WasteWatcher Tips

Chicago Winters Sneak Up Fast. Be ready with WasteWatcher tips.

Quick Links

You can reduce your energy use and start lowering your bills by making some simple changes around your home. The following energy-saving tips cover practically everything that uses energy in your home from your lights to your heating and cooling system.

Whether it's putting on a sweater instead of turning up the heat or seeking out the advice of an expert, it's easy to conserve energy.

Heating Tips

  1. Lower your thermostat. 1°F makes a big difference. 68°F is recommended.
  2. Switch to a programmable thermostat. It automatically adjusts your home's temperature, saving you up to 20% on heating costs.
  3. Get your heating system tuned up by a service professional annually.
  4. Clean your furnace filter monthly.
  5. Keep doors leading outside closed as much as possible.
  6. Seal air ducts properly to prevent the leaks that develop over time.
  7. Open curtains during the day to let in the sun's heat. Close them at night to retain it.
  8. Close your fireplace flue when you're not using it.
  9. Install ceiling fans and set them at a slow speed to push warm air away from the ceiling and move it around the room.
  10. Insulate your attic. It's one of the most cost-effective savings measures you can take, and you can do it yourself.
  11. Seal your windows with caulk or weatherstripping.
  12. Replace single-pane windows with storm windows.

Back

Cooling Tips

  1. Installing an air conditioner? Look for ENERGY STAR® models.
  2. Raise the thermostat. 6°F can save 10% on your cooling bill.
  3. Consider using a dehumidifier in lieu of air conditioning. With less humidity, you'll be comfortable at much higher temperatures.
  4. Use an exhaust fan to blow hot air out of your kitchen while cooking. The lower cooling costs far outweigh the electricity use of the fan.
  5. Open the doors on opposite sides of your house for cross ventilation instead of turning on your air conditioning.
  6. Avoid activities that add heat or humidity to your home during the hottest parts of the day.
  7. Plant shade trees to block the heat from the sun. As the trees grow, they can dramatically cut your cooling bills.
  8. Close the curtains during the day to keep heat from the outside from getting in. Open them at night to let the heat from the inside get out.
  9. Use an attic fan to get rid of the heat build-up in your attic.
  10. Don't install window air conditioners in sunny areas. They work best when kept cool. Install the unit on a north-facing wall, if possible.
  11. Seal any gaps along the sides of window air conditioners with foam insulation.
  12. Shut the vents in unoccupied rooms, save 5-10% on your cooling costs.
  13. Resist opening and closing doors.

Back

Lighting Tips

  1. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents (CFLs). They use up to 75% less electricity and last up to 10 times longer.
  2. When replacing bulbs and fixtures, look for ENERGY STAR® products.
  3. Turn off lights. A typical bulb burning 24 hours per day will cost you about $75 annually.
  4. Invest in a timer that automatically turns your lights on and off.
  5. Clean fixtures and bulbs. Dust can absorb as much as 50% of the light.
  6. Use one bulb instead of multiple whenever possible. One 100-watt bulb produces the same amount of light as two 60-watt bulbs with 20% less energy.
  7. Use dimmers and 3-way bulbs to reduce your energy use by controlling the amount of light you need in a room.

Back

Appliance Tips

  1. Turn computers off when not in use. Save as much as $100 per year on electricity.
  2. Enabling your computer's 'sleep' mode can cut its energy use in half.
  3. Screen savers don't save energy. Turning your monitor off does.
  4. When shopping for electronics like TVs and Monitors, look for ENERGY STAR® models.

Back

Cooking Tips

  1. Preheat the oven and broiler only when necessary, like when a precise starting temperature is required.
  2. Turn off your oven a few minutes before the cooking time runs out. It'll retain enough heat to finish the job.
  3. Cook multiple dishes in the oven at one time.
  4. Don't open the oven door or lift pot lids. Each time you do it, the temperature drops 25-50°F, increasing your cooking time.
  5. If you use aluminum foil to catch drips in the oven, place it on the rack below the cookware.
  6. Once water boils, it doesn't get any hotter. Turn down the burner.
  7. Keep your oven and range clean.
  8. Use your microwave. Energy-efficient models use up to 75% less energy than conventional ovens.
  9. If time allows, thaw foods completely in the refrigerator before cooking. If pressed for time, the microwave is more efficient for thawing than the oven.
  10. Use the smallest pan possible. It takes less time to heat a smaller volume.

