Energy Saving Tips

Cooking

Cooking, combined with lighting and energy use of other appliances, accounts for about 33% of a home's energy bill. 

• Cooking on gas barbeque grills during the summer is much more efficient than using a conventional stove. Gas grills use no electricity and do not release heat into the kitchen, which can force your refrigerator and other cooling systems to work harder and use more energy. 
• Microwaves, toaster ovens, and slow cookers can use 75% less energy than a large electric oven. 

Refrigerator

• Make sure refrigerator and freezer seals fit tightly when the doors are closed.
• Keep outside coils clean. Dirty coils make your refrigerator's compressor work longer to remove heat. 
• Setting your freezer below 0° uses extra energy. 
• Setting your refrigerator below 37° uses extra energy.

Dryers

• Do not over-dry your clothes. If 50 minutes is sufficient, do not set it to 70 minutes. 
• Clean the lint filter before each drying cycle.
• Periodically check your flexible metal dryer vent hose to ensure it is securely connected and not kinked.

Electronics

Homes are increasingly using more electronics to power their everyday life. Many new electronics are energy efficient, but there are ways you can prevent them from using "phantom" energy, or energy consumed even when a device is turned off. 

• Electronic appliances can draw power even when they are turned off. Avoid wasting energy by unplugging appliances or turning off the switch on a power strip. Energy-saving power strips with a hard off switch can save up to 90% of the otherwise wasted energy.
• Turn off computers and other office equipment when they are not being used, especially overnight, on weekends, and while you are on vacation.

Outdoor Electronics & Motors

Energy is not just used inside the home. Outdoor electronics can also contribute to increased energy use. 

• Motors in fountains and water features can draw a surprisingly high amount of energy. Do not forget to consider the cost of operating these items when calculating installation and maintenance expenses. 
• Consider replacing pool pumps and motors with newer, more efficient equipment.
• Set your hot tub thermostat to 102°F, which is the temperature commonly recommended by most health departments for adults and children. Some hot tubs have been factory-set to heat water to 104°F. When you are on vacation, turn down the thermostat.
• Insulated covers can help maintain pool and hot tub water temperatures more efficiently. 

Heating and air conditioning account for more than 55% of your home energy use. The following steps can help you keep your system running efficiently without using extra energy. If you are looking for an energy-efficient option to replace your current unit, consider installing a heat pump. Heat pumps cool your home in the summer, just like an air conditioner, and also heat your home in the winter, which can help reduce gas heating expenses. United Power also offers rebates on heat pumps. 

General Tips & Tricks

• Carefully monitor your energy use as you spend more time at home, especially around the holidays, and turn off electronics that are not being used to avoid generating unnecessary heat. 
• Use an electric heat pump to warm your home when outdoor temperatures are as low as 40°. You can extend the life of your gas furnace and save on gas heating expenses. 
• Increased cooking and baking can raise your electric bill. Use smaller appliances whenever possible and match small pots pots with small burners. Frequently opening the oven to check your baked goods wastes energy, especially important on the holidays, when you are cooking more than usual. 
• Try using microwave ovens and gas barbecue grills to prepare meals when possible. Not only do they use less energy, but they also will not warm the inside of your home and force your air conditioner and refrigerator to work harder. 
• On sunny days, open blinds and drapes to let the sun warm your home. At night, close blinds and drapes to keep heat inside. 
• Cross-ventilate your home when it is cool outside. Many nights in Colorado are cool and dry, even after the hottest days. Reduce cooling costs by opening windows when it is cooler outside than inside. 
• Whole-house fans help cool your home by pulling cool air through the house and exhausting warm air through the attic. They are most effective when operated at night and when the outdoor air is cooler than the indoor air. 
• Hang heavier clothing to dry to avoid longer drying cycles. 

Thermostats

• Energy settings are easier to maintain with a smart thermostat. The thermostat can automatically adjust the temperature while you are asleep or away. 
• Keep your thermostat at 68° in the winter and 78° in the summer to see significant energy savings. 
• For every 3° you adjust your thermostat, you can expect your energy bill to shift approximately 10%.

Maintaining Your HVAC System

• HVAC systems should be checked to ensure they are moving the correct amount of air. Check an HVAC technician if you have questions about your unit. 
• Systems should be checked annually to ensure they are properly charged in accordance with manufacturers' guidelines. 
• Indoor and outdoor coils should be kept clean and free of debris. 
• Make sure to change return-air filters monthly. 

