How to save, conserve energy throughout year

  • Published
  • By Brian Windle
  • 14th Civil Engineer Squadron Housing Technician

If bills are starting to get pricey and you need to look for ways to cut back, there are several ways to accomplish this every day.

First, adjust the thermostat based on season and occupancy. At Columbus Air Force Base, all occupied buildings are kept at a 68-degree set point in the winter and a 76-degree set point in the summer. These points are lowered in the winter and raised in the summer when the buildings are unoccupied.

This same principle can be applied at home by raising the thermostat setting a few degrees in the summer and lowering it a few degrees in the winter. Try turning it up or down an additional 10 degrees before leaving for the day or for an extended period of time. There are several models of programmable thermostats that can do this automatically as well.

Monitoring and adjusting the thermostat in this manner can significantly reduce usage and electric bills. For example, for every one degree raised or lowered, depending on the season, could save about three percent on an electric bill. 

Take advantage of Mother Nature. Open the blinds or curtains on sunny days to allow the sunshine to heat your home. Open windows in the front and back of the house or upstairs and downstairs in two story homes and turn on the ceiling fans to create a draft to help cool homes on more mild days. The less use the heater and air conditioning, the more money saved on utility bills.

Pay attention to equipment. An air conditioner and heater should be serviced before the start of each season. If either is not working properly or at optimum efficiency, it can be a huge drain on energy usage. For those with gas heat, regular maintenance is not only beneficial to reduce energy usage, but is imperative to maintain the safety of a household. Both electric and gas water heaters can be a significant drain on energy usage.

Consider lowering the temperature setting on water heaters as low as possible. In addition, wrapping an insulated jacket around water heaters can help the tank stay warmer longer. Keep in mind, anything that has to heat up, uses a lot of energy, so pay attention to how long appliances are running and try to reduce this time if possible.

Do a complete walkthrough of your home before leaving and turn off any lights, appliances, TVs, fans, or any other appliances that do not have to remain on.

A majority of these tips will not cost anything extra, but all have the potential to save money in the long run. The less energy you use, the more money it will save you.