It’s that time of year again! We’re running another energy-saving challenge to help you lower your bill by making small changes each week for a month. You can mark off each item as you complete them and follow along on Facebook at facebook.com/PiedmontEMC or Twitter at twitter.com/PiedmontEMC as we post a reminder of what to do each week to help you save. Will you join in on the fun?
Week 1: Adjust Your Thermostat
This week is all about your thermostat. Whether you have a smart thermostat or a traditional one, adjust the temperature up by a few degrees to help you save money. As a good rule of thumb, we recommend keeping your thermostat set at 78°F in the summer to help you stay comfortable while saving on energy costs.
Week 2: Change the Direction of Your Ceiling Fans
For our week 2 challenge, go around to the ceiling fans in your home and make sure they’re set to turn counterclockwise. If they’re spinning the wrong way, flip the small switch on the side of the fan base to change the direction. This helps to push cool air down, creating a refreshing breeze in the room. Also, remember that fans cool people, but they don’t lower the temperature, so turn your fans off when leaving the room.
Week 3: Adjust Your Water Heater
Did you know that about 20%* of your home’s energy use goes toward water heating? For this week’s challenge, adjust your water heater by a few degrees to help you save on your electricity bill. We recommend 120°F as a comfortable yet efficient water heater setting. As a bonus challenge, you can install a water heater insulation blanket to prevent heat loss in your tank.
Week 4: Unplug Unused Electronic Devices Around Your Home
For the final week of the challenge, take a look around your home and identify any devices that you keep plugged in all the time. It could be your TVs, video game consoles, air fryers, etc. These devices pull energy even when they’re off, so unplug them and only plug them in again when you need to use them.
Extra Credit: Check Your Air Filters
Check your air filters once a month to make sure they are clean. Dirty air filters can prevent air from flowing freely and make your system less efficient.