Check out the video and article from Keloland.com to learn about Space Heater Savings.

Turn down your thermostat to 68 degrees. For every degree you lower your heat in the 60-degree to 70-degree range, you’ll save up to 5 percent on heating costs.  Set the thermostat back to 55 degrees or off at night or when leaving home for an extended time, saving 5-20 percent of your heating costs (Note, if you use a heat pump, check with your HVAC service professional about setting back the temperature.  Some older thermostats should only be set back 2 degrees to prevent unneeded use of backup strip heating).

Replace or clean your heating system’s filters once a month. Dirty filters restrict airflow and increase energy use. Now is also the time for a HVAC “tune-up.” Keeping your system clean, lubricated and properly adjusted will reduce energy use, saving up to 5 percent of heating costs.

Reduce hot water temperature. Set your water heater to the “normal” setting or 120-degrees Fahrenheit, unless the owner’s manual for your dishwasher requires a higher setting. Savings are 7-11 percent of water heating costs. Insulate the first 5 feet of pipe coming out of the top of your water heater or the whole length until the pipe goes into the wall if that is less than five feet. Pipe insulation is available from your hardware store. If your water heater is more than 12 years old, consider replacing it with a newer, more efficient model. The best indicator of a water heater’s efficiency is the Energy Factor (EF). The higher the EF, the more efficient the water heater. 

Seal up the leaks. Caulk leaks around windows and doors. Look for places where you have pipes, vents or electrical conduits that go through the wall, ceiling or floor. Check the bathroom, underneath the kitchen sink, pipes inside a closet, etc. If you find a gap at the point where the pipe or vents goes through the wall, seal it up. Caulk works best on small gaps. Your hardware store should have products to close the larger gaps.

Consider replacing your old appliances with an ENERGY STAR®.  If you are planning to replace your refrigerator, clothes washer, dishwasher, or new computer or TV look for an ENERGY STAR rated model that is about 15 percent more efficient than standard models.  If your HVAC system is over 15 years old, consider replacing it with a newer ENERGY STAR system.

Cooler weather, shorter days, and falling leaves don’t have to go hand in hand with rising electric bills.  There are several simple things you can do to get ready for winter and save money and energy. 

• Air leaks in your home not only cause uncomfortable drafts but waste energy. Reducing air leaks could cut 10 percent from an average household’s monthly energy bill. The most common places where air escapes homes are: floors, walls, ceilings, ducts, fireplaces, plumbing penetrations, doors, windows, fans, vents and electrical outlets.
• Weatherize your home by caulking and weather-stripping all doors and windows.
• Cover through-the-wall or window air conditioners to prevent cold air from leaking into your home.
• Close the fireplace damper when not in use.  It’s also a good time to have your chimney cleaned and inspected.

Heating System

• Don’t block your radiators or heating vents with furniture or draperies. Keep your radiators, registers and baseboard heaters dirt and dust free.
• Have your heating system serviced once a year by a NATE-certified technician
• Regularly replace heating system filters.

Thermostat

• Set your thermostat no higher than 68 degrees when you are home and lower the temperature when you go to bed or when you are not at home. This will ensure optimal home heating and save energy.  For every degree you lower your thermostat you save about 2 percent off your heating bill. 
• A programmable thermostat can help tailor the temperature to your schedule.

Windows

• Use locks on your windows to make them tighter and draft resistant.
• Keep shades and curtains open during the day on the south side of your home to allow solar heating. Close them at night to retain heat.

Water heating

• Turn your water heater down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to save money on your energy bill. If you have children in the house, this is also a safety measure.
• Install low-flow showerheads and faucets.
• Use the energy saving settings on your dishwasher and washing machine.  Run the machines with full loads.  Wash clothes in cold water.

Lighting

• Turn off lights when not in use. Replace your most-used incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent lamps, which use 75% less energy and lasts about 10 times longer.  LED lamps offer similar savings and longer life.

Contact your local Touchstone Energy Cooperative to learn about energy audits, programs, and services they offer that can save you money, energy, and enjoy Fall in comfort.

Get rid of your extra refrigerator and save between $100-$250 a year

Look no further than that extra refrigerator in your home. When buying a newer, more efficient refrigerator many people move their old fridge into some remote corner of their house or garage, instead of unplugging and removing it. While these old refrigerators might still work, they are much less energy efficient then newer Energy Star models and can add to your electricity bill.

These basement or garage refrigerators continue to drain electricity and can add significantly to your electric bill. “You’re looking at spending anywhere between $150 and $250 a year in energy costs just to power up that old, extra refrigerator,” stated Brian Slobada, senior program manager at the Cooperative Research Network (CRN).

When buying a new fridge, be sure to check the yellow energy guide sticker. This sticker will help you to make your decision by telling you about how much your refrigerator will cost you to operate every year. For those dead-set on keeping their old refrigerator around, consider only plugging it in only when it is really needed and then unplugging it afterwards.

Scrapping your old refrigerator in favor of a new energy efficient one can lead to energy savings that help keep your electricity bill lower. For more information on refrigerator savings click on Energy Star’s online calculator here.

Check your air filters on a regular basis

Clogged filters are less able to pick up dust, pollen, mold and other particulates circulating in your home. Replacing these filters when they get dirty or clogged will keep you from breathing in these particles and help improve your overall respiratory health. This is especially important if anyone in your house suffers from asthma or other respiratory illnesses.

