What's New

The last legislative session was a good one for energy efficiency and conservation. The new legislation will provide rebates to consumers on efficiency products and requires utilities to reduce their energy consumption 20 percent by 2011.  Gov. Ritter also signed into law a bill that will up local building codes, helping our state use energy more wisely. Check out our Legislative Agenda section for more info. 

Tips for Energy Efficiency at Home

1. Switch to energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs.
They use 75 percent less energy than standard light bulbs, and they can last 10 times as long. If you replace just 25 percent of your lights in high use areas with fluorescence, you can save about 50 percent of your lighting energy bill.

2. Unplug it when not in use.
Televisions, CD players, microwaves and cell phone chargers (among others) use energy even when they are plugged in and not in use or on standby.

3. Always wash full loads of laundry and keep the water temperature low.
Reserve hot water for really dirty loads and always use cold water for the rinse cycle. Appliances like the washer and dryer account for about 33 percent of a home's energy bill. Using them less saves you money.

4. Clean the lint screen on your dryer every time you use the machine.
Lint screens that are clogged use up to 30 percent more energy.

5. Close vents and doors of rooms you are not using and seal around windows and doors.
Keeping heat centralized in the most used living areas will use less energy because there is less space to heat. Caulking (sealing windows and doors) reduces uncomfortable drafts and high utility bills.

6. Lower your thermostat when not in your home.
When at home set your thermostat on 5 degrees lower than normal. Lowering the thermostat by as little as 1o F typically reduces your heating bill 1-3 percent. Make sure you lower your thermostat if you are leaving the house for any period of time; you use much less energy to heat the house up when you return than to keep it heated while you are away.

7. Make sure your refrigerator door is well sealed.
Close the door on dollar bill. If it pulls out easily it's time to replace the gasket. Cool air lost through a crack causes the refrigerator to consume more energy in order to keep the temperature low enough.

8. Keep refrigerator temperature between 36-38 degrees and the freezer between 0-5 degrees.
Check the refrigerator temperature using a thermometer in a glass of water. Read it after 24 hours. These are the ideal ranges for keeping food fresh, while not cooling to unnecessarily low temperatures resulting in a waste of energy and money.

9. Use smaller appliances whenever possible.
Microwaves, toaster ovens, and slow cookers can use 75 percent less energy than a large electric oven. Cooking, combined with lighting and the energy use of other appliances accounts for about 33 percent of a home's energy bill. Using them less saves you money.

10. Switch to an energy-saving shower head.
A family of four, each taking a five minute shower daily with a energy-saving shower head, can save up to $250 a year in heating costs.