Power Down: 18 Ways to Shrink Energy Usage and Save Costs

By: Mitch Ross with contributions by Stephen Sherwood

Saving energy — and money — can start with small steps. Here are 18 simple low-cost or no-cost tips!

1. Reduce your water heater temperature.
2. Use low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators to reduce hot water use.
3. Modern clothes washers and detergents work well without using hot water. Give it a try to further reduce hot water use.
4. When your home is unoccupied for over three hours, adjust your thermostat to reduce HVAC run time.
5. In the summer, set your thermostat as high as you comfortably can. In the winter, set it as low as you comfortably can. Dress accordingly to maximize these setpoint adjustments.
6. Every device in a home should be completely turned off unless it is in current use, including TVs, game consoles, computers, lights and fans in unoccupied rooms.
7. Eliminate extra refrigerators or freezers, especially if they are over 15 years old.
8. Predominantly use the shower, taking baths sparingly.
9. Use inexpensive expanding foam, caulk, weatherstripping, etc. to air seal the home.
10. Use duct mastic to seal any leaky ductwork.
11. If you have any voids in your attic insulation where work has been done, fill them in to have an uninterrupted blanket of insulation.
12. Don’t use a hot water circulation pump. If you feel you must use one, put it on a timer and reduce the run time as much as possible.
13. If you have a pool, set the pump on a timer and only run as needed. Search online for the proper run time based on your pool’s pump horsepower and volume.
14. Only use LED lights. Avoid incandescent lights.
15. In the winter, reduce electric resistance heat usage as much as possible. This can be automated by using a smart thermostat that is properly programmed.
16. Wait for food to cool off before putting it in the refrigerator.
17. Regularly replace air filters. Use the lower cost air filters, as the expensive high Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values (MERV) filters reduce airflow, extending HVAC run time.
18. Keep equipment like refrigerator coils, HVAC equipment, clothes dryer filters and exhaust hoses clean. Check these at least once a year.

By implementing at least a few of these tips, you are sure to help with your energy usage. I would recommend you start with just a couple and add more good practices and tackle more projects throughout the year!

Mitch Ross is the energy efficiency manager, and Stephen Sherwood is the energy efficiency analyst for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas.

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