Appliance Tips

Ceiling fans

Fans circulate the air in your home and can also help reduce your A/C costs. That's because they allow you to set your thermostat higher and still feel cool. Tips for efficiency include:

• Turn off your ceiling fan when you leave the room. A fan that runs constantly can cost up to $7 a month, depending on size and age.
• When buying a fan, choose the right size for the room. For example:
  • 10 x 10-foot room or smaller = 36-inch fan
  • 15 x 20-foot room = 52-inch fan
  • Rooms larger than 15 x 20 feet = two 52-inch fans

Washing machine

Using cold water instead of hot or warm water can save more than $3 a month.

Clothes dryer

A clothes dryer makes up about 5 percent of an electric bill. Keeping the lint trap clean will make the clothes dry faster, which can save on energy costs.

Lights

• Replace old bulbs with light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. Each LED bulb will save you about $70 in energy costs over the life of the bulb.
• You also create extra costs for light bulb replacements, since a bulb that burns continuously will need replacement sooner than one only used when needed.