Energy Fun Facts

• Did you know that your home's largest energy users are its heating and cooling systems? Typically, about half of your energy bill goes for heating and cooling.
• Set the thermostat to 78 degrees in the summer and 68 degrees in the winter. For each degree you can set the thermostat up in the summer and down in the winter, you will save about 2-3% on heating/cooling costs.
• Shut the door and close off vents in unused rooms and save up to 2-3% on heating/cooling costs.
• All the appliances you plug in account for about a third of your home's energy use, with refrigerators and clothes dryers at the top of the list.
• ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators require about half as much energy as models manufactured before 1990.
• Increasing your lighting efficiency is one of the fastest ways to decrease your energy bills. Compact fluorescent lamps use about two-thirds less electricity. Install them in lights that you leave on for more than two hours a day.
• Keep the clothes dryer lint filter clean, and wash and dry full loads only.
• Water heating is the second largest individual energy user in your home. It typically accounts for about 15 percent of your utility bill.
• Lower water heater temperature from 140 to 120 degrees and save up to 10% on water heating costs.
• Insulate your water heater tank if it feels warm, as well as the hot water piping leaving the tank and save up to 5% on water heating costs.

(HIT)-To learn more fun facts about how you can save energy in your home, visit Edison Electric Institute at http://www.eei.org/wiseuse.