EnergyHarvest^SM Efficiency Tips

Whether it is spring, summer, fall or winter, there are ways you can lower your energy usage. Use the quick tips below from the U.S. Department of Energy to find ways you can save!

Heating Tips

Clean or replace your filter regularly to keep your furnace running at full efficiency and providing better air flow.
Caulk, seal and use weather-stripping around your doors and windows to prevent conditioned air from escaping to the outside. This makes your home more energy efficient and can create a savings on your energy bill.
Close fireplace dampers when they are not in use. Have your fireplace cleaned and checked out by a professional every year to keep it operating safely and efficiently.

Doors and fireplaces account for 11% and 14% of your home's heat loss respectively.

Install a programmable thermostat to reduce energy costs and increase comfort. A programmable thermostat can maximize your energy savings by automatically reducing the temperature during sleep hours and at times when no one is home.
Set the thermostat between 68 and 72 degrees F or lower for energy efficiency. For each degree the thermostat setting is lowered during the heating season, you could see a 3% energy savings on the heating portion of your bill. Alternately, keeping your thermostat raised during the cooling season can have the same effect. Learn more about the EnergyHarvest energy-efficient programmable thermostat rebates provided by NIPSCO.
Reverse the direction of your ceiling fan. Changing the fan direction to clockwise in the winter will push rising warm air back down into the room.

Only 20% of homes built before 1980 were well insulated.

Consider adding insulation in your attic. Invest a few hundred dollars in proper insulation and weatherization products, and you can increase the comfort of your home while reducing your heating and cooling needs by up to 30%.
Open your draperies to let the sun in during the winter months. The sun's rays will help warm your home. When the sun goes down, close your draperies to hold heat inside your home. Alternately, keep window blinds or drapes closed in the summer during periods of intense direct sunlight.
Close doors and/or heating vents to unused rooms.
Be sure heating registers and vents are not blocked by draperies or furniture. Clean vents regularly with a broom or vacuum.
If your home has single-pane windows, consider replacing them. New double-pane windows with high-performance glass can reduce heat loss in the winter months. Storm windows can reduce your heat loss through windows by 25% to 50%.

Windows can account for 10% to 15% of your heating bill.

Have your heating and cooling systems maintained and inspected annually by a qualified technician.

Ensure that your thermostat is located on an inside wall away from drafts and heat sources.
Consider upgrading your furnace. If your furnace is more than 10 years old, it's likely only about 60% to 70% efficient. Newer high-efficiency natural gas furnaces are up to 96% efficient. This means nearly all of the energy goes to heating your home, not the outside air.

Learn more about the EnergyHarvest energy-efficient furnace and programmable thermostat rebates provided by NIPSCO.

Cooling Tips

Move lamps, TV sets, and other heat-producing devices away from the air conditioner thermostat. This can cause the thermostat to read at a higher temperature and keep the air conditioner running more than necessary.

Water Heating Tips

Reduce your use of hot water.
Turn down the thermostat on your water heater to a temperature of 115/120 degrees F. If you have a dishwasher, check to make sure this lower temperature will clean the dishes properly.
Wash clothes in cold water.
Repair leaky hot water faucets immediately. A hot water faucet that leaks one drop per second wastes 160 gallons per month.

Water heating can account for 14% of your utility bill.

Wrap a specialized insulating water heater blanket around your water heater to keep the heat from escaping. You can also save on your water heating bill by insulating at least the first 6 feet of the hot water pipe and the first 3 feet of the cold water pipe that extends from your hot water tank. Make sure you follow all safety precautions, especially if you have a gas water heater with a pilot light.

Learn more about the EnergyHarvest energy-efficient water heater rebates provided by NIPSCO.

Appliances

Consider buying an ENERGY STAR^® appliance, which use about a third of the energy than other appliances. They may cost a bit more, but ENERGY STAR^® appliances have been identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and DOE as being the most energy-efficient products in their classes.

Dishwashers

Check the manual that came with your dishwasher for the manufacturer's recommendations on water temperature; many have internal heating elements that allow you to set the water heater to a lower temperature.
Scrape, don't rinse, off large food pieces and bones. Soaking or prewashing is generally only recommended in cases of burned-on or dried-on food.
Be sure your dishwasher is full, but not overloaded.
Don't use the "rinse hold" on your machine for just a few soiled dishes. It uses 3 to 7 gallons of hot water each time you use it.
Let your dishes air dry; if you don't have an automatic air-dry switch, turn off the control knob after the final rinse and prop the door open a little so the dishes will dry faster.

Refrigerators

Look for a refrigerator with automatic moisture control. Models with this feature have been engineered to prevent moisture accumulation on the cabinet exterior without the addition of a heater. This is not the same thing as an "anti-sweat" heater. Models with an anti-sweat heater will consume 5% to 10% more energy than models without this feature.
Refrigerator temperatures are most efficient between 37 degrees to 40 degrees F for the fresh food compartment, and 5 degrees F for the freezer section. If you have a separate freezer for long-term storage, it should be kept at 0 degrees F.
To check refrigerator temperature, place an appliance thermometer in a glass of water in the center of the refrigerator. Read it after 24 hours. To check the freezer temperature, place a thermometer between frozen packages. Read it after 24 hours.
Regularly defrost manual-defrost refrigerators and freezers; frost buildup increases the amount of energy needed to keep the motor running. Don't allow frost to build up more than one-quarter of an inch.
Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. Test them by closing the door over a piece of paper or a dollar bill so it is half in and half out of the refrigerator. If you can pull the paper or bill out easily, the latch may need adjustment or the seal may need replacing.

Your refrigerator accounts for 8% to 9% of your utility bill.

Vacuum the condenser coils on the back of your refrigerator once a year unless you have a no-clean condenser model. Your refrigerator will run for shorter periods with clean coils.

Clothes Washers

Wash your clothes in cold water using cold-water detergents whenever possible.
Wash and dry full loads. If you are washing a small load, use the appropriate water level setting.
Dry towels and heavier cottons in a separate load from lighter weight clothes.
Don't over-dry your clothes. If your machine has a moisture sensor, use it.
Clean the dryer lint filter after every load to improve air circulation.
Use the cool-down cycle to allow the clothes to finish drying with the residual heat in the dryer.
Periodically inspect your dryer vent for blockage. A clear vent will save energy and may prevent a fire. Manufacturers recommend using rigid venting material, not plastic vents that may collapse and cause blockages.

For more information on ways you can save energy, visit the US Department of Energy or ENERGY STAR^® websites.

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EnergyHarvestSM Efficiency Tips