How YOU can practice conservation and efficiency
It is every person’s responsibility to practice energy conservation and efficiency!
Here are some FREE things YOU can do to reduce your electric bill and slow the growing demand for additional electric generation nationwide.
• Turn off your lights, televisions, computers and other devices when not in use.
• Activate the “sleep” feature on your computer for short breaks.
• Use a power strip on those plasma TVs, DVD players, computers and kitchen appliances. When they are not in use, turn the strip off! This cuts the power to electronics which are technically turned off, but still drawing power.
• Open the drapes and take advantage of the sun’s solar heat.
• Close your fireplace damper when not burning a fire.
• Set your thermostat to the lowest possible comfortable setting in the winter. Wear a sweater! Cover up with a blanket! Use an extra blanket at night and turn your thermostat even lower.
• Take short showers instead of baths.
• Lower the thermostat on your water heater. A setting of 120 degrees provides comfortable hot water for most uses.
Other SMART investments you can do to make a local and national difference:
• Change your bulbs! Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) give off more light and less heat than standard incandescent bulbs. CFLs are also now available as dimmable bulbs, and manufacturers are making them with less mercury. In the not-too-distant future, CFLs will not require special disposal.
• Buy energy-efficient appliances that are Energy-Star rated.
• Seal up your leaky windows and doors to prevent cold air leaks.
• Improve the insulation in your attic. Most homes should have between R-22 and R-49 insulation in the attic.
• Invest in an electric heat product! If your home currently uses propane, you could upgrade to Cove heaters, a plenum heater, an air-source heat pump or another electric heat product that could greatly improve your home’s efficiency and reduce your depend-ence on propane.
For more information on Capital Electric’s electric heat products, click here. Or call Josh Schaffner, member services assistant, at (701) 223-1513 for a personal consultation. He can help you assess your home’s needs and find an electric heat solution that may reduce your electric bill and make your home more energy-efficient.