Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative

Energy-saving measures that cost little
or nothing

Low cost/no cost solutions

Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative, your Touchstone Energy Cooperative, wants to help you make the power you purchase from us an even better buy. We have compiled an extensive list of low cost/no cost energy-saving measures to help you better manage your home's energy costs. Here is a sampling.

Water heating

Set water heater temperature no higher than 120° F.
For households with one or two members, a 115°F setting may work fine.
Install water-heater wrap as per manufacturer's instructions.
Drain 1-2 gallons from bottom of water heater each year to reduce sediment build-up.
Install heat traps on hot and cold water lines when its time to replace your water heater.
Insulate exposed hot water lines.
Limit shower length to 5-7 minutes.
Install low-flow shower heads.
Fix dripping faucets.
Don't let water run while you are shaving or brushing your teeth.

Washing Laundry

Wash clothes in cold water. Use hot water only for very dirty loads.
Do only full laundry loads.
If you must do smaller loads, adjust the water level in the washing machine to match the load size, especially when using hot water.
Always use cold-water rinse.
Use bath towels at least twice before washing them.

Drying Laundry

Clean dryer lint trap before each load.
Verify the outdoor dryer exhaust door closes when dryer is off.
Verify dryer vent hose is tightly connected to inside wall fitting.
Verify dryer vent hose is tightly connected to dryer.
Verify dryer vent hose is not kinked or clogged.
Minimize clothes drying time; use moisture sensor on dryer if available.
Dry consecutive loads to harvest heat remaining in dryer from last load.
Consider using a "solar-powered" clothes dryer -- an old-fashioned clothes line.

Kitchen

Use your refrigerator's anti-sweat feature only if necessary.
Switch your refrigerator's power-saver to "ON," if available.
Clean refrigerator coils annually.
Set the refrigerator temperature to 34-37 degrees and freezer temperature to 0-5 degrees.
Ensure gaskets around door seal tightly.
Unplug unused refrigerators or freezers.
Use microwave for cooking when possible.
When cooking on the range, use pot lids; food will cook quicker.
If you are heating water, don't start with hot water from the tap -- start with cold.
Remember to use the kitchen exhaust fan when cooking and turn it off after cooking.
Let hot food cool before storing it in the refrigerator.
Scrape dirty dishes with cold water before putting them into the dishwasher.
Use cold water for garbage disposal.
Only run dishwasher when fully loaded.
Use air-dry cycle instead of heat-dry cycle to dry dishes.

Lighting

Replace any light bulb that burns more than one hour per day with its compact fluorescent bulb equivalent.
Turn unnecessary lighting off.
Replace outdoor lighting with its outdoor-rated compact fluorescent bulb equivalent.
Use 4-foot fluorescent fixtures for your workroom, garage, and laundry areas.
Use outdoor security lights with a photocell and/or a motion sensor.

Miscellaneous

Turn computers and monitors off when not used.
Turn waterbed heater off when not needed.
Turn large-screen TVs off completely when not in use.
Turn off stereos and radios when not in use.
Remember to turn off hair curling-iron and hot rollers.
Turn off coffee makers when not in use.
Turn off pool pump and/or heater when not needed.
Verify livestock watering tank heaters are off when not needed.
Verify battery chargers are off when not needed.
Ensure all new appliances you purchase are Energy Star-approved.

Air conditioning

Set thermostats to 78 degrees in summer
Run ceiling paddle fans on medium, blowing down, in summer
Change HVAC filters monthly.
When installing new air filters, make sure they are facing in the correct direction. (Look for arrow on side of filter.)
When heating or cooling, keep windows locked; they seal better.
Insulate electric wall plugs and wall switches with foam pads.
Caulk along baseboards with a clear sealant.
Caulk around plumbing penetrations that come through walls beneath bathroom and kitchen sinks.
Caulk electrical fixture wire penetrations at the top of the interior walls.
Close shades and drapes during day to help keep heat out during summer.
Ensure attic access door closes tightly.
Insulate attic access door.
Verify blown insulation in your attic has not shifted over into your soffit area, blocking your soffit vents.
Do not close off unused rooms that are conditioned by forced-air systems.
Do not close supply air registers.
Ensure return air grilles are not blocked by furniture or bookcases.
Ensure windows and doors are properly weather-stripped.
While outside, verify soffit vents in roof eaves allow for free air passage to keep attic cooler in summer and dryer in winter.
Do not use roof-top power ventilators for attic exhaust as then may evacuate conditioned air from your home.
Have your HVAC system serviced once per year by a NATE-certified technician. (Visit natex.org to find one.)
Monitor your home's relative humidity in the summer. If it consistently stays in the 60% range or higher, ask your HVAC technician about lowering your central air conditioning unit's indoor fan speed.
Ensure window A/C units are weatherstripped.
Ensure windows with window A/C units are weather-stripped between middle of top pane and top of raised bottom pane.
Remove and clean window A/C filter monthly.
Keep "fresh-air" vents on window A/C units closed.
Caulk around basement windows.
In a basement, seal the sill and band joist with durable caulking or foam sealant.
Ensure floor registers are not blocked with rugs, drapes or furniture.
Ensure your outdoor heat pump/air conditioning unit's coils are kept clean and free of debris.
Outside your home, caulk around all penetrations including telephone, electrical, cable, gas, water spigots, dryer vents, etc.
Caulk around storm windows.
Verify your supply air duct "boots" (behind supply air registers) are caulked to your ceiling or wall sheetrock, or flooring.
If in unconditioned space, verify your ducts are tightly connected and sealed to your HVAC equipment.
Verify all outside doors and storm doors close and seal tightly.
In two-story homes serviced by one HVAC system, a paddle fan at the top of the stairs can push down hot, second-floor air.
Install 15 minute, spring-wound timers on bathroom ventilator fans.
Always run your HVAC system fan on "AUTO." Running it on "ON" uses more electricity and can decrease your air conditioner's ability to remove moisture.
Keep your garage door down. A warmer garage in the winter and cooler garage in the summer will save energy.

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