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Once you have found that energy efficient rental and move in, you still need to be aware that the way which you use your appliances can affect your utility bill. In the following we have condensed a long list of what is possible into a short list of what is practical.
General water use. Check for leaks; drippy faucets, running toilets, wet spots around the water heater, etc. Leaky toilets in particular can add lots of $$ to your water bill in a one month period. Though you may not see the toilet leak, you usually can hear it if everything is quiet, or you may hear it periodically hear it refill the tank.
Heating
Thermostat. Keep the thermostat setting at 70 F or lower during the winter, or the lowest setting you find reasonable. Set the thermostat back to even lower temperatures at night while sleeping and during the day when the home is unoccupied. Setting the thermostat back five or more degrees during these times will reduce your heating costs 15%. (Note: Not for heat pumps. They do not 'recover' temperatures as efficiently as conventional heaters and should not be set back more than 2 degrees, unless you have a programmable thermostat that is made especially for heat pumps).
Air Distribution System. Remember to check the furnace filter and replace it regularly during the heating season. Make sure all the registers that move air to and from each room are unobstructed. Close off unoccupied rooms. Change those fuzzy filters!
Doors and Windows. Make sure all windows and storm windows are tightly closed during the winter. You would be surprised at the number of windows found during energy surveys that are not totally closed, even during the coldest weather. Keep drapes and blinds open to the sun on south facing windows during the day, and close them at night. Keep the doors and damper of a fireplace closed when not in use. Check with the property owner about caulking and weather-stripping leaky doors and windows.
Etcetera. Wear clothing that is appropriate for the season. Choose loosely woven fabrics; sweat pants, wool sweaters, and insulated slippers during winter. Several layers of clothing will keep you warmer than one thick one. If you use a water bed, make sure it is completely covered when not in use. If you have a heating blanket make sure it is turned off when not in use ( also follow all safety recommendations). Use a humidifier during the winter to increase heating efficiency and add moisture to dry winter air. Use the kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans sparingly during the winter. The extra heat and humidity are beneficial.
Water Heater Savings. Temperature settings should be 120 F to 125 F. Measure the water temperature at the faucet outlet. If you aren't sure how to set the water heater thermostat, ask management.
Bathing. Over half of the hot water use is due to showering. Check how many gallons you shower head uses per minute. An efficient shower head uses between 1.5 and 2.5 gallons per minute. If yours is a real guzzler (more than 3 gallons per minute), ask the owner to install a low-flow head, or purchase and install one yourself.
Laundry. Wash full loads when using the washing machine. Use cold water when possible. Don't overload the dryer. Make sure its filter is clean and the vent pipe is free of lint and kinks. An obstructed vent, besides presenting a safety hazard, can take up to four times as long to dry your clothes.
Strategies for Cooling Efficiently
Thermostat. Keep the thermostat setting at 78 F or higher in the summer, or the highest setting you find reasonable. Every degree you can raise the temperature will save you 5% on cooling costs. You can increase the temperature settings while the home is unoccupied. If you are regularly gone during the day, it is advisable to set temps 2 or 3 degrees higher during these unoccupied times.
Air Distribution System. Remember to check the furnace filter and replace it regularly during the cooling season. Make sure all the supply and return registers for the furnace are unobstructed by furniture, etc. Use floor, ceiling, or pedestal fans to move your conditioned air around. You can close off a room that is not used to reduce costs, but don't shut off more than 15% of the home's area or the air conditioner will not work as efficiently.
Reducing Interior Loads. When using the air conditioner, and especially on hot days, turn off all unnecessary appliances and excess lighting. Don't place lamps, televisions, computers, or aquariums near the thermostat as heat from these appliances may warm it up and cause the a/c to run longer than necessary. Prevent the sun from warming up the interior. By keeping drapes, blinds, or shades closed during the day. Use the bathroom exhaust fan to remove excess humidity after showering and hang wet towels and bathing suits etc. outside to dry. An a/c can use as much as 50% of its energy just wringing the moisture out of the air. Dry air is easier to cool than humid air.
Etcetera. Make sure the drain from the furnace is flowing freely. If the hose gets clogged, water will sit in the drain pan and spill over into the furnace. This contributes to moisture and humidity problems as well as damages the insides of the furnace. Cover fuzzy furniture with sheets or other material that won't be as warm to sit on.
Other Appliances
Refrigerator. Check temperatures. The refrigerated compartment should be no less than 37 F and the freezer should be no less than 0 F. Make sure all the coils are clean. If there is an "energy saver" switch inside the refrigerator, make sure it is on during the summer. Check door gaskets and repair loose fitting ones.
Lighting. Light bulbs give off heat as well as light. Because the heat that is lost helps to heat the house during winter. You really aren't losing by lighting up you living space. However, this only applies to the rooms that you are using. Turn off lights whenever they are not being used. If you regularly us any lighting while you sleep, make sure that it is as efficient as possible. Consider purchasing a compact fluorescent bulb for lights that are on for three hour or more each day. They use less energy and will outlast incandescent bulbs by many years.
Water Rates
Water bills are determined by how many cubic feet you use in a month. The water meter records this usage in 100s of cubic feet (CCF), which you will find recorded on your bill. To figure how many gallons this represents, take the number of CCF and multiply that by 750. (750 gallons = 1CCF). For example, 14 CCF x 750 = 10,500 gallons. Residential customers average 3 CCF per person per month.
Residential sewer rates are determined by the water usage during the months of January, February, and March. This period is used because the water registered o the meter would represent only water that went in to the sewer (for example, no car washing, yard watering, playing in sprinkler, etc. was going on.) If you have a leak in this period, your sewer rate may need to be adjusted. Contact CWL if you suspect you have a problem.
Cost Estimations
To figure how much it costs to operate appliances, you will need to know what you are being charged for a kilowatt-hour of electricity. This cost will be determined by your rate. When you get a bill, divide the kWh by the monetary charge and you will get an exact idea. To figure appliance operation costs, take the kWh rating, multiply it by the amount of time the appliance is on and multiply that figure by the rate you are paying. Example: What does it cost to burn a 100-watt bulb at $0.07/kWh for an hour? 1/10 x 0.07 x hr. = 0.0007/hr.
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