Back

Refrigerator and Freezer Tips

  1. Get rid of your old second refrigerator. It could be costing you over $200 per year.
  2. Keep your refrigerator away from heat. Place it in a cool location, out of direct sunlight and away from appliances that generate heat.
  3. Check the door seals on your refrigerator by closing the door on a dollar bill. If you can easily pull the dollar out, you should replace the seal.
  4. Don't overload. Refrigerators operate most efficiently when full but not overloaded.
  5. Don't put hot food in the refrigerator. Allow leftovers to cool before putting them in the refrigerator.
  6. Give your refrigerator some space. Allow at least one inch on each side for good circulation to reduce its energy use by 10 percent.
  7. Buy ENERGY STAR® refrigerators and freezers.
  8. Defrost your freezer. When ice builds up, it runs much less efficiently.
  9. Keep your freezer between 0-5°F. Anything below is wasteful and unnecessary.
  10. Fill your freezer. It'll operate most efficiently while keeping your food frozen longer during a power outage.

Back

Water Heating Tips

  1. Turn down your water heater. A 10°F reduction saves about 13% on water heating costs. Aim for 120°F.
  2. Insulate your water heater with an insulating blanket and save $50 annually.
  3. Fix leaking faucets. One drip per second can waste 400 gal of water a year.
  4. Upgrade your showerhead to a low-flow model and save 15,000 gal of water and $150 in water heating costs annually.
  5. Showers—especially with low-flow showerheads—use less gas than baths.

Back

Washer and Dryer Tips

  1. Rinse with cold water, save about $25 per year.
  2. Purchase a front-loading washer. They use over 50% less energy, significantly less water, and less detergent.
  3. For heavily soiled clothes, instead of a heavy wash cycle, try soaking them and then using a shorter wash cycle.
  4. Adjust your load setting to match the size of the load. Smaller loads use less water.
  5. Eliminate small loads in the washer. Combine loads whenever possible.
  6. Don't overload the dryer. Overloading makes the dryer work harder.
  7. Keep the lint filter clean. Lint reduces airflow making the dryer work harder.
  8. Dry loads consecutively to take advantage of heat build-up in your dryer.
  9. Line dry clothes.

Back

Dishwasher Tips

  1. Skip pre-rinsing. Newer dishwashers can handle heavily soiled dishes and require less pre-rinsing than older models.
  2. Load dishes according to the dishwasher manufacturer's instructions to take full advantage of the spraying action of your dishwasher.
  3. Wash full dish loads. Your dishwasher uses the same amount of water, regardless of how many dishes are washed.

Back

Pool and Spa Tips

  1. Use a pool cover to save energy and reduce water evaporation. For a 450 square foot pool, you'll save about 4,000 gal annually.
  2. Lower your pool's temperature to save energy and use less chemicals to treat it. Shield it from wind to prevent heat loss and evaporation.
  3. Turn off your hot tub when not in use. An electric hot tub costs roughly $4 to heat from 70 to 100°F and about $1 per day to maintain it.
  4. Lower your hot tub's temperature.
  5. Cover your hot tub whenever it's not in use. If you use electricity to heat it, you'll save up to $50 per year.

Back

Additional Tips

  1. The Peoples Gas Natural Gas Savings Program offers rebates for energy-efficient upgrades to your home. There are also federal tax credits available for the purchase of qualifying ENERGY STAR® appliances.
  2. Dig Safely. Call before you dig in your yard to find out how we can help you identify the location of gas lines.
    • For Chicago locations: Call DIGGER at 312-744-7000
    • For locations outside the city: Call JULIE at 811, or 800-892-0123
  3. Install Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detectors. Illinois law requires every home to have one within 15 ft. of sleeping areas.
  4. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program assists customers with paying outstanding bills, reconnecting their service and keeping their home's energy on. To learn more, call 800-571-2332.

Back