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Warning: There are several long posts here from me...I'm a little manic right now.

The following info was borrowed from: Booneville Power Administration We use several of these tips and plan to use others.


Appliance Tips

1 Maintain the right temperature in your refrigerator and freezer. Refrigerators can use up to 20 percent of the total electricity in your home. The refrigerator should be set between 38ºF (3ºC) and 42ºF (6ºC). The freezer should be set between 0ºF (-31ºC) and 5ºF (-26ºC).

2 Keep them full. A full refrigerator takes less energy than an empty one. Fill extra space with gallon jugs of water placed in the back of both the freezer and refrigerator. we do

3 Clean the condenser coils. Dust and pet hair can build up and cause the refrigerator motor to work harder. Clean them at least twice a year. The coils are located on the bottom or the back side of most models. we do

4 The doors should close tightly and stay closed. Check the seals for cracks or worn areas. If there are any, replace them.

5 Open the refrigerator door as little as possible. Every time the door opens, warm air rushes in. we do

6 Let food cool. Don't place hot or even warm food directly inside the refrigerator. Let it cool first.

7 Always cover everything. Humidity escapes from uncovered foods. The compressor must work harder to remove the excess humidity.

8 Defrost food in the refrigerator. Instead of defrosting food on the counter where it may spoil, place it in the refrigerator 24 hours before you need it. This will help keep the temperature down in the refrigerator while it thaws.

9 Replace appliances with energy-efficient models. When old models wear out, replace them with appliances that have earned the Energy Star label. we do

10 Use microwaves for most cooking. A microwave does small and medium cooking jobs more efficiently than an oven or range top. we do

11 Choose the right pan for the job. When using the range top, remember to match the pan with the similar sized heating element. we do

12 Use all appliances wisely. TVs, radios, computers and vacuum cleaners use relatively small amounts of electricity. But they add up. Don't leave on appliances when they are not in use. we do

13 Wash only full loads in the dishwasher. we do

14 Wash clothes in cold water. Use cold temperature detergents, and always have a full load. Also, 15 minutes of presoaking and 5 minutes of agitation get clothes cleaner than 15 minutes of agitation. we do

15 Don't over-dry clothes in the dryer. Consider using drying clothes racks in the house or resurrect grandmother's clothesline outside during nice weather.

Heating Tips

1 Pay attention to the thermostat. A few degrees can make a difference in your heating bill. Set the thermostat between 65º and 68ºF (18º to 20ºC). we do

2 Add extra insulation. In areas that are accessible, such as attics and crawl spaces, add an extra layer of insulation. Consult an expert or utility representative to determine the appropriate amount to add. We need to do!

3 Keep heating vents unobstructed. Check ducts which sometimes become blocked by furniture or other items. we do

4 Clean filters monthly. Forced air furnaces filters trap dirt and dust that should be cleaned or replaced regularly. we do

5 Close chimney dampers. An open chimney might act as a suction pipe, pulling warm air out of the house. Close the damper as soon as the fire is completely out.

6 Use sweaters and blankets. Encourage family members to dress warmly. we do

7 Circulate heated air. Since warm air rises to the highest areas, a ceiling fan at a low speed helps distribute warm air in the house. we do

8 Keep drapes and blinds closed. Drapes add an extra layer of insulation. If you don't need the outside light, leave them closed. Turn blind louvers down toward the ground outside to divert rising heat back into the room.

9 Check heat ducts for leaks. Where accessible, feel ducts for cracks or leaks and seal leaks with foil-backed tape. Ducts in unheated areas should also be insulated where possible.

Water, Window & Door Tips

1 Add energy-efficient showerheads and faucet aerators. These can reduce the amount of water released from a tap by up to 50 percent, which means less hot water needs to be heated. we do

2 Heat water to the right temperature. The recommended temperature is 120ºF (49ºC). we do

3 Repair leaks at once. A dripping faucet can waste 6-10 gallons (23-38 liters) of water a day. Replace worn-out washers. we do

4 Insulate hot and cold water pipes. If pipes are exposed beneath your home, insulate them with special pipe-insulating foam, or tape a standard insulation blanket around them. Keep cold pipes from freezing and hot pipes hot.

5 Turn your water heater off when you're on vacation. If you plan to be away for more than five days, turn your water heater off. Post a reminder to turn it on when returning.

6 Use drapes to insulate. Keep drapes closed to keep warm air in. Open drapes to allow the sun's rays to help warm rooms. we do

7 Take a shower instead of a bath. The average bath uses twice as much hot water as a 5-minute shower. we do

8 Turn faucets off when not using the water. Running water non-stop during shaving or brushing teeth is wasteful. Turn on the faucet when necessary and save thousands of gallons of water a year plus energy needed to heat it. we do

9 Apply weather stripping to stop drafts around doors and windows. Beneath doors, install common draft guards available at most hardware stores. Add weather stripping to window and doorframes. we do

10 Caulk smaller gaps. Many homes have cracks and leaks that are equal to a 2' x 2' open window.

11 Double insulate windows. Storm windows are an effective energy saver for leaky windows. An economical alternative is plastic sheeting. we sometimes do single insulate

Summertime is naked time in our house, wintertime we keep the thermostat down, wear sweatshirts & sweaters, warm fuzzies & pile blankets/quilts on the bed (our house has zero insulation so we have to be careful about pipes freezing.) We section off half the house we live in with heavy drapes and heat and cool that portion during summer/winter. We have 4 bedrooms on the "other end" of the house that are a guest room, & mainly storage right now. No sense heating & cooling them if they aren't used.

We use space heaters in the bedroom & living room also, as our heat pumps are about shot....our heat bills run $600/month using the heat pumps. OUCH! We plan to get insulated this year, at least partially on the old end of the house which we mainly live in. We use large rugs on the cold floors.....helps alot. And of course we thrift shop for the rugs. Dee actually won one in an online contest just before one winter.....what a blessing! We have an old wood stove that was given to us and plan to have it installed this year. I'm not the handy type so we have to hire out some of the work around here or make trades for services.

I just traded my truck for work in our home and on the van and car. Now our freezing bathroom has a heater vent in it for this winter. Yippie!!! Slowly our house is being transformed nto to a bit more comfortable area to live in.