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Heating, cooling, refrigeration and water heating are the top three users of energy in the home. Here are tips to help you save energy.
- Set your thermostat at 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees in the summer. Program your thermostat for 5 degrees higher in the summer and 5 degrees lower in the winter when you’re away from the house.
- Change your air filter monthly.
- Conduct an online or do it yourself energy audit for your home or office. JEA offers a free Home Energy and Check up video or DVD.
- Clean and service your heating/ventilation/air conditioner (HVAC) unit once a year.
- Use cold water for your laundry. Six loads of laundry with warm or hot water costs about $9.90, but six loads with cold water…only 90 cents. Switch to cold water washes and save.
- Every extra refrigerator or freezer can use up to $120 per year in energy. Consider disconnecting or removing.
- Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs throughout the home.
- Set your pool pump properly. A 1-horsepower pool pump running 24 hours a day will cost you $65 a month. Set it to run 8 hours in the summer and 5 hours in the winter.
- Improve your ceiling insulation to at least R19.
- Close the fireplace damper so cool air or heat won't escape through the chimney.
- Make sure your air ducts are sealed. The pipes that carry heated or cooled air around your home can often leak, leading to lost energy and money.
- Caulk around window, doors, pipes or anywhere else where air can leak in or out. Use weather stripping around windows, doors and pipes.
- Use ENERGY STAR™ appliances.
These things have little or no value in northeast Florida.
- Radiant Barriers
- Power Attic Ventilators
- Reversing Ceiling Fans in Winter
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