Department of Energy Savings Hub CWLP Rebates

Department of Energy DIY Guide

Although most of the tips below are aimed especially at helping residential customers reduce energy consumption, many of them can be used by businesses too, to reduce load and save money.

• Even when indoors, dress appropriately for the season. By layering clothing in winter and wearing light-colored, loose-fitting, "breathable" clothing in summer, you might be able lower (in winter) or raise (in summer) your thermostat setting by a couple of degrees or more, and still be comfortable.
  
  
• Try turning your thermostat up even higher in summer and using ceiling or box fans in occupied rooms to increase air flow and the cooling effect it creates. A fan will use much less energy than the air conditioner, operating at a lower temperature, will. Just be sure you don't leave fans running in unoccupied rooms. That will waste energy and provide no added comfort.
  
  
• Practice thermostat set-back. This means setting the thermostat a few degrees higher (in summer) and lower (in winter) during times you plan to be away from the house for a few hours or at night when you are sleeping. If you don't already have an electronic set-back thermostat, consider investing in one. For a relatively low cost (you don't need a fancy, expensive one), you can program in your set-back schedule and then forget about it. Hassle-free savings. (NOTE: If you have a heat pump, thermostat set-back is usually not recommended.)
  
  
• Make sure all windows are tightly shut (and locked to keep them from accidentally popping open) when your air conditioner or furnace is on.
  
  
• Clean or replace your HVAC system air filters regularly. How often you need to do this depends on conditions in your house. For instance if you have pets that shed or you live in a particularly dusty area, you'll need to clean/replace them more often – perhaps as often as once a month. At the very least, do it at the start of each heating and cooling season. A clogged air filter not only makes your system work harder (meaning it becomes more costly to operate), but it can also reduce the lifespan of your furnace and air conditioner.
  
  
• Wherever possible, replace incandescent lights with LEDs, which use about one-sixth the energy and usually last several times longer than incandescents.
  
  
• Turn off unnecessary lights (and other appliances). This can save you money all year-round, particularly in summer when reducing the use of heat-generating appliances can limit interior heat gain and the need for additional air conditioning to combat it.
  
  
• In summer, save clothes washing and drying, dishwashing, cooking, vacuuming and other heat- and humidity-producing activities for the late evening hours, when outdoor temperatures are cooler and your air conditioner doesn't have to work so hard. In winter, open your dishwasher after the clean and rinse cycles and let the dishes air dry. This will add humidity to the indoor air, which can make you feel more comfortable at lower temperatures, and will save the energy you would otherwise use to power-dry the dishes.
  
  
• Control your window shading/covering for maximum efficiency. In summer, keep windows shaded – particularly those facing west – especially in the afternoon, to limit solar heat gain. East-facing windows can be shaded to block morning sunlight. In winter, you want to let in all the sunlight you can to allow the warming effect of the sun to supplement your heating system. But on cloudy, blustery days or cold winter nights, pulling the curtains and shades can help reduce heat loss through windows, especially if you use insulating blinds or curtains.
  
  
• Use storm windows to reduce unwanted heat loss through windows. The trapped air or inert gas between layers of glass (or between the glass pane and plastic sheeting, if you've installed temporary interior storms), adds insulating value to the window.
  
  
• Storm doors serve the same purpose as storm windows, providing a layer of insulation that reduces heat loss through exterior doors.
  
  
• Installing low-e films on window glass can further help reduce heat transfer through windows. Some types of film reduce both unwanted solar gain in summer and the loss of furnace-generated heat in winter.
  
  
• Use caulk and weatherstripping to seal exterior doors and windows against air infiltration. Caulk is used to seal cracks around window and door frames and other non-moving parts of the window or door, while weatherstripping is used to create a tight seal between the door and its frame or the window sash and frame, or between the meeting rails of double-hung and side-sliding windows. Don't forget to caulk and weatherstrip doors or access panels that lead into unconditioned spaces, such as garages and unheated basements and attics.
  
  
• Use regular or expanding foam caulk to seal holes where pipes and wires enter the building, as well as openings in the building's facade (including where masonry meets siding or where siding meets at corners) through which unwanted air can pass. Caulk can also be used to seal the gaps between baseboards and crown moldings and the walls and ceilings or floors they abut.
  
