Ways to Save Additional Dollars

14 Great Suggestions from Energy Trust of Oregon on ways to save energy and save additional dollars.

• Check your furnace filters monthly – clean or replace dirty filters to help your furnace work at peak efficiency.
• Save water – Do not leave the tap running unnecessarily. Install water-saving showerheads and faucets in your bath or kitchen.
• Save electricity by turning off lights whenever you leave a room.
• Power down – Unplug power strips, battery chargers and small appliances when they’re not in use.
• Caulk small holes and cracks under countertops and around plumbing pipes, exhaust fans, dryer vents, sink, bathtub drains and fireplaces.
• Close fireplace and wood stove dampers when not in use. For safety, wait several hours after the fire dies down.
• Stop air leaks by installing gaskets behind switch plates and outlets on exterior walls.
• If you don’t need to use a full-size oven, use a countertop convection oven, microwave or smaller electric appliances.
• Change out your bulbs: Replace standard incandescent bulbs with energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs. CFL’s use 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer. Choose brands with the blue Energy Star label.
• Turn down your thermostat – In the winter, set your thermostat at 65 degrees during the day and 58-60 degrees at night. If you have a heat pump, turn the thermostat down no more than 10 degrees lower at night. Install an Energy Star programmable thermostat.
• Set your water heater thermostat to 120 degrees.
• Laundry tips: Wash and rinse clothes in cold water. Clean lint filters after each load.
• Dishwasher tips: To save more energy and water, run full loads and use the water saving and energy saving drying options on your dishwasher.
• Recycle your old refrigerator or freezer. The Energy Trust offers FREE refrigerator and freezer recycling to help you save money and energy.
• Refrigerators built before 1993 can use 2-3 times more energy than new high- efficiency models. If you recycle and replace your pre-1993 fridge and replace it with a new ENERGY STAR qualified model, you can save more than $100 a year on energy costs. Discontinue using a second fridge in your gararge or basement, and you can save up to $200 a year. When you recycle your old refrigerator or freezer, 95 percent of its components are reused, and the toxins and ozone- destroying gases from its foam insulation are disposed of safely. Schedule your pick-up date online or call us at 1.866.444.8907.