Holiday energy saving tips

Cooking

  • When baking, set the oven dial to the exact temperature you intend to use. The oven won't heat up any faster at a higher setting.
  • Don't preheat the oven unless the recipe calls for it specifically.
  • Use the oven light to check the cooking status through the oven window. Every time you open the oven door, the temperature drops about 25-30 degrees.
  • Don't preheat your oven for long-cooking foods, and turn off the oven 15 minutes prior to completion.
  • Cook several items in the oven at the same time, just make sure there is enough room for the heat to circulate around each pan or dish.
  • Use glass baking dishes in the oven when possible. Glass retains heat better than other materials, so it helps food cook faster and you can reduce your oven temperature by about 25 degrees.
  • If you are on SRP's optional Time-of-Use price plan, do your baking during off-peak hours. You can relax on Christmas and New Year's day – both are off-peak periods.
  • Use the range top or microwave oven when you can because they use less energy than a conventional oven.
  • Use the lowest possible heat setting to cook foods on top of the range. Match the pot to the size of the burner.
  • Use lids on pots and pans to prevent heat loss.
  • Consider other cooking options that use less energy than a traditional ovens or stovetops:
    • Microwave
    • Toaster oven
    • Electric skillet
    • Crockpot
    • Outdoor grill
  • Keep the refrigerator full, but not overcrowded. Empty or nearly empty refrigerators do not operate efficiently.
  • Thirty percent of the cool air escapes every time you open the refrigerator door so keep the door closed as much as possible.
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Dishwasher

  • If you must rinse your dishes first, use cold water only.
  • Wash only full loads.
  • Air power or overnight dry settings can save up to 10% of your dishwashing energy costs.
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Home heating

  • Have your heating (cooling) system serviced by an SRP Certified Contractor twice a year.
  • Replace disposable air filters or clean permanent ones at least once a month to maintain your system's effectiveness.
  • Clean any debris and obstructions from around the outdoor section of your heating system.
  • Set your thermostat between 68 to 70 degrees when you are home and 65 degrees or lower when you are away.
  • Change your ceiling fan's position to "up" and run the fan on "low" to help circulate the warm air trapped at the ceiling.
  • Close any evaporative cooler updraft vents, install the baffle plate (cookie sheet damper) and cover the unit before switching over to heating in the winter.
  • Never use your stove, oven or portable grill to heat your house. This creates a safety hazard.
  • After using your fireplace, make sure to close the damper. This will help keep the warm air inside your house and stop your heating dollars from going up the chimney.
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Holiday lighting

  • Purchase LED holiday lights to decorate your tree and your home. LED holiday lights:
    • Use up to 90% less energy than conventional holiday lights.
    • Are more durable and last longer.
    • Are cool to the touch and reduce the risk of fire.
  • Use an automatic timer both indoors and out to avoid leaving lights on all night or during the daytime.
  • Make sure you stay safe with your holiday lights.
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If you'll be away for the holidays, you might want to consider some of these tips:

  • Unless there is something in your home that might suffer damage from cooler temperatures in your home, turn your heating unit off. If you prefer to leave it on, set the thermostat at 60 to 65 degrees.
  • Place several large buckets of water in the bath tub to help add moisture to the home. Ask a neighbor to refill the buckets as needed.
  • Turn the electric water heater off at the circuit breaker or fuse box and close the cold water inlet valve. Before you turn the breaker back on, open the supply line and run water from the hot water faucet to be certain the heater is full.
  • Empty, clean and turn off the refrigerator. Prop the door open to help prevent mold and mildew.
  • Turn off lights except those you need for security. Use timers to control lights which are left on for security purposes.
  • To reduce operating costs of any lights left on, install compact fluorescent lamps in these fixtures.
  • Unplug all non-security appliances, including computers, televisions, clocks, and any device containing a transformer plug (cell phone chargers, wireless telephones, etc.).
  • If you have a pool make sure the filter motor is on a timer and that proper chemical levels are maintained. Properly balanced pool chemicals clean water better than operating the filter longer.