Ways to Save Energy

1. Lower the water-temperature setting of your water heater to 120 degrees.

2. Wrap the hot water tank with jacket insulation. For safety reasons, wrap only the sides of a gas tank. Wrap the sides and top of an electric tank.

3. When it's time to replace your water heater, upgrade to a more energy-efficient model.

1. Monitor your thermostat setting in the winter. At a setting of 68 degrees, you can see a difference of up to 3 percent in energy costs for every degree you raise or lower the setting.

2. Install a setback thermostat. This will lower the temperature while you sleep, and will raise it before you wake up. It takes far less energy to lower the thermostat and then raise it again than to keep it at the same temperature at all times.

3. Take advantage of natural heating and cooling. Close curtains or blinds during hot days to block sunlight. Open them in cooler months to allow sunlight in.

1. Do not place furniture over heating and cooling vents. This can block or restrict air flow, making your heating and air conditioning systems work harder.

2. Regularly maintain your furnace to keep it safe and efficient.

3. Run your air conditioner as little as possible to save money and conserve energy.

1. Use the automatic cycle on your clothes dryer. Drying more than needed wastes energy and wears out clothes.

2. Check and clean your dryer exhaust vent regularly and remove lint after each load.

3. Wash only full loads in washers and dishwashers to minimize hot water use. Your hot water tank is usually the second-greatest energy user in your home.

4. Wash clothes in cold water to reduce your energy bill and prevent shrinking and fading.

5. Take showers instead of baths. A shower of seven minutes or less under a two-gallon-per-minute, low-flow showerhead is more water-and energy-efficient than taking a bath in a tubful of water.