Fact Sheet

1. HVAC - Half of all utility bills can be traced to cooling and heating costs.
   Thermostats should be set on 78° in the summer and 68° in the winter. Avoid opening windows when the weather is very humid. Use vents when cooking or bathing to help remove moisture. (Make sure that they are vented to the exterior of the house).



2. Hot Water Heating - 20% of utility bills can be traced to water heating.
   Thermostat should be set at 120°. Timers and blankets are highly recommended for electric water heaters. Set on insulated pad, such as a piece of 1/2" plywood (not advisable for gas heaters).



3. Appliances - Very little difference on a utility bill can be realized by cutting back on appliance usage. There are exceptions, however. Wash clothes in cold water, cook in the microwave and use lower wattage light bulbs. When drying clothes, try to take out the clothes as soon as possible.



4. To calculate how much electricity an appliance uses, you can apply the following formula:
   
   Amps * Voltage = Wattage
   Wattage / 1000 = Kilowatts
   Kilowatts * the number of hours used a day = kWh
   kWh * 30 days = kWh/Month
   kWh/Month * .079 = Cost of using that appliance



5. Silicone caulking should be applied around windows and doors and where any two different materials meet. (Example: Wood and metal, wood and brick, etc.)



6. Weather-stripping should be installed around any door that allows daylight in, around its perimeter. (If you stand directly behind a door and can see daylight, you need to weather-strip.)



7. Single glass windows can be helped by installing storm windows.



8. Increase insulation levels in the attic to R-30.



9. Make sure the attic is adequately vented, so as to remove as much heat as possible during the summer months.