Save money on utilities by making your home more energy efficient
S A V I N G S G U I D EAPPLIANCE 101
• Thermostatsshouldbesetbetween36°Fand38°Ffortherefrigerator,andfreezersshouldbekeptat0°F.
•Use microwaves or toaster ovenswhenyoucan.Theyuselessenergythanovens.
•Make suretokeeprefrigeratorcoilsdustfreeandleaveplentyofroombehindtheappliancesoaircancirculate!
•Door seals and gasketsneedtobeairtight.Totestseals,closedooronapieceofpapertoseeifitstaysinplace.
AVOID ENERGY VAMPIRES
• Plug electronics into a power strip.Thenturnthestripoffwhennotinuse.
• Pull the plug on that old fridgelocatedintheHOTgarageorutilityroom.Someutilitycompanieshaveappliancerecyclingprogramsandwillpickitupforfree.Checkwithyourlocalelectriccompany.
• Look for ENERGY STAR qualified electronics.Theseproductsareupto30%moreefficientthannon-certifiedmodels.
APPLIANCESTheaveragehomeuses$2,200worthofenergyeveryyear—andmorethan20%ofthatgoesrightintoyourappliances
To learn more about saving energy in your home, visit these sites:
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
www.aceee.org
U.S. Department of Energywww.energy.gov
Energy Starwww.energystar.gov
HOME ENERGY
OFFICE OF COMMUNITY ASSISTANCEIllinois Department of Commerce
and Economic Opportunity217.785.2533
For more informationyou may contact:
This project was developed with funds provided under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Printed by the Authority of the State of Illinois, January 2018, 50,000, WO#18-022E
LIGHTS OFFOne100-wattbulbleftonovernightcosts$25peryear.
SWITCH IT UPByswitchingtoLight-Emitting Diode (LED) lightbulbstheaveragehomecansave$75peryear,accordingtotheU.S.DepartmentofEnergy(DOE).
KEEP IT LIGHT AND CLEANLight-coloredoropaquelampshadesworkbest.Keepthemcleananddust FREEforupto25%betteroutput.
BE A STARBuyENERGYSTAR®lightfixtureswhentheyareavailable.ENERGY STAR® products use 75% lessenergythantraditionalfixtures.
REMEMBER October is National Energy Awareness Month!
KEEP IT CLOSEDMakesuredoorsandwindowsaretightlyclosedwhentheACisonandremembertocloseunusedairvents.Alsouseshades,blindsanddrapestoblockthesunfromoverheatingyourhome!
BE A FANCeilingfansshouldbeswitchedtoturninacounter–clockwisedirectioninthesummer.Youcanalsouseceilingfanstocooloffforless.
CLEAN IT UP:MakesureACairfiltersare cleanedatleastonceamonth.
TUNE IT UP: TuningupyourACsystemkeepsit runningefficientlyandhelpslower monthlybills.
COOL TIPSetyourthermostatto“auto”NOT“on”soyourfandoesnotrunconstantly.Utilizea“set-back”thermostat.
WATCH YOUR THERMOSTATSetyourthermostatto68-70°Fduringthedayinthewinter,and65-68°Fatnight.
Raise the temperature slowlyRaisingthetemperaturetooquicklyactivatestheheatstripandusesalotofenergy.
Leave it on!Ifyouareoutoftownduringthewintermonths,setyourthermostatto60°Fbutdon’t turn it off!
EFFICIENCY COUNTSChange the filtersinyourheatingsystemeverymonthforoptimumefficiency.
Give your air handler spacetoworkefficiently.NeverstackanythingagainstyourHVACordrapeanythingoverit!Airventswillalsobemoreefficientwithoutcurtainsorfurnitureblockingthem.
HEAT UP WITH THESE TIPS!•Cover all bare floors.Carpetingandrugsaddheatretention.
•Close the flue in your fireplaceandinstallglassdoorstokeepwarmairin.
• Limit your use of portable heaters.They’regreatfor“spot”heating,butcanbeexpensiveanddangerous.
•Heat your home with the sun’s help.Leavewindowshadesorblindsopenduringthedaytime,andconsiderusingsolarheat!
•Wall it up:Insulatewallsandatticstosaveenergybykeepingcoldoutsideairfromseepingin.
SPACE HEATING44%
WATER HEATING17%
SPACE COOLING 9%
LIGHTING 5%
REFRIGERATION 4%
ELECTRONICS 3%COOKING 3%
WASHERS & DISHWASHERS 3%
COMPUTERS 2%
OTHER 10%
HEATINGCOOLINGLIGHTINGWHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?
HEATING & COOLING CHALLENGE!Asmuchashalfoftheenergyusedinyourhomegoestoheating and cooling.Makingsmartdecisionsaboutyourhome’sheating,ventilating,andairconditioning(HVAC)systemcanhaveabigeffectonyourutilitybills-andyourcomfort.
6%,onaverage,ofyourenergybillisspentlightingyourhome
9%ofyourenergybillisspentcoolingyourhome
45%ofyourenergybillisspentheatingyourhome
RESIDENTIAL SITE ENERGY CONSUMPTION BY END USE
PROJECTED SAVINGS OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Source:BuildingEnergyDataBook,2015,U.S.DepartmentofEnergy;MadisonCountyCommunityDevelopment.
Source:U.S.EnergyInformationAdministration
