Reduce your energy use

Here are several suggestions to get you well on your way to saving money and living well all while giving Mother Earth a break!

• Figure out how much energy you are currently using. TVA and NES have partnered to offer a “do-it-yourself” home energy audit.  Go online and fill out the audit and you’ll receive a free Energy Conservation Kit in the mail. From there, you can set goals to reduce your energy use. Its kind of like putting your house on a diet!

• Replace all the conventional lighting in your home with compact fluorescent (CF) bulbs. They cost more initially but use 65-75% less electricity than an incandescent bulb and last 8-15 times longer. Remember to properly recycle CF bulbs, as well as any other fluorescent bulb, as they contain trace amounts of mercury.
• Invest in a programmable thermostat or turn the AC off when you leave the house. Keep your thermostat set to no less than 78 degrees in the summer and no more than 72 degrees in the winter. If you are too hot, use a small fan near you instead of cooling the whole house. In the winter, use a small space heater to warm the immediate area to your liking… and wear a sweater!
• Set your water heater to 120 degrees. This temperature is sufficient for household needs, is recommended for safety against scalding and will ensure your heater a longer lifespan.
• Unplug all electronic devices that are not in use. Cell phone chargers draw electricity even when your phone is no longer plugged into it. Don’t pay for this waste of energy! Any item that has a remote is pulling a little bit of electricity even if it is not “on”. These devices are ready to be “on” with a touch of a button, thus constant electrical usage is needed to provide this convenience. Keep electronics you use daily plugged into one power strip; other electronics that you use less frequently can go on a separate power strip that is turned off after use. Evading this “phantom load” will save you a bit everyday!