- Make sure your heating system is in good working order. If it’s ready for replacement, look for high efficiency natural gas heaters and boilers. Rebates available from New Jersey's WARMAdvantage Program.
- Set thermostats between 65 and 70 degrees during the winter and at 58 degrees when away from the home for more than a few hours. Warmer temperatures are recommended for homes with ill or elderly persons or infants.
- Install a programmable thermostat for your heating and cooling system. SAVINGS: Cut annual heating bills by as much as 10 percent per year by turning your thermostat back 10 to 15 percent for eight hours per day.
- Change or clean furnace filters once a month during the heating season. Furnaces consume less energy if they “breathe” more easily. Use receipt of your natural gas bill as a reminder.
- Lower the temperature of your hot water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s an efficient and comfortable temperature setting and should not interfere with the operation of your appliances – and can lead to 14 percent savings on utility bills.
- Warm air rises, so use registers to direct warm air-flow across the floor.
- Close vents and doors in unused rooms and close dampers on unused fireplaces.
- Install water-flow restrictors in showerheads and faucets.
- If radiators are located near cold walls, place a sheet of aluminum foil between the radiator and wall to reflect heat back into the room.
- On sunny days, open draperies and blinds to let the sun’s warmth in. Close them at night to insulate against cold air outside.
- Use power strips to plug in your appliances. Turn the strip off when the appliances are not in use to prevent using unneeded energy.
- Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use. Or, if you use your computer off and on all day, use the power save mode to be more efficient.
- Change your light bulbs from incandescent to compact florescent bulbs. While more expensive initially, they use less energy and last longer than traditional bulbs, saving you in the long term.
- Take a shower rather that a bath.
- Buy appliances that are labeled Energy Star—they meet strict guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Energy.
- Choose a front loading washing machine. While they tend to be slightly more expensive, their higher capacity means you can do fewer loads and use less energy. Also, look for one with an automatic load size sensor - to save water and energy – and make sure it has an Energy Star label.
- Use cold water. Heating the water to wash clothes in warm or hot water accounts for 90 percent of your washing machine’s power usage and consumption.
- Separating your loads prevents discoloration and fading or bleeding, but it also saves energy. Separating heavier materials from lighter ones helps your clothes dry more efficiently.
- Proper maintenance helps your dryer work efficiently. Clean your lint filter regularly and also check your hose and vent for blockages.
- If you use your dryer’s moisture sensor, the machine automatically shuts itself off when it senses the clothes are dry, saving electricity costs.
- Use an outdoor clothing line to hang your clothes instead of using the dryer, when weather allows.
- Keep your fridge full—there is less empty space to cool—but don’t overfill it as that obstructs air flow and makes the fridge work harder to maintain its temperature.
- Keep your food and drinks covered as the moisture from them can cause the compressor to work harder. Don’t store hot food right away—let it cool so it doesn’t raise the temperature and make your fridge work harder.
- Clean the coils behind your fridge regularly and make sure they are dust free to improve air flow.
- Air-dry your dishes rather than using the dishwasher’s heated drying setting.
- The average dishwasher heats water from 135 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit — and uses even more energy to operate and dry the dishes on the heat cycle.
- Coupled together, a dishwasher can cost up to $43.36 per year if powered electrically.
- An Energy Star appliance costs approximately $37.28 per year if powered electrically.
- Using natural gas for your water heating lowers your yearly operating costs significantly.
For more information or energy savings tips, please call 1-866-NJSMART (1-866-6278) or visit www.njcleanenergy.com.
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