40 Ways To Save Power And Money

Conservation Tips

Easy Ways You Can Save Energy

(and Money)

In the Kitchen

While Cooking

Doing the Laundry

Heating and Cooling

Our energy use affects our environment. That's why the Reading Municipal Light Department is offering these helpful suggestions so that you can use energy more efficiently. You'll see how much you can save on your electric bill just by following these easy-to-use tips.

Saving Energy in the Kitchen

If you have a dishwasher, let your dishes air dry.

When you buy a dishwasher, look for energy-saving features. Short washing cycles with fewer rinses save water-heating energy.

Use your dishwasher only when it's full, but be sure not to overload it. This can result in poorly cleaned dishes that will need rewashing.

Adjust your refrigerator's temperature setting to 37-40°F, and your freezer's setting to 0-5°F.

If your refrigerator has one, use the Power Miser setting.

Clean your refrigerator's condenser coils twice each year. If they accumulate dust and dirt, you'll use up to 25% more energy.

Install your dishwasher away from the refrigerator. The dishwasher's heat and moisture will make the refrigerator work harder.

Install the refrigerator away from heat sources, such as direct sunlight.

Select a refrigerator with a freezer on top. A side-by-side unit uses up to 20% more energy.

Cover pots and pans with tight-fitting lids. Trapped steam lets foods cook faster.
Use pots with flat bottoms, and match pan sizes to burner size. Pans that are too big won't cook food evenly.
Use microwave or convection ovens whenever possible. They use up to 60% less energy than conventional ovens.
Use portable appliances when you can. Slow cookers and toaster ovens use less energy.
Don't preheat the oven, except when cooking at high temperatures or for short times.
When cooking, avoid opening the oven door. This drops the temperature by 25-30°F.
Use your self-cleaning oven feature only when necessary, and right after cooking while the oven is still hot.
Avoid using your kitchen exhaust fan during summer months, as it pumps out cooler air along with kitchen heat.

Wash full loads only. It takes as much energy to wash a small load as it does a full one.
Always measure detergent. Over sudsing makes the washer work harder.
Sort clothes by thickness and dry them together, to avoid running additional cycles for a few slow-drying items.
Dry consecutive loads. You'll save the energy used to bring the dryer up to operating temperature.
To save energy (and avoid heating the house), dry clothes outside on sunny days.
Remove clothes from the dryer as soon as tumbling stops. Otherwise, you'll use more energy ironing them.
Partially line-dry bulky or heavy items, such as rugs and bedspreads.
Clean the lint filter after each dryer load. A clogged filter slows drying and uses more energy.

Set the thermostat on your water heater to 120°F. This is adequate for home use and will save a considerable amount of energy.
Set your thermostats at 68°F or lower for heating, and 78°F or higher for cooling.
Add insulation to your home. Wall, ceiling, floor and attic insulation will add warmth in the winter and cooling during the summer.
To prevent heat escape, weather-strip entrances leading from heated to unheated areas.
Seal off all unused rooms. Turn the thermostats off and close vents in these rooms to save energy.
Clean or replace air-conditioner filters regularly.
Install your air conditioner on a wall receiving the least direct sunlight (usually a northern wall).
If using your air conditioner often, keep your storm windows down; they help insulate your home, keeping the air inside cooler longer.
Make sure window air conditioners and central air registers are not blocked by drapes or furniture.
Pull down shades and blinds to keep your home cool when it's hot outside.