Packs of air filters are relatively inexpensive, especially when compared to the money that you could save on your electric bill. Not sure what sized filter to get? Just measure the dimensions of the ones already inside your home. Replacing the filters only takes a few minutes and can save you money over time.

Also, having your HVAC system serviced on an annual basis will help ensure that your system is not costing your more than it should. Proper maintenance will help increase the life of the system itself.

And don’t forget to check to make sure that inside and outside coils are kept clean and free of debris.

If you or someone in your family is fairly forgetful when it comes to turning off light switches, a few motion detectors may be just what you need

Did you know that lighting your home contributes about 12-15 percent of your total electric bill?

Save yourself some money and invest in motion detecting lights in areas of your home that are often less occupied. This way, the light will switch on when someone enters the room and go off again after a set period of time when no movement is detected. This prevents a light in remote corner of the house from being on needlessly for hours at a time. If you or someone in your family is fairly forgetful when it comes to turning off light switches, a few motion detectors may be just what you need. Some great places for motion sensing lights in the home include the front door, front and back yard, basement, attic,-or laundry room.  Besides being energy efficient, motion sensing lights outside your house provide a measure of security.

Indoor switches range from $15 to $45 and a basic outdoor flood light cost around $16. Whether or not you choose to install motion sensors, remember to pay attention to the lights in your house. It’s one of the ways the little changes add up to savings on your electric bill.

The program works like this; when the engineers at the DEC are able to determine that a peak situation is about to occur, members participating in the program will be notified through an email and will have the chance to reduce their electrical load by turning off lights, waiting to run energy intensive appliances, or waiting to shower until after the peak.

DEC's Beat The Peak device

But that is not all that DEC is doing for their members. They have been working with Cooper Power Systems and have developed the Beat the Peak light. This light can be plugged into any household electrical socket and is available at no cost to the members at their request. The device has three LED lights on it, each has a different meaning. A green light shows that the device is on and working properly, a yellow light, which when on indicates that a peak situation will be occurring within the next hour, and a red light, which comes on when a peak is occurring and electricity is at its most expensive rate.

The choice of whether or not to reduce the electrical load is left up to the member and they are merely reminded that the peak is about to occur. This device allows members to keep the cost of their electricity bill low and reduces the carbon emissions that come from producing electrical power. In the programs first year, DEC members were able to collectively save more than $2 million.

Increasing energy efficiency is the most economical way to reduce energy usage and lower utility bills.  In an effort to demonstrate practical ways to save energy through home improvements, Prairie Power, Inc. and its 10 distribution cooperatives developed the Energy Efficiency Wall in 2009.

Supplemented by Touchstone Energy’s “TogetherWeSave” program, the energy efficiency wall illustrates low-cost opportunities that cooperative members can take advantage of in order to reduce their energy use while improving the comfort of their homes.  The display demonstrates different types of lighting and insulation materials, the benefits of proper caulking or air sealing, and other energy efficient construction practices, as well as the use of energy efficient products.

“We know we can reduce the energy costs on the vast majority of homes by 20 to 40 percent,” said Bob Dickey, manager of marketing and economic development for Paxton, Ill.-based Eastern Illini Electric Cooperative.  Dickey was selected as one of the thirty recipients receiving the Touchstone Energy “2011 Brand Champion Award” for promoting the Touchstone Energy Brand and energy efficiency.

A blower allows for air to flow through the display and is used to demonstrate potential energy losses that could easily be plugged with proper caulking, insulation and various sealants.

“Energy costs are going to continue to go up,” said Dickey. “Many homes were built decades ago and they leak like sieves.”

The wall has proven to be beneficial to members as well as the general public.   Once members see and experience the wall, they can utilize the concrete examples demonstrated and apply them to their own home.

“PPI took the concept of energy efficiency from an abstract idea and made it visible so members would understand that they had more control over their energy usage and utility bills,” said Dickey. “The wall gives members the confidence that they can reduce their energy bills immediately without a major investment.”

Prairie Power, Inc. has received two major awards in 2011: the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance’s “Inspiring Efficiency Marketing Award” and the Rural Electricity Resource Council’s “Silver Switch Award”.  Eastern Illini received the 2011 Spotlight on Excellence Award of Excellence for “Best Total Communication Program” which featured the energy efficiency wall.

Look no further than your water heater!

Being mindful of your home’s hot water consumption is a great way to save money this summer. Using less hot water will help contribute to your overall savings. This can be done by taking shorter showers or installing low flow showerheads. Also, using cold water to wash your clothes will help you save as well.

Another way to save is by turning the temperature of your water heater down. The standard temperature for most water heaters is 140°F, but most households should be able to operate with the water set at 120°F. Be sure to read your manual for proper instructions on adjusting the thermostat. For example, the electricity should be turned off before adjusting the temperature of electric water heaters. If you are going away on vacation for a few days you can turn the temperature down even further until you come back.

Set Your Water Heater Temperature to 120°F

Lastly, insulating your water heater can help you save money by reducing heat losses. Usually, if your water heater is warm to the touch, it could stand to be insulated. You should not insulate gas-fired water heaters. Insulating water pipes for the first six feet from the water heater will also help you save energy.