Home Energy Savings

Usage Alerts are Now Available to Co-op Members

A&N Electric Cooperative offers usage alerts through our free SmartHub app. The alerts are part of a co-op member’s notification management within the app. If you are interested in setting up a usage alert, create or log into your SmartHub account to see more details regarding your electric service.  Utilize your usage history to help determine what your thresholds (high and/or low) should be. Thresholds for energy usage alerts can be adjusted by you at any time within the app.

Questions about what could be driving a high energy consumption? Use the table below as a guide or utilize one of our Energy Use Calculators. Some energy savings tips can be seen below.

Appliance kWh Guide

In the Kitchen

1. Set the refrigerator temperature to 34 to 37 degrees Fahrenheit and freezer temperature to 0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. If you are heating water on the stove, use hot tap water instead of cold.
3. Use cold water for garbage disposal.
4. Remember to use the kitchen exhaust fan when cooking. Turn it off after cooking.
5. Use a slow cooker instead of simmering foods on the stove.
6. Use dishwasher’s air-dry cycle instead of the heat-dry cycle to dry dishes.
7. Fix dripping faucets.
8. If rinsing dirty dishes before putting them into the dishwasher, do so with cold water.
9. Use microwave for cooking when possible.
10. Turn off coffee makers when not in use.

In the Family Room

1. Check for energy saving settings on flat-panel TVs like automatic brightness control and a power saving sleep mode.
2. If you don’t unplug them, use energy-saving modes or automatic sleep functions on electronics.
3. Turn off stereos and radios when not in use.
4. Turn large-screen TVs off completely when not in use.
5. Close shades and drapes during the day to help keep heat out in summer.
6. Check to be sure return air grilles are not blocked by furniture or bookcases.
7. Unplug battery chargers when not needed.
8. Do not close supply air registers.
9. Turn off unnecessary lighting.
10. Turn off ceiling fans when leaving the room. Fans cool people, not rooms.

In the Laundry Room

1. Use bath towels at least twice before washing them.
2. Check that the dryer vent hose is tightly connected to dryer and inside wall fitting.
3. Wash clothes in cold water. Use hot water only for very dirty loads.
4. Clean dryer’s lint trap before each load.
5. Dry consecutive loads to harvest heat remaining in dryer from last load.
6. If you must do smaller loads, adjust the water level in the washing machine to match the load size, especially when using hot water.
7. Ensure all new appliances, electronics, and lights are ENERGY STAR® labeled.
8. Minimize clothes drying time by using an auto moisture sensor, if available.
9. Consider using a “solar-powered” clothes dryer: an old fashioned clothes line.
10. Only do full laundry loads.

In the Bathroom

1. Don’t let the water run while you are shaving or brushing your teeth.
2. Install water saving shower heads.
3. Caulk around plumbing penetrations that come through walls beneath bathroom and kitchen sinks.
4. Set water heater temperature no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Try to limit shower length to 5 to 7 minutes.
6. Turn off bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans 15 minutes after the job is complete or Energy Saver Tip: install 15 minute timers on bathroom ventilator fans.
7. Fix dripping faucets.
8. Insulate exposed hot water lines.
9. Use bath towels at least twice before washing them.
10. Install a water heater wrap, also known as a water heater blanket, per manufacturer’s instructions.

Useful Links

• • Energize Efficiently
  • Energy Star: Save at Home