Keep your cool when it’s warm and stay warm when it’s cool.
With an electric heat pump in the energy right Program, your home is comfortable no matter what the weather is outside. That’s because an electric heat pump does two jobs– it warms you in the winter and cools you in the summer. And it saves you money all year long.

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Kick it up a degree. When you’re air conditioning, set your thermostat to 78. Anything lower will increase your cost by approximately 5% for every degree below 78. And if you’re going to be away from home, try setting your thermostat even higher. In the winter, set the temperature at 68. Your heating cost will increase 3% for each degree above 68 degrees.

High tech thermostats. Programmable thermostats can save you money and energy any time of the year. For instance, in the winter you can program the thermostat to run cooler at night and warmer during the day. Interested? Talk to your heating and air conditioning contractor for a programmable thermostat designed just for heat pumps.

Make sure the lights are off when the air conditioning is on. It’s always a good idea to turn off unused lights – you’ll save energy and money. But it’s especially smart when it’s hot outside. Lights, appliances and tools generate heat and make your air conditioner work harder – and that costs you money.

Keep it indoors. Whether you’re heating or cooling, you don’t want your energy going out the door. Caulk and weather-strip around doors and window frames. Closely check any area where pipes go from the outside of your home to the inside, especially plumbing pipes. And if you have operable storm windows, make sure those are shut, too.

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Let the sun in. Those open curtains or drapes on the sunny side of the house can really heat things up in the summer. Shading the windows helps keep the sun out and your home cooler. In the winter, keep the curtains open to let the sun’s warmth in. Close them at night to reduce heat loss.

Forget about those filters. But only if you want to increase heating or cooling costs. Dirty filters make your unit work harder. For maximum efficiency, clean or replace your air filters every month. A good way to remember is to change out the filter when you get your electric bill.

Hide those unsightly vents. You may not like the way they look, but your vents and return grill need to be out in the open. Adequate air flow is important not only for your comfort, but also for the life and efficiency of the heating and cooling system.

Ignore your SEER rating. All heat pumps or central air conditioning units have a SEER or EER rating. A higher rating means your system will work more efficiently and use less energy to heat or cool your home. After a few years, the savings will help offset the added cost of higher efficiency equipment.

Keep your family in hot water for about a dollar a day.
Did you know that in most cases a family’s third largest energy expense is from heating water? So if you’re not heating your water the energy right way, you could be sending money down the drain. But with the right electric water heater, the average family of four can bathe, shower, clean dishes and wash clothes for just $30 a month.

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Shopping for a new water heater? Make sure you find one that meets the energy right guidelines found at energyright.com. Choose a model with high insulation R-values and a warranty of at least 10 years. Look for new technologies such as heat recovery units and heat pump water heaters that offer dramatic savings over standard electric water heaters.

Down the drain. It’s a great idea to drain a gallon of water through the valve at the bottom of your water heater once a year. Draining removes the sediment that collects in the bottom of your tank. If left unattended, the sediment can cause leaks to develop.

Why are you heating that water? If your house is going to be empty for an extended length of time, turn your water heater off. After all, why should you spend money heating water that no one will use?

Install low-flow shower heads. You can reduce your water use by 50%. And you probably won’t even notice the difference.

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Bare pipes around your water heater. Bare pipes around your water heater are a bad idea. Wrap and insulate the pipes so you have less heat loss from the water heater to your shower, dishwasher or wherever. Older water heaters can be wrapped with a blanket kit of insulation sold at local home centers. Most new water heaters are already properly insulated and need no additional wrap.

Rinsing your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Actually, this just wastes your time, water and energy. Modern dishwashers don’t need the extra rinse.

The hotter the better. Not necessarily. Lower the temperature on your water heater to 120°. You’ll save money and lower the risk of scalding yourself or your children.

It’s only a drip, right? Wrong. One drip per second can add up to 200 gallons per month. So fixing that leaky faucet is definitely worth it, especially if it’s hot water.

Washing and drying without being taken to the cleaners.
Highly efficient washing machines and dryers can make a big difference in your electric bill, too. The right washing machine will actually use less hot water than older models. And you can dry load after load for just a few cents with an efficient electric dryer – especially when it’s properly vented..

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Use a fast spin speed to extract as much water as possible from your clothes. This will reduce the amount of time your clothes have to spend in the dryer.

Using a dryer that senses when your clothes are dry will save energy and extend the life of your clothes. This type of dryer can save 10-15% of the energy needed to dry clothes. Also make sure the dryer is vented to the outside and not under the floor or in the attic.

Make sure your dryer vent seals tightly when the dryer is not in use. If the flapper stays open, cold air from the outside comes into your home through the dryer.

