We think about energy conservation day and night and we would like to share with you the best tips we’ve found. Most are easy, all are effective. So try a few and start saving energy (and money) today!
There are a number of simple things you can do around the house to save money on energy costs all year-round.
Air conditioning and heating account for more than 50 percent of the electric bill! To keep cool during summer's heat, set your air conditioning thermostat at 78 degrees. When you leave your house, turn it up a few notches to 85 degrees or higher and plan on a savings of 6-8 percent for each degree you raise the setting. In the winter, set your thermostat at 68 degrees.
Installing ceiling fans throughout your home will help you stay comfortably cool. In fact, you could raise your thermostat several degrees and not feel the difference. Turn fans off in unoccupied areas.
Close those curtains! Or mini-blinds, or shutters—and you'll keep the summer's heat out. During winter months, open your shades again and let in the warm sunshine. For extra shade, plant plenty of trees and shrubs.
Looking for a snack? Try to figure out what you want before you head for the fridge. Frequently opening and closing the refrigerator door can increase your electric bill. For extra energy savings, clean the condenser coils behind or underneath the refrigerator every six months.
Change or clean heating and air-conditioning filters monthly. Dirty filters put an unnecessary strain on the unit and can increase operating costs.
Check air handler and ductwork for leaks and weather-strip or caulk around windows, doors, plumbing and other gaps so that heating and cooling energy won't escape. Check for water leaks, too. Toilets, in particular, should be checked often.
Run your clothes or dishwasher only when you have accumulated a full load. You'll save on the electricity that heats the water and runs the appliances. Also, be sure to clean the dryer lint filter after every load.
Water your lawn before 10:00 am This saves water from evaporation. Don't overwater and avoid watering the street and sidewalk by aiming your sprinkler away.
Learn to read your electric and water meters so you can monitor your usage.
Try replacing incandescent lights with fluorescent. Fluorescents give you the same light output, but for one-third to one-half the cost. They also produce less heat for your air conditioner to cool.
Try using the cold or warm setting on your clothes washer instead of hot. You'll be amazed at the savings. Set your water heater to 125 degrees.
Ready to save even more money on your monthly electric bill?
A tax credit can provide significant savings. It reduces the amount of income tax you have to pay. Unlike a deduction, which reduces the amount of income subject to tax, a tax credit directly reduces the tax itself. Find out which energy efficiency Federal Tax Credits you qualify for.
It’s summertime, and you know what that means: sweltering temperatures across Central Florida. As you adjust your thermostat, remember that increased power consumption results in higher electric bills. Using energy efficiently makes good sense year-round, but it can really pay off during this time of year.
Rising fuel costs have made energy conservation even more important. The price of natural gas, a common fuel used to run power plants, has hit near-record highs in recent weeks and is expected to stay at elevated levels for the foreseeable future.
Cooling your home can account for half of your summer power use, so cutting back here is a good way to save. Remember, you can reduce your energy consumption without sacrificing comfort.
If your electric bill is higher than you want it to be and you'd like to bring it down... then you need to know what's making it go up.
Here are the culprits:
You can take a number of steps to lower your electric bill, including:
The easiest way to save energy is to raise your thermostat a little when it's warm outside, and lower when it's cool. In the summer, keep your air conditioner thermostat set at 80 degrees or higher. Turn it off completely or set it at 85 degrees when you're away from home for more than four hours.
During winter months, set your heat thermostat at 68 degrees or less, and turn it down to 55 degrees at bedtime. (Add an extra blanket or comforter.)
Use circulating fans to increase comfort; turn them off in unoccupied areas.
Clean or replace air conditioner filter monthly.
Reset both upper and lower thermostats on your hot water heater to 125 degrees or lower.
If you leave your apartment for two days or more, turn off the power to your hot water heater at the circuit breaker.
Wash and rinse your clothes in cold water.
Use shades, drapes, blinds or other window coverings to keep out summer heat and winter cold.
Did you know that irrigation accounts for more than half of Central Florida's total water consumption? How can you make a difference? Practicing water conservation in your yard is the best place to start. Remember: Over-watering is not only wasteful, it also promotes shallow root growth and makes your lawn more susceptible to insects and disease.
If you have an automatic sprinkler system, it's important to check the system regularly (once every month or two) for leaks and broken sprinkler heads, making repairs promptly. Also check for signs of broken or leaky sprinkler system pipes by looking for muddy or overgrown areas of turf.
Make sure your sprinkler system's timer/controller is operating correctly, as you've programmed it, so that it operates on the right days, at the right times, for the right durations. A variety of factors can result in a malfunctioning sprinkler system, including lightning strikes and failing timer batteries. Many homeowners don't realize their sprinkler systems are malfunctioning because the systems are programmed to operate overnight and they never observe them running.
To avoid wasting water, please follow these important irrigation guidelines:
With a little bit of planning, homeowners can turn their landscaping projects into water-saving ventures. One of the most important steps in landscape design is putting the right plant in the right place.
Grouping plants together based on their water needs, not just their colors, is healthier for your plants and allows you to use water more efficiently.
Keep high-water use plants together in an "Oasis" area and locate the more drought tolerant species that will not need watering to the outer edges, or "Fringe", of the landscape. In between the "Oasis" and "Fringe" zones are the "Transition" plantings, which should be tough, durable plants that need some water about once a week.
Use good horticultural practices to keep your landscape looking its best. Improve sandy sites with organic matter before adding plants and remember to use mulch. When water is needed, wet the soil and then wait until it starts to dry before irrigating again. Only fertilize if you want growth and if adequate moisture is available.
In the beginning, all waterwise plantings will need irrigating until their roots take hold. Once that happens, watering can be reduced or even eliminated for some plantings. Check with your local nursery to learn about the variety of waterwise plants available in your area or visit Florida-Friendly Landscaping for a database of plants.
Below are just a few examples of plants that can be used to make your yard more waterwise:
In a typical house, leaky toilets and faucets can waste hundreds of gallons of water each day, and that means unnecessary water and sewer charges. To help you identify and repair leaks, OUC offers the following advice:
Always repair leaks promptly. If you can't make the repairs yourself, call a licensed plumbing contractor.
Source for "Leak Facts": American Leak Detection
As Central Florida continues to grow, so does the demand for clean, safe water from the Floridan Aquifer. To prepare for our region's future needs, OUC has taken a leadership role in the search for innovative, reliable solutions while still providing clean, great-tasting water for our customers today.
To identify solutions for the short- and long-term protection of our vital water resources, OUC is working closely with water management districts, other utilities, and federal and state regulatory agencies like the EPA's WaterSense program. OUC is a partner in the WaterSense program, which makes it easy to save water and protect the environment by identifying water-efficient ideas and products.
Not only are we helping our customers save water, we're committed to making sure our own facilities are water efficient. In fact our new downtown customer service and administration center, Reliable Plaza, has earned a Florida Water Star certification for its water efficient features and Florida friendly landscaping. Reliable Plaza uses 40 percent less water than a similarly sized facility.