COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) -(Sponsored by Capital Waste Services) The temperatures are dropping outside which means the temperature inside will be rising and that also means you’ll likely see an increase in your gas and utility bills.
We talk with Sustainability Facilitator with the City of Columbia, Mary Pat to share ways you can save energy and also save money in every room in your home.
Here is a list of ways the City of Columbia is practicing what they are preaching and what they recommend for you.
Saving Residential Energy by Room
General Residence
· LED lights: Use 75% less energy than the traditional incandescent bulbs we used to use