Air Leaks

A considerable amount of air moves in and out of homes through leaky windows, cracks, crevices, and holes, potentially increasing your energy consumption. Here are some helpful tips to avoid air infiltration:

• Seal around pipe penetration coming through walls. 
• During hot and cold weather, ensure windows are tightly closed and locked. 
• Ensure weather-stripping around doors and windows is secure. 
• When your fireplace is not in use, keep the flue closed tightly and hang a sign from the flue handle indicating it is closed.
• Check the ceiling behind the cornice of built-in bookshelves for holes created during construction.
• Drop-down, disappearing stairways should fit tightly into the ceiling and be properly weather-stripped. 
• Whole-house attic fans should be sealed tightly during the winter. 
• Make sure your exterior dryer vent door closes when the dryer is not in use. Periodically clean away lint buildup to help ensure proper closure.
• Tighten and weather-strip your old windows, then add storm windows.
• When it is time to replace old windows, consider installing double-glazed windows. In colder climates, such as Colorado, low-emissivity (low-e) glass coatings can help reduce heat loss through windows. 

Lighting has become much more energy efficient as LEDs have become more common and affordable. Consider replacing your home lighting with longer lasting, brighter LED lights, which also use just a fraction of the energy required by other lighting options.

Learn More About Energy Efficient Lighting Here

When leaving a room, remember to turn off lights. In winter, lighting use increases because there are fewer daylight hours. Leaving unnecessary lights on increases energy costs. For reference, a 100-watt lamp costs roughly one penny per hour to operate, or about $88/year for a single light. 

During the holidays, look for LED lighting instead of incandescent lighting, and turn off lights before going to bed to avoid wasting energy overnight. 

Your water heater is the second-largest energy consumer in your home. According to the Department of Energy, water heating accounts for up to 18% of our home energy use. If you are building a new home or replacing an old water heater, consider purchasing a high-efficiency electric water heater for your hot water needs.

• Set your water heater to the lowest comfortable temperature. Try setting it to 120°F.
• Check for water leaks around your water heater and faucets. A constant drip that feels cold could actually be hot water that has cooled before reaching the faucet. Hot water leaks can waste hundreds of dollars per year in energy costs. 
• Wash clothes with cold water. Many new detergents are made specifically for cold-water washing. 
• Overfilling your washer can increase your energy use.
• Taking long showers increases water-heating and water/sewer costs. Reduce shower time and install low-flow showerheads. You will be surprised how much this simple device can reduce your hot water costs.
• If your water heater is located in an unconditioned space, consider installing a thermal wrap around it. Be sure to install it according to the tank and wrap manufacturer's instructions.
• If you need to install a new water heater, choose an electric unit and receive a rebate from United Power. 

Save up to 30% on heating and cooling bills with this easy "sweat-equity" project

Your home's duct system carries air from your furnace, central air conditioner, or heat pump to each room. These ducts are typically made of sheet metal, fiber glass, or other materials that easily conduct heat. Ducts are also usually located in unconditioned spaces, and unfortunately, many duct systems are poorly insulated or not insulated at all.

• Between 10-30% of the energy used to heat and cool your home is lost through heat conduction from duct surfaces.
• Poorly insulated ductwork can make temperatures difficult to maintain in rooms served by long duct runs and may add hundreds of dollars each year to your heating and cooling expenses.

Start by downloading the instructions & materials list (pdf), then watch this four-part instructional video series.

Instructional Videos

Part 1: Insulate Duct Work

Part 2: Supply Ducts

Part 3: Transition Ducts

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Part 4: Hot Water Pipes

Three Easy Steps to Enjoy the Benefits of Insulated Duct Work

1. Start by cutting the polyisocyanurate sheathing to fit around the sides and bottoms of the supply and return trunks. Tape the cut pieces of sheathing to the trunks and adjacent sheathing using the foil-faced duct tape.
2. Wrap the 6-inch round distribution ducts with fiberglass batts. Secure them using staples and string. Zigzag the string back and forth across the length of the fiberglass insulation batt and staple it to the joists or underside of the floor. Wrap or stuff fiberglass insulation around the sheet metal “boot” that connects the 6-inch pipe to the register.
3. Cut the fiberglass batts to size and place them on top of the supply trunks between the floor joists.

ENERGYSTAR® suggests these benefits for insulating your duct work:

• Improve Comfort – Duct insulation minimizes conductive heat loss and heat gain, allowing supply air to be delivered closer to the desired temperature. In winter, heat loss from duct leaks is reduced in rooms served by long duct runs. This can result in quicker recovery from nighttime temperature setbacks and a more consistent level of comfort throughout a house.
• Save Money – The average homeowner spends hundreds to thousands of dollars each year on heating and cooling. Leaky ducts can reduce heating and cooling system efficiency by as much as 20%. Sealing and insulating ducts improves efficiency, lowers your energy bills, and can often pay for itself in energy savings.
• Protect the Environment – Energy used in our homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes to smog, acid rain, and global warming. Simply put, the less energy we use in our homes, the less air pollution we generate. By sealing your ducts and reducing the amount of energy needed to comfortably heat or cool your home, you can reduce air pollution.