Utility bills getting out of control? Then take a look at our energy savings tips below.  Following some or all of these tips will help reduce the amount of electricity you consume, which reduces how much you pay!

• During the daytime, keeping your blinds or curtains open allows natural light to enter, reducing the need for having lights turned on.
• Only run your dishwasher when it is full.
• When doing laundry, try not to over-wash the clothes and rinse them in cold water.
• Turn off any lights that you do not need on.
• Turn off any electronic equipment, such as your computer, when you are not using it.
• During our cold winters, have your block heater plugged into a timer.
• When possible, use Light-Emitting Diode (LED) light bulbs. These bulbs typically last around five times longer and use less electricity than their traditional counterparts.
• Consider replacing older appliances with newer, more efficient ones.

Summer Energy-Saving Tips:

• Give your dryer a break and try hanging your clothes to dry.
• When it is cooler in the mornings or evenings try opening up windows to cool your home down instead of turning on an air conditioner.
• Shelter sun-exposed windows with awnings and shrubbery.
• Consider shutting off some appliances when you are on holidays.
• Ceiling and floor fans are a great investment. They circulate the air to cool the room and cost pennies per hour to operate.
• Why heat up your home by using the stove? Go outside and use your barbeque or fire pit.

Winter Energy-Saving Tips:

• Make sure walls, attics and floors are filled with adequate insulation.
• Install a setback thermostat that controls heating costs by automatically lowering the heat when no one's home.  For every degree you lower your thermostat, you save three percent on your bill.
• Close off heat and doors to unused rooms.  Keep closet doors closed - you don't need to heat them.
• Caulk, weather-strip and use foam to seal air leaks.  Pay special attention to the areas around windows and doors; where pipes enter walls; around light switch and outlet boxes and anywhere two materials meet.
• To help reduce home heating demand, consider using motorized air intake and outlet dampeners, minimizing the exchange of air through openings and ducts.
• Keep your furnace clean.  Change or clean your filter monthly during the heating season.  Washable filters should be completely dry before replacing them in the filter rack.
• Have your system checked yearly by a professional.  Regular maintenance helps keep it working efficiently and safely.