Skip to page body Home About GEFA Programs and Activities Financing What's New I Want to...

Home

  • Turn off home office and entertainment equipment when not in use.
  • When purchasing appliances or home office equipment, select energy-efficient models with the ENERGY STAR® label.
  • Unplug instant-on appliances (such as TVs and cable boxes) when you’re away from home for extended periods of time.
  • Insulate doors and windows with weather-stripping or caulking to prevent heating or cooling loss.
  • Install a programmable thermostat to control heating and cooling hours.

Laundry

  • Wash full loads only, but do not overload.
  • Wash and rinse in cold water.
  • Dry consecutive loads to more efficiently utilize the already warm dryer.
  • Don’t dry heavy items such as towels with lighter items.
  • Clean the dryer lint filter after each load to maximize efficiency.

Kitchen

  • Wash dishes in a basin or sink instead of under running water.
  • Wash full loads in the dishwasher whenever possible.
  • Soak or prewash only if food is burned or dried-on.
  • Manually air-dry dishes or use air-dry feature on your dishwasher.
  • Ensure oven door seals are in good condition.
  • Do not preheat the oven unless necessary.
  • Thaw frozen foods before cooking.

Lighting

  • Change the five most-utilized fixtures in your home to ENERGY STAR® qualified lighting, such as Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs).
  • CFLs use up to two-thirds less energy and lasts six to 10 times longer than traditional bulbs.
  • Use task lighting instead of brightly lighting an entire room.
  • Replace high-wattage, halogen lamps with fluorescent equivalents.
  • Take advantage of natural daylight when possible and decorate rooms with lighter colors to reflect light.

Heating

  • Set the thermostat at 68ºF or lower when heating your home.
  • If windows face the south, open drapes during the day to utilize the sunlight for heat.
  • Close drapes if you have large windows that don’t receive direct sun to retain heat. Also close drapes at night to retain heat.
  • Inspect ducts and replace filters regularly.

Central Air Conditioning

  • Set the thermostat at 78ºF or higher when cooling your home.
  • Have an annual tune-up to check refrigerant, thermostat and filters.
  • Use awnings, shutters or window film to reduce solar heat.
  • Use fans instead of air conditioning whenever possible.
  • Keep windows and drapes closed while using cooling.
  • An outdoor air conditioning unit operating in the shade utilizes 10 percent less energy than if it’s in the sun.
  • Inspect ducts and replace filters regularly.

Room Air Conditioning

  • Clean grills, filters and drains once a month.
  • Do not place lamps or TV sets that emit heat near your air-conditioning thermostat.
  • Use an interior fan to spread the cooled air more efficiently.
  • Keep windows and drapes closed while using cooling.

Refrigerator

  • Consider purchasing an ENERGY STAR® label model.
  • Check and adjust refrigerator settings between 37ºF and 40ºF.
  • Inspect door seals and replace if necessary.
  • Limit opening and closing the refrigerator door.
  • Clean condenser coils at least once a year.

Water Use

  • Low-flow shower heads and faucets can reduce the amount of hot water used per day by 50 percent.
  • Use a timer to reduce the time spent in the shower.
  • Turn down your hot water heater thermostat to 120ºF.
  • Insulate your water heater.

Weatherization Works!