Energy saving tips

1. Doing Laundry - Divide and Conquer

Consider dividing your wash into loads and run your washer and dryer for one load every evening, as soon as the off peak time slot begins. If your washer has a delay cycle, you could schedule it for those off peak times at night or to wash in the early mornings. For further energy savings, wash most of your clothes in cold water and always chose 'cold' to rinse. The 'wrinkle-free' setting on a dryer is a wonderful feature to have, but unfortunately, it cycles on/off to keep wrinkles at bay, when the load has not been removed from the dryer. This can cost you, especially during on peak rate times. Either listen for the dryer end-of-load signal, or turn the wrinkle-free setting off, if you plan to 'ignore' the laundry anyways.

2. Dishwasher - Do Them Later & Don't Feel Guilty

You may have trained your family to do dishes right away and to resist the urge to 'do them later'. This chore is now best delayed to a cheaper electricity use period, like off peak. Have it all ready to either run the 'delay' feature or manually turn it on later in the evening. For further energy savings, use a shorter cycle when appropriate or the econo dry feature if you have one; it allows the dishes to air dry after the rinse.

3. Cool - But Only When & Where You Need it!

When it comes to central air, dropping a few degrees may go unnoticed as far as comfort is concerned and it can mean some energy savings. You should also ensure that you are not cooling areas of the home not lived in, such as utility and storage rooms. Look for non-electric ways to keep your home comfortable during the summer. A ceiling fan can be a big help, but make sure it's on the right setting. And drapes closed while the sun is shining, can keep the living room more comfortable.

4. Shun the Oven - Cook With Counter Appliances

Especially during high on peak electricity rate times, use more counter appliances such as cookers, slow cookers, rice cookers, bread makers, griddles and grills, because they will use less energy than your range oven or cook top. Consider more barbecue or outside grilling meals during warm weather and use the microwave for warming or reheating.

5. Refrigerator & Freezer - Efficiency Rules

A freezer that is mostly empty during certain seasons, yet still plugged in 'just in case', could be unplugged when not needed. Consider more efficient models, downsize to an appropriate capacity for your household needs and unplug a freezer that you really only need during holidays or when the garden harvest is ready. The above is from an article by Mariette Mifflin, About.com Guide “A Work Around Strategy to Save Energy if on Time of Use Rates and Smart Meters”

Stay warm, shift and reduce your energy use this fall and winter with these simple tips from Duke Energy.

No-sweat advice for heating your home

• Change your filter
  A dirty filter makes your heating system work harder and use more energy. Replace your filter every few months or opt for a washable one – they can last up to five years. Don’t forget: changing your filters can cut down on dust around the house.
• The right temperature at the right time.
  You can save around 10 percent a year on your heating bills by turning your thermostat back 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours a day. Think about installing a programmable thermostat which will allow you to automatically set specific temperatures so you can shift energy away from the on-peak times you have chosen to less expensive off-peak times.
• Let a fan give you a hand
  The ceiling fans in your home are a great way to help you stay warm in the winter. Simply set the fans to operate in a clockwise direction. This will push warm air collecting near the ceiling, back down into the room.

Keep your head above water

• Timing is everything
  Remember to wash your clothes only during the off-peak times you have chosen or during weekends when it is always off-peak.
• Clean in the cold
  Ninety percent of the energy used by washing machines goes into heating the water. Consider using the cold water setting next time you do laundry. Your regular detergent should work just fine, or you may want to try detergents designed especially for cold water use.
• Rinse before you load
  As much as 80 percent of the energy your dishwasher uses goes to heat water. So, try turning off the "pre-rinse" option and instead rinse your dishes before loading them in the dishwasher. Also, run the dishwasher when it’s full and during off-peak times.
• Shower Power
  Remember the on-peak times you have selected and refrain from taking a shower during that time frame if possible. Install a low-flow shower head. These shower heads typically use 15 gallons of water during a 10 minute shower compared to a bath that can use up to 25 gallons of water.

Food for thought

• Cooking up a deal
  Try to do most of your cooking in the microwave or on top of the range instead of in the oven during on-peak times to save energy and money.
  
• Recycle and save
  You can save money on your energy bill by letting Duke Energy haul that old spare refrigerator or freezer away for FREE, and, you receive a $30 check from Duke Energy. Check out Duke Energy’s Appliance Recycling program

More power to you

• Brighter isn’t always better
  Some newer TVs are automatically configured for "store" mode, which is a brighter, high-energy mode set by manufacturers prior to shipping. Try out the "home" setting for a better picture, longer TV life and energy savings of up to 30 percent.
• Take a bite out of energy
  "Energy vampires" loom in and around your home. Devices like your cell phone charger, gaming system and power strips use energy – unplug them when you’re not using them. Also change the way you use other equipment-- if you don’t think you’ll use your computer for a while, shut it down and only turn on your printer when needed.
• Smart $aver® incentives
  Duke Energy’s Smart $aver® Program offers you ways to save money, improve the comfort of your home and become more energy efficient. Incentives include up to $625 on a new heat pump or central air conditioner, a heat pump or central air tune-up worth a $50 incentive, and insulation and seal incentives worth $75-$250.