your Baseload.
