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SUMMER ENERGY CONSERVATION TIPS
Energy Conservation Tips for Homes
// Energy Conservation Tips for Businesses
EASE YOUR ENERGY USE AT HOME
- Human comfort range is between 72 and 78 degrees F. To extend the comfort range to 82 F,
you need a breeze of about 2.5 ft/sec or 1.7 mph. A slow-turning ceiling-mounted paddle
fan can easily provide this air flow.
- As an alternative to air conditioners, consider using ceiling, table or whole-house
fans, which use much less power--about the same amount of energy as a 100-watt light bulb.
- Use fans to increase comfort levels at higher air conditioning thermostat settings (78
degrees minimum). Ceiling fans permit raising the thermostat setting on an air
conditioning system 4 to 6 degrees.
- Shut off your air conditioner and leave the windows closed when you're not going to be
home for an extended period of time.
- Try not to use a dehumidifier at the same time your air conditioner is operating. The
dehumidifier will increase the cooling load and force the air conditioner to work harder.
- Buy a high-efficiency air conditioner: for room air conditioners, the energy efficiency
ratio (EER) rating should be above 10; for central air conditioners, look for a seasonal
energy efficiency ratio (SEER) rating above 12.
- Close your blinds, shades or draperies during the hottest part of the day. Install white
window shades or mini-blinds. Mini-blinds can reduce solar heat gain by 40-50 percent.
- Install awnings on south-facing windows, where there's insufficient roof overhang or
vegetation to provide shade.
- Hang tightly woven screens or bamboo shades outside the window during the summer to stop
60 to 80 percent of the sun's heat from getting to the windows.
- Especially in well-insulated buildings, keeping windows closed during daylight hours and
open at night can significantly reduce cooling costs.
- You can help get rid of unwanted heat through ventilation if the temperature of the
incoming air is 77 F or lower. Check the outside temperature and open your windows and use
window fans when the temperature allows this.
- Turn off lights when you leave a room or when they aren't needed.
- Cook outdoors, use a microwave oven or prepare cold meals to avoid heating up the
kitchen and adding moisture to the air. Microwaves use less than half the power of a
conventional oven and cook food in about one-fourth the time.
- Avoid cooking during the hottest part of the day. Try to use the range top more, the
oven less. Cook in large quantities and freeze in meal-size portions.
- Use the short cycle on your dishwasher. Wash only full loads.
- Set your refrigerator at 40 degrees, your freezer at zero. If you refrigerator has an
"efficiency" setting, make sure it is on.
- Most of the energy in clothes washing is used to heat the water. Use warm or cold water
when possible, and always rinse with cold water.
- Take showers instead of baths.
- Use warm or cold settings to dry clothes. When possible, use an outdoor clothesline
rather than a dryer.
- Pumping water uses electricity. Don't run the water when brushing your teeth or shaving,
and limit washing cars and watering lawns during power shortages.
- Pool pumps should only be operated during evening hours. This eases electric demand
during peak usage hours. Check water quality frequently.
- Lower the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, which is adequate
for normal use. Also, consider turning off electric water heaters during periods of high
electrical use or public appeals for electric curtailment.
STEPS BUSINESSES CAN TAKE
- Shut off non-essential machinery, computers, and other equipment and, if feasible, 50
percent of the copiers.
- Raise thermostat settings for your air conditioning systems by a few degrees during the
working hours, and consider raising the thermostat further when your facilities are
unoccupied. Raising the thermostat a degree a day (up to 78 degrees) will make the
transition easier.
- Consider moving operations or production schedules away from the first shift, or
starting the first shift earlier in the day, to avoid high electricity demands during peak
usage periods.
- Consider precooling your facility in the early morning hours, prior to peak demand for
electricity.
- Verify that all maintenance has been performed on your air conditioning equipment,
including changing the filters.
- Use drapes or shades to prevent direct sunlight from entering your building.
- Turn off every second or third lighting fixture in order to conserve electricity and
reduce the need for air conditioning.
- Allow casual wear that is more comfortable when air conditioning is reduced. Offer flex
hours in the summer where practical to allow employees to come in earlier and leave
earlier.
- Implement "cool caf�" days, when the food service only serves cold items such
as sandwiches, salads, fruits and vegetables.
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