Read your labels. Hot water isn’t always your best washing option. Many fabrics do best in cold water. And you can always rinse in cold water, even if you wash with hot.

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What’s the harm in a little lint? How about the risk of fire, not to mention reduced dryer performance. Clean the lint filter after every load for optimum drying conditions.

Fill it to the rim. If you’re only washing a small load, lower the water level in your machine. This is good water conservation and particularly important in areas affected by drought.

So, should your clothes be completely dry and toasty warm? Neither. It’s actually better for your clothes to be hung up slightly damp.

Stuff those wet clothes into the dryer. But only if you want decreased efficiency, more wrinkles and a longer drying time. Air should be able to circulate freely around your clothes.

Are you throwing money out the window?
Take a minute to look around your house. Do you see any wasted energy? Little things do add up. And when it comes to saving electricity, they might very well add up to extra money in your pocket. Are you building a new home? If so, make sure it meets all the energy right guidelines for maximum efficiency. Then your home will save you money now and be worth more in the future.

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Replace your fireplace screen with glass doors. They’re safer and they reduce the amount of heat that escapes through the chimney from your home. Consider saving your fireplace for special occasions – it might be pretty, but it sends your heated air right up the chimney. And after a fire is completely extinguished, don’t forget to close the damper.

Dry out. Attics and crawl spaces should be well ventilated to reduce moisture build up. Under the house, install a vapor barrier by covering about 80% of the ground in the crawlspace with 6 mil plastic, leaving several feet around the perimeter exposed.

Check your ducts. Leaky ductwork often accounts for 10-30% of your total heating and cooling costs. And if you’re losing 20% of your total airflow due to leaks, the efficiency of your cooling or heating system can drop by 50%. For tips on improving your ductwork, visit energyright.com.

Don’t rush. If you have to buy a new appliance– like a water heater – don’t panic and buy the first one you see. Remember, this is an appliance you’ll be living with for a while. Take your time to make a smart, energy right choice. In the long run, a few extra hours won’t make that big a difference.

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Wash after every meal. Don’t run your dishwasher unless you have a full load. It uses the same amount of hot water whether there’s one dish or twenty.

Buy it and forget it. Just like your car, your heating and cooling units need to have periodic checkups. Have your heating and air conditioning contractor inspect your system annually.

Why not cut corners on insulation? Proper insulation will pay for itself in both heating and cooling your home. Since hot air rises, the greatest heat loss is often through the ceiling. Insulating your attic will make a big difference in savings and comfort. Storm or double-paned windows, storm doors,weather stripping and caulking will also help keep the warm air in during the winter and cool air in during the summer. Also make certain the floor above your crawl space is well insulated.An insulation value of R –11 or greater in the floor will help achieve greater comfort and lower heating bills.

Fire up the oven. In the summer, don’t add to the heat in your home by using your oven. Instead, cook outdoors on your grill and use smaller appliances like toaster ovens. Use your microwave whenever possible, too.

Saving energy from the inside out.
All around your home, no matter what room you’re in, you can find a way to save energy. There are even cost-cutting measures you can take outside in your yard. And it’s important to remember that even the smallest, most insignificant item could be costing you money. Here are a few more energy right tips that will help make your home as energy efficient as possible.

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Insulate your outlets. Believe it or not, those tiny holes in your electrical outlets let cold air into your home. You can remove the outlet covers and insert specially designed insulation pads underneath. Also, put insulating plugs in all outlets that aren’t in use.

Plant a tree. Mature shade trees not only look beautiful, they can also cut your cooling bills. Check with a local nursery to find out which trees are best for your area and then plant them around your home, especially on the southern and western sides.

Switch on the compact fluorescents. Make the switch from incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescents. They use 75% less energy and last up to ten times longer. That adds up to more light for less money.

Chill out. Let cooked foods cool to room temperature before putting them in the refrigerator. Hot foods– and their containers – will raise the temperature in the fridge, making it work much harder. But be careful not to leave food out too long, or it will spoil. Follow recipe instructions.

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Wide open garage doors. Your garage doors could be the last line of defense between you and the great outdoors. During the winter months, keep your garage doors shut. In the summer, let heat escape by opening a window or installing a ventilation fan. Also, consider insulated doors for even more efficiency.

Set the thermostat to 90º. But only if you want a higher heating bill. Your home warms up at the same speed, regardless of the temperature setting. So you won’t reach your desired temperature any sooner by setting the thermostat to a higher setting than you are actually seeking.

Clean out your freezer. Actually, your freezer works best when it’s full. And the fuller it is, the less cold air you lose when you open the door.

Check your oven often. But only if you want your food to take longer to cook. When you repeatedly open and close your oven, the warm air escapes. This is especially bad during the summer as it puts unnecessary heat into the air, making cooling more difficult – and more expensive.