Energy Saving Tips

     We here at REA Energy Cooperative, Inc. understand that your first priority with your money is not spending it on high electric bills, so here are some tips to help reduce the strain on your pocket book:

WATER HEATER ENERGY SAVERS
     In the average American home, the water heater is the second biggest energy user, accounting for about 15 percent of the energy you use. And electric water heaters are by far the most efficient water heating devices available. Here are some ways to save energy:

  • Use the adjustable thermostats on the water heaters. Set your water heater at 110 degrees Fahrenheit for your kitchen and bath. On older water heaters with less insulation, for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit you lower the temperature, you save 6 percent of your water heating energy.

  • If your water heater was made before 1987, wrap insulation or a water heater blanket (available from hardware stores and building supply stores) around your water heater. Proper insulation on your water heater can save up to $20 per year and return your initial investment in one to three years.

  • If you are thinking of buying a new water heater, check with your rural electric co-op first. Many, like us, offer a free electric water heater with initial hook ups. 

AIR CONDITIONER ENERGY SAVERS
    Today, 64 percent of American homes have air conditioners. We know how great it is to be nice and cool in the summer time, but it could cost you a bundle. Here are simple ways to make your window unit air conditioner more efficient:

  • To cool your house efficiently, your air conditioner has to be cool. So try to keep it in the shade.  An air conditioner exposed to direct sunlight will use 5 percent more energy than a shaded one.

  • Turn it off when you leave the house for several hours or more.

  • Don't forget the air filters. A clogged air filter can cause an air conditioner to use up to 5 percent more energy. Permanent filters should be cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions. Disposable filters should be replaced at least once at the beginning of the cooling season.

  • Be sure to seal any gaps between the unit and the window.

LIGHTING ENERGY SAVERS
     It is estimated that about 20 percent of all the electricity used in the U.S. goes into lighting. Here some cost-cutting energy tips:

  • Use long life incandescent light bulbs that use less energy and emit less light. Check the "lumens" rating on the package for actual lighting levels.

  • A white wall reflects 80 percent of the light that hits it: a black one just 10 percent. The more light that reflects off the wall, the easier it is to light a room.

  • During the daytime, use the sunlight to save energy.

REFRIGERATOR ENERGY SAVERS
     Your refrigerator requires more energy than any other household kitchen appliance. In the U.S. refrigerators use 7 percent of the nation's total electricity. These tips can help your "fridge" run more efficiently:

  • Keep your refrigerator and freezer at the right temperatures. Even of they're only 10 degrees Fahrenheit colder than necessary, your energy consumption will go up an amazing 25 percent! Your refrigerator should be set between 38 and 42 degrees Fahrenheit and your freezer between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

  • Make sure the door is tightly sealed. Check the rubber seal. A good way to test the seal is to close the door on a piece of paper and then try to pull the paper out. If it slides out easily, it's a sure sign cold air is escaping. 

  • "A full fridge is a good fridge", it's better to keep your refrigerator about three-quarters full because food retains cold better than air.

THERMOSTAT ENERGY SAVERS
     Wise use of thermostats can reduce your heating and cooling by up to 30 percent! For example:

  • During winter, you can save as much as 3 percent of the energy your furnace uses simply by lowering your thermostat 1 degree Fahrenheit (if it's set between 65 and 72 degrees).

  • In the summer the process is reversed. You can save 5 percent of the energy used by your air conditioner for every degree you raise the thermostat (if it's set between 70 and 82 degrees).

  • Plug the hole in the wall behind the thermostat with caulking or sealant. This will allow the thermostat to get a better reading of the temperature in the house. 

SHOWER SAVERS
     Here's how to shave your water use and save electricity at the same time:

  • To cut shower water use by 50 percent, just replace your conventional shower head with a "low-flow" model, available from any hardware store.

  • The low-flow shower head cuts water heating costs by as much as 50 percent.

  • With a low-flow shower head, four family members taking five-minute showers each can save 14,000 gallons of water a year.  So if only 10,000 families installed low-flow shower heads, we could save 140 million gallons of water.