  
• Landscaping can have an impact on your building's energy efficiency. In summer, trees, shrubs or other plantings can reduce the temperature of walls and roofs they shade by several degrees. That cuts the amount of heat available for transfer to the interior of your home. In winter, evergreen trees planted along the northern and western perimeters of your property and evergreen shrubs planted close to the foundation can serve as screens to protect your building from cold winds.
  
  
• Make sure your building is properly insulated. The right amount of insulation installed in the right places can make a big difference both in your energy bills and your comfort.
  
  
• Install insulating gaskets behind your wall outlet and light switch cover-plates. A lot of unwanted air can enter and escape your home through the holes behind these covers, and foam gaskets cut to the shape of the cover-plates can reduce a lot of that air flow.
  
  
• Wrap your electric water heater tank in an insulating "blanket" and your water pipes with foam pipe insulation
  
  
• Do you need to turn down your water heater thermostat? Most hot water needs can be met with a water temperature of about 120°F. If your water heater thermostat is set higher than this, turn it down to save money and energy. Doing so can also be a safety measure, especially for kids and the elderly.
  
  
• Taking short showers (5 minutes or less) instead of baths will save energy as well as water.
  
  
• Run dishwashers and clothes washers only when you have full loads. This also saves water as well as energy.
  
  
• Unplugging TVs, radios and other electronics when they aren't in use can save energy. This is because many of these types of appliances continue to draw some electricity even when they are turned off.
  
  
• If you have a fireplace, make sure the damper is tightly closed when the fireplace is not being used. If your fireplace is equipped with glass doors, keeping those closed will further help reduce the loss of conditioned air up the chimney.
  
  
• If you have a whole-house fan, cover it with a sheet of rigid-board insulation (cut to size and attached with magnetic strips or tape) when it is not in use.
  
  
• When cooking, use the right size pan for the stove burner. This will help ensure most of the heat from the burner will go to heat your food, not the air in your house.
  
  
• Run kitchen and exhaust fans only as long as absolutely necessary to clear excess humidity caused by cooking and bathing from the room. This is especially important when your furnace and air conditioner are running. Exhaust fans not only remove excess humidity, they can also pull conditioned air from the building.
  
  
• Have your major energy systems – especially your heating and cooling systems – routinely checked by a professional to make sure they are performing at peak efficiency.
  
  
• If you are replacing old energy systems, appliances, windows/doors, or any other product that can impact the efficiency level of your home or business, it's usually worth it to spend a little more and buy the most efficient option you can afford. It will cost you more upfront, but if you do your preliminary research and buy wisely, you'll be paid back in energy savings over the long term. In some cases, such as for heat pumps and commercial lighting, CWLP offers rebates when you select qualifying energy-saving options.
  
  

City Water, Light and Power is a proud partner of ENERGY STAR®, a nationwide partnership of federal, state and local governments, businesses, and consumers united in the pursuit of a common goal—to protect our environment for future generations.

Products that earn the ENERGY STAR® — including doors, windows, air conditioners, heat pumps, refrigerators, compact fluorescent lamps, and computers and their peripherals—reduce greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the USEPA and USDOE. These products use less energy, save money, and help protect the environment.

Knowing how much electricity your various home appliances use can help you make adjustments in your energy use habits that will, in turn, allow you to better control your monthly energy costs. Our Appliance Energy Use Chart is designed to provide you with this knowledge.

In addition, ENERGY STAR@home is a fun and interesting interactive tool that provides tips on how to reduce energy consumption in each room of your home.

Links to more information about appliance energy use and related topics can be found in the left-hand column of this page.
Appliance Chart Energy Star Home

The materials from which a building is constructed, as well as the systems and appliances installed there, can dramatically affect the amount of energy that the building will consume over its lifetime. Efficiency ratings for many building components and energy systems have been devised to help customers compare the potential impact of one to another.

Definitions and other information about the most common building material and appliance efficiency ratings can be found by clicking the blue expandable panels below.

If you don't find the Answer you're looking for among the FAQs email us using the button below. (Please be sure to provide your name, CWLP service address and daytime telephone number in the email.) If you prefer, you can call the Energy Experts at 217.789.2070. We're always happy to hear from you.
Email a Question to a to CWLP Efficiency Expert