Tips to be Energy Efficient

• Lower the temperature on your water heater to the warm setting (120°F).
• Set your fridge to 38-42°F and your freezer to 0-5°F.
• Lower blinds to avoid excess heating during the summer. Open blinds on sunny days during the winter to add heat.
• Adjust your thermostat a few degrees higher in the summer (78-80°F) and a few degrees lower in the winter (68-70°F). When you are asleep or away from home, set your thermostat 7-10°F higher in the summer and lower in the winter. You can save 10% on your heating and cooling costs a year if done 8 hours a day.

Lighting is the easiest place to start saving money. By swapping just 5 conventional 60W bulbs with 9W LEDs, you can save up to $80 a year on your energy bill! Check out discounted pricing for LEDs at these Utah retailers.

• If you’re a Rocky Mountain Power customer, order a Wattsmart Starter Kit and they will send you 4 free LEDs to your door!
• If you live in one of Salt Lake City West side neighborhoods, visit the Sorenson Unity Center to exchange up to 4 inefficient light bulbs for up to 4 FREE energy-saving LEDs! Learn more at Empower SLC.
• Incandescent bulbs can be thrown away but CFL and fluorescent bulbs have to be recycled. Visit Salt Lake County Health Department page on household hazardous waste to find locations of where to recycle your bulbs.

• If your water heater is 10 years old or older, consider replacing it with an energy efficient electric water heater. Heat pump water heaters are the most efficient – 63% more efficient than regular electric water heating. New incentives for heat pump water heaters are available at Wattsmart.
• Insulate your water heater tank with a water-heater blanket. This can increase your energy savings by 7-16% annually.
• Insulate hot water pipes and ducts. This can help you save 3-4% on your water heating bills annually.

Programmable and smart thermostats make it easy to save energy. By using a programmable or smart thermostat, you can stop wasting money heating or cooling your home at night and when you’re away. By choosing different temperatures for different times of day, you can make sure your house is at the perfect temperature when you return home!

Programmable and smart thermostats range in price from under $30 to $250. The most basic will allow you to control the temperature of your home to match your schedule. The most expensive types sync up with your smartphone to automatically determine your schedule and heat and cool your home accordingly, and give you remote access from your smartphone. Incentives are available for the smart thermostats from ThermWise and Wattsmart.

Programmable and smart thermostats can be purchased at most hardware stores, and most are easy to install yourself. 

Learn:
4-minute programmable thermostat installation video
6-minute smart thermostat installation video

Don’t let your money leak out of the house! Your walls, floor, and ceiling are called your “building thermal envelope,” and the best thing you can do to avoid energy waste is to seal air leaks! If you’re a DIY’er, use the Do-It-Yourself Guide to Sealing and Insulating with ENERGY STAR. If you aren’t interested in a moderately DIY project, call one of the ThermWise Authorized Contractors for bids.  These changes can increase your energy savings by 10-20% annually.