PUCO Suggests Tips for Energy Efficiency and Conservation in Homes

COLUMBUS – The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) is encouraging people to practice energy efficiency and conservation.

People rely on energy such as electricity and natural gas to run their homes on a daily basis. By practicing energy conservation, you can develop habits to reduce your energy usage and save on your utility bills. Whether you own your home or rent, there are a number of things you can do to save on the energy you use every day, throughout your day.

If a lot of your appliances are old, then you may find that they are not very energy-efficient. This is because newer models have been made with energy-efficiency in mind. Therefore, you might want to replace some of your oldest appliances – this might cost you upfront, but will save you a lot of money in the long run. If you are worried about the buying expensive new appliances, you could always cover them with home warranty – this is so popular now that a lot of real estate agents will actually gift a real estate home warranty plan to clients when they buy a house.

Set thermostats as low as appropriate to maintain health and comfort.

Save energy by turning off lights and appliances when you leave a room.

Postpone using major electric appliances such as stoves, dishwashers and clothes dryers until mid-day or after 9 p.m., when the demand for electricity decreases.

Limit use of natural gas appliances during early morning hours.

Use compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) or LED bulbs.

Keep doors and windows closed as much as possible. This includes overhead doors on attached garages. I would also recommend Commercial Window Tinting Indianapolis as this will help to keep the heat in, and the cold out. If you have old windows, double glazing is also a good idea.

Look for an Amana fridge repair company in London to look at your fridge if you notice it’s not as efficient as it used to be.

Seal off unheated, unused rooms.

Look for furnaces and other appliances that are ENERGY STAR ® approved.

Set the water heater thermostat to the warm setting, or 120 degrees. If you will be away from your home, turn the thermostat down even more. This will avoid using energy to reheat the same water while you are not there.

Your home computer can use a considerable amount of electricity. To save energy, turn it off while it’s not being used.

Take extreme care when using space heaters. Make sure they are placed away from combustible materials and, if necessary, properly vented to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

For more information on conserving energy in your home or for any utility-related concern, visit www.PUCO.ohio.gov or call the PUCO Call Center at (800) 686-PUCO (7826).