Energy Saving Tips

Use these tips to conserve electricity and save money throughout the year.

Want more tips? AES Indiana’s brochure, “75 Ways to Save Energy Around the Home,” includes more simple tips on saving energy.

Warm weather months:

1. Turn off unneeded lights and heat-producing appliances.
2. Clean or replace cooling system filters every 60 days.
3. Clean leaves, debris and obstructions from the air intake side of air conditioner's or heat pump's outdoor compressor unit. (Make sure the central control switch is "OFF" first.)
4. Keep windows and doors closed when air conditioning is on.
5. Use the bathroom exhaust fan when showering or bathing to help eliminate humidity problems.
6. Landscaping can provide shade to your home and significantly reduce your cooling costs.

Cold weather months:

1. Clean or replace heating system filters every 60 days.
2. Keep fireplace dampers closed, except during use.
3. Close and seal crawl space vents and openings.
4. Wrap insulation around water heaters and water lines in unheated crawl spaces or basements.
5. Apply heat-shrink plastic around the inside of leaky windows.

All year

1. Apply caulking and weather stripping around interior garage or exterior basement entry doors, and around exterior door and window frames. 
2. Install insulated draperies or blinds around large windows.
3. Keep registers and air vents clear of obstructions.
4. Set your thermostat wisely.

Efficient electric appliances save energy and money

1. Revolutionary microwave clothes dryers will use up to 30% less electricity than standard dryers.
2. High-efficiency electric heat pumps return up to $3 in heating and cooling for each $1 spent on the electricity to run them.
3. Energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps last up to 13 times longer than incandescent light bulbs, using up to 75% less energy.
4. Horizontal axis washers clean clothes using up to 66% less water and up to 75% less detergent.
5. Electric convection ovens reduce cooking time and cut electricity up to 40%.
6. Home automation systems can help lower annual electric bills at up to 30% energy savings.
7. The annual cost to charge an electric lawnmower is about $3 less than the cost to use your toaster.
8. Geothermal heat pumps can lower energy costs by up to 30% year, and home heating and water heating costs by up to 65% a year.

Source: Edison Electric Institute and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association representing the nation's electric utilities.