(Remember, your water heater accounts for nearly one-third of your total kWh usage!)
- When buying appliances, look at the yellow Energy Guide label and buy only energy-efficent appliances.
- Set your water theater thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s the law.
- If your water heater was purchased before 1992, wrap it with an insulated blanket.
- Install low-flow faucet aerators.
- When using your dishwasher, wash full loads only.
- Use “air dry” and other power-saving switches if your dishwasher has them.
- If your clothes washer has a water-level selector, use the lowest practical level. Wash full loads only.
- Use cold-water rinse for all loads.
- Try cold-water wash, using cold-water detergent.
- Line dry clothes whenever possible.
- Clean the lint filter in your dryer before every load.
- Check and clean the dryer venting system at least once a year.
- Install a low-flow showerhead. You will use only 2.5 gallons of water per minute and less hot water.
- Take showers instead of baths. Generally, showers use less hot water.
- Repair leaking or dripping water faucets.
- Sediment build-up in the hot-water tank reduces water-heating efficiency and costs you money. Flush sediment out twice a year.
- Turn electricity off at the main fuse box to the water heater when you are going to be gone for three days or more.
- Use cold water when running the garbage disposal.