Energy Saving Tips and Hints

Auto

1. Slow down.
• Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.15 per gallon for gas.
2. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $.12-$.82/gallon
3. Keep your car maintained and running smoothly.
• Tune up car as required
• Clean air filters
• Tires properly inflated
• Use proper grade of oil for the season
4. Use your engine wisely. Avoid Excessive Idling Use Cruise Control and overdrive gears
5. Be smart about driving.
• Plan errands to do them together, rather than separate trips.
• Carpool,use mass transit, or telecommute.
• Avoid rush hour traffic; adjust your work schedule if possible.
6. Keep your car light; every hundred pounds you add reduces the fuel economy by as much as 1-2 percent.
   • Too often cars become long-term storage facilities
7. Walk or ride a bike when just going to the corner store; it's good for you and the environment.
8. Aerodynamics - pack things inside car instead of roof racks.
   • Keep windows up to reduce drag. The drag caused can use more energy than running the A/C.

Landscaping

1. Landscaping your home for energy efficiency can reduce your heating and cooling bills, the largest component of your home's energy use. Your overall landscaping strategy will depend on your regional climate.
2. Planting shrubs, bushes, and vines next to your house creates dead air spaces that insulate your home in both winter and summer. Plant so there will be at least 1 foot (30 centimeters) of space between full-grown plants and your home's wall.
3. During winter, dense, low-lying trees and shrubbery on the north and northeast sides of your home can help protect your home against wind chill.
4. Plant trees to shade your home, reducing your cooling costs in the summer months. Typically, newly planted trees will begin shading windows in their first year and will reach your roof in years 5-10

Home Tips

1. Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable when home.
2. Programming your thermostat from 72 degrees to 65 degrees for eight hours a day while no one is home, or while everyone is tucked in bed, can cut your heating bill up to 10 percent, paying for the cost of a basic unit in less than a year.
• Summer
3. Weatherize your home—caulk and weather strip any doors and windows that leak air.
4. Properly maintain and clean heating and A/C equipment.
5. Replace furnace or A/C filters regularly.
6. Check the insulation in your attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawl spaces to see if it meets the levels recommended for your area.

Home Tips for Summer

1. Use light colored shades and curtains on windows, they absorb less sunlight.