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Be Energy Efficient Year 'Round

When You Save Energy, You Save Money

Fall Saver Tips
Winter Tips

  • Winter Max
  • Set your thermostat at 68 degrees or lower during the winter months. For each degree you increase the temperature from the recommended setting, you can increase your bill up to 4%. GRU has HVAC system rebates available.
  • Check your heating system's filters once a month and clean or replace as needed. Maintaining the system helps it to run longer while using less energy. GRU has central air conditioner maintenance rebates available.
  • Weatherize your home. By simply caulking, sealing and weather-stripping around all your windows, outside doors or where plumbing, duct work and electrical wiring penetrate exterior walls, floors or ceilings, you can save 10% to 25% on your heating bill.
Fall Saver Tips
Spring Tips

  • Use ENERGY STAR® labeled products. A new refrigerator with an ENERGY STAR label will save you between $35 and $70 a year compared to the models designed 15 years ago. GRU has high efficiency room air conditioner rebates available.
  • Install 14-watt compact fluorescent light bulbs in place of 60-watt incandescent bulbs. CFLs use at least 2/3 less energy than standard incandescent bulbs to provide the same amount of light, and last up to 10 times longer. You can save $30 or more in energy costs over each bulb’s lifetime.
  • The most important maintenance task that will ensure the efficiency of your air conditioner is to replace or clean filters monthly. Clogged, dirty filters block normal airflow and reduce a system's efficiency significantly. GRU has central air conditioner maintenance rebates available.
Fall Saver Tips
Summer Tips

  • Use ceiling fans to increase comfort level. Set your thermostat at 78 degrees or higher. For each degree you lower the temperature form the recommended setting, you can increase your bill up to 4%. GRU has HVAC system rebates available.
  • Don't place lamps or TV sets near your air conditioner thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, and causes the air conditioning to run longer than necessary, using more energy.
  • Plant trees or shrubs to shade air conditioning units but not to block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses as much as 10% less electricity than the same one operating in the sun.
  • Install a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature automatically and maximize energy savings. When cooling, try programming the thermostat to 82° while you are gone in the daytime and return it to 78° two hours before you get home.
Fall Saver Tips
Fall Tips

  • About 80 to 85% of the energy used for washing clothes is for heating the water. There are two ways to reduce the amount of energy used for washing clothes - use less water and use cooler water. Your clothes will be just as clean as using warm or hot water and you'll save money by not heating water to wash clothes. Costs are 26˘ per load using hot water and 11˘ per load using warm water.
  • Use natural gas for cooking, water heating and drying clothes. Natural gas can save up to 30% in cost than using electric for these appliances and is better for the environment. GRU has natural gas rebates available.
  • Check your ducts for air leaks. Look for joints that should be connected but have separated. Leaky duct work can increase your utility bill significantly.
Year 'Round Tips
  1. Provide solar screens for east and west windows. Sunny windows can account for 10% to 25% of your cooling bill by making your air conditioner work two to three times harder.
  2. You can save as much as 10% a year on your utility bill by simply turning your thermostat down during heating season or up during cooling season, or off when you leave home for more than two hours.
  3. If buying a new heating and air conditioning system, make sure it is sized properly. An air conditioner that's too large for your home can use more energy than necessary to cool your home. A properly sized system can save you $600 a year in heating and cooling.
  4. Weatherization and caulking such things as windows and doors can save over 30% of cooling and heating cost
  5. Insulate your water heater to save energy and money. For every 10 degrees Fahrenheit you lower the temperature setting, you can reduce your bill 3% to 5%.
  6. Don't use the "rinse hold" on your dishwasher for just a few soiled dishes. It uses 3 to 7 gallons of hot water each time you use it. Save energy, water and money.
  7. Let your dishes air dry. If you don't have an automatic air-dry switch, turn off the control knob after the final rinse and prop the door open a little so the dishes will air dry.
  8. About 80% to 85% of the energy used for washing clothes is for heating the water. There are two ways to reduce the amount of energy used for washing clothes-use less water and use cooler water. Wash clothes in cold water only. Your clothes will be just as clean as using warm or hot water and you'll save money by not heating water to wash clothes. Save energy, water and money.
  9. Check door seals on refrigerators and freezers. Place a dollar bill in the door as you close - if it does not hold firmly, the seal is worn and needs to be replaced. A refrigerator door that does not close tightly will increase heat gain and cause the refrigerator to run more.
  10. Match pan size to element size when cooking. For small pans, use a small burner and for large pans use a large burner. Using the wrong sized element will cause you to use more energy to cook than when the pan size fits the element size.
  11. Use glass or ceramic pans when cooking in ovens. This way you can reduce the cooking temperature by 25 degrees and you food will cook just as quickly.
  12. Use the garbage disposal sparingly - compost instead and save gallons of water every time.
  13. Clean your dryer's filter after each use. A clean dryer filter will allow your dryer to work more efficiently. Dryer filters full of lint will cause your dryer to work harder and longer; using more energy.
  14. Check your pool filtering system for debris and leaks. This way the filter will not have to work long and hard to clean the pool.
  15. Check your central air conditioning/ heating system's filters once a month, clean or replace as needed, and maintain the system so it will run longer and not use more energy than necessary.
  16. Make sure your home is properly insulated in order to keep the conditioned ac/heat within the home for a longer period of time.
  17. Visit the U.S. Department of Energy Saving Tips for a collection of information.
  18. Install a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature automatically and maximize energy savings. When cooling, try programming the thermostat to 82° while you are gone in the daytime and return it to 78° two hours before you get home.