Save a little, save a lot - tips to lower bills Published Oct. 15, 2008 By 27th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- October is Energy Awareness Month and the 27th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron offers these no-cost/low-cost tips on how to reduce household utility bills. No cost tips: - Adjust your thermostat - for every degree you adjust your thermostat you can save up to 5 percent. Recommended settings are 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees in the summer. Heat pumps should only be set back two degrees in the winter to prevent unneeded use of backup strip heating. - Reduce hot water heater temperature to 120 degrees - you can save 7-11 percent of water heating costs. - Shorten showers - reducing shower time by half can save hundreds of gallons of hot water for a family of four and saves 33 percent of your hot water heating costs. - Use appliances efficiently - only do full loads when using dishwashers and clothes washers. Using the cold water setting on your clothes washer can reduce the energy used by 75 percent. - Keep the fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning - this will keep heated air from going up the chimney and save eight percent on heating costs. - Plug leaking energy in electronics - TVs, VCRs, DVD players, computers, cell phone chargers and many other electronics use power even when they are turned off. Unplugging or using power strips can save five percent on annual energy costs. - Eliminate wasted energy - turning off lights in unoccupied rooms and unplugging that spare refrigerator can save 10-25 percent on the electric bill. Low cost tips: - Replace incandescent light bulbs - compact fluorescent bulbs use 75 percent less energy and last up to 15 times longer. By replacing five of the most used bulbs can save $40 in yearly energy costs. Housing residents can pick up free compact fluorescent bulbs at the Housing Maintenance self-help store. - Install a programmable thermostat - while it costs approximately $100 upfront, if used properly, it can save $80-$215 a year on home heating bills. - Replace or clean furnace filters monthly - clean filters can save up to five percent on heating/cooling costs. - Install low flow showerheads - hundreds of gallons of water and 10-16 percent of water heating costs can be saved. - Insulate water heater - water tank insulation wraps are inexpensive and can save up to 10 percent on your hot water heating costs. Be sure not to block the exhaust vent when insulating gas water heaters. For added savings insulate your first five feet of hot water line leaving the water heater. - Increase ceiling insulation - increasing attic insulation to the recommended R-38 value can reduce heating costs by 5-25 percent. - Fix leaky faucets and toilets - small leaks can add up and create a river of waste. A leaky toilet can waste 52,800 gallons of water a year. For more information go to the Energy Star website at www.energystar.gov and the Alliance to Save Energy website at www.ase.org. For more information, contact Steven Myers, 784-0349.