PowerHouse Tip of the Month

July Tip of the Month: Don't cool an empty house more than necessary

 After a summer vacation, it can be uncomfortable to come back to a hot, stuffy home. It makes sense to save on air conditioning, but if you’ll be gone more than a week, you might want air conditioning to control your home’s humidity.

A more comfortable cost-saving solution is to keep your air conditioner on, but raise your thermostat temperature. The less difference there is between the temperature outside and inside, the less your air conditioner will have to work, which saves money on your bill. The Department of Energy (DOE) suggests setting your thermostat 7 to 10 degrees higher anytime you’re away. The usual daytime temperature the DOE recommends is 78 F, so that means setting your thermostat to 85-88 F. When you get home, it will take less time to bring it back to your preferred setting.

A smart thermostat can take out the guesswork. You can adjust the temperature from your smart device when you’re almost home. Some smart thermostats also have vacation settings. If you don’t have a smart thermostat, remember to keep your air conditioner’s fan speed at its lowest setting.

Don’t forget to seal up your house while you’re away. Close all windows, doors and curtains to keep cool air in and heat out.

Let Megan and Pete share more ways to save on energy in your home.

Pete and Megan holding an advanced power strip

June Tip of the Month: Use advanced power strips

When some electronics, devices and appliances are plugged in but not in use, they still draw power, sometimes called vampire power or phantom load. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the average household loses about $200 a year on phantom load. The NREL also says that total wasted energy would be enough to power 11 million homes.

Advanced power strips can increase your home’s energy efficiency. They’re designed to detect when TVs, laptops and other items are in standby or sleep mode and automatically cut power to those devices, reducing phantom energy waste.

Some advanced power strips feature surge protection. This protects devices from damage in cases of sudden voltage spikes, which usually happen due to storms. Other features you might look for include USB charging ports, motion sensing and remote controls.

Let Megan and Pete tell you more about how to save with advanced power strips.

Pete Seyfer pointing to a smart thermostat

May Tip of the Month: Set your thermostat higher to save this summer

Keep your cool and pocket savings on energy costs during the hot months. Here’s how.

The greater the difference between the outside temperature and the temperature you set your thermostat, the harder your air conditioner must work to keep you cool.

To save big, set your thermostat a little higher. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends 78 degrees Fahrenheit when you’re home and awake, and seven to 10 degrees warmer when you’re not. A smart thermostat can take out the guess work and help you save as much as 10% a year.

Remember to dress lightly and use fans. Like a nice breeze, fans create a wind chill effect on your skin to make you feel about 4 degrees cooler. They don’t actually cool the air, so turn them off when not in use.

Bonus tip: The Department of Energy says ENERGY STAR rated ceiling fans are approximately 40% more efficient than other types.

Find more ways to stay comfortable and save money with our summer energy-saving tips.

April Tip of the Month: Upgrade to energy-saving showerheads

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says showers account for about 17% of residential water use, almost 40 gallons per day for an average family. Nationally per year, we collectively shower away about 1.2 trillion gallons of precious fresh water. There’s also the energy we use to heat all that water.

Of course, there’s nothing like a nice hot shower. The good news is you can have the showers you love without sacrificing pressure – and still save water, energy and money.

Install a WaterSense-certified showerhead

The EPA certifies showerheads that use 2 gallons or fewer per minute, half a gallon less than the standard set by the Energy Policy Act of 1992. That may sound like a drop in the bucket, but it adds up to an ocean of savings.

Per year, the EPA estimates the average family can save up to 2,700 gallons of water and $75 in energy and water costs.

WaterSense-certified showerheads are easy to install and comparable in price to other showerheads.

Plus, today’s energy-efficient showerheads are designed with performance in mind. WaterSense-certified models are independently tested on factors like spray force, coverage and pressure compensation, meaning they perform just as well as other showerheads over a range of different home shower types and water pressures.

For many who install an energy-efficient showerhead, the only differences they notice are on their reduced water and energy bills.

Soak up even more savings

Add to your shower power with these water-saving tips for your home.