Energy Savings Checklist

Here is a checklist for energy saving tips, courtesy of Jim Kurtz, General Manager of Reading Electric Renewables.

To Do Today
• Turn down the temperature of the water heater to the warm setting (120 degrees).
• At night and whenever you leave your home, adjust your thermostat to save heating energy in the winter and cooling in the summer.
• Replace incandescent lights with compact fluorescents or LED bulbs.

To Do Within a Month
• Purchase a water-heater blanket, low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators.
• Caulk leaky windows.
• Insulate hot water pipes and ducts wherever they run through unheated areas.
• Use energy-saving settings on refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, and clothes dryer. Replace old machines with new high efficiency rated models.

To Do Within the Year
• Insulate. If your walls are not insulated, have an insulation contractor blow cellulose into the walls. Replace or add insulation as necessary to your attic.
• Schedule an energy audit for expert advice on your home as a whole.
• Reduce your air conditioning costs by planting shade trees and shrubs around your house especially on the west side.