Conservation Tips

WATER CONSERVATION

  • Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full. You could save 1,000 gallons a month Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Compost instead and save gallons over time.
  • Collect the water you use for rinsing produce. You can reuse it for watering houseplants.
  • Keeping your shower time under 5 minutes could save you up to 1,000 gallons a month.
  • Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl, you just discovered a leak. Having a slow leak repaired could save you around 600 gallons a month. (A toilet flapper stuck in a wide open position could wasteup to 3,000 gallons per day!)
  • Have leaky faucets repaired and you can save over 500 gallons a month.
  • Match the water level to the size of your load when doing your laundry.
  • Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and save 4 gallons a minute. That equates to 800 gallons a month for a family of four.
  • Turn off the water while you shave and save more than 400 gallons a month.
  • Plug the bathtub before adjusting the temperature as the tub fills up.

 ELECTRIC CONSERVATION

  • Turn the air conditioner off when you are not at home. Also raise the thermostat setting on your air conditioner 5° to 6° F.Water Conservation
  • Turn on fans, rather than air conditioners, to circulate air.
  • Close shades and curtains during the day to keep the heat out.
  • Put timers on your dehumidifier or air purifiers so they run only at night.
  • Run your dishwasher early in morning or late evening, and make sure it is full.
  • Wash clothes either early in morning or late evening.
  • If you have an electric water heater, shower and wash clothes and dishes in the late evening.
  • Limit the use of small appliances during the day – especially heat producing appliances (such as toasters, coffee
  • makers, electric fryers or griddles, hair dryers, curling irons, etc.)
  • Turn the lights off when you leave a room.
  • Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs where bulbs are on a lot of the time.
  • Minimize the amount of time doors are open on your refrigerator and freezer.
  • Turn off home computers and televisions when not in use.

NATURAL GAS CONSERVATION

  • Lower your thermostat. Save from 3% to 5% on your heating costs for each degree lowered.
  • Wash full loads of clothes in cold water.
  • Use energy saving settings on home appliances.
  • Close vents in unused rooms.
  • Allow sunlight to enter your home during the day by raising blinds or opening curtains.
  • Close heavy drapes to add insulation.
  • Use plastic window coverings on drafty windows.
  • Make sure your fireplace damper is closed when not in use.
  • If you have a gas fireplace, turn the pilot off during the warm and hot months.
  • Promptly turn-off kitchen, bath, or other ventilating fans off when not in use.