(Remember, your water heater accounts for nearly one-third of your total kWh usage!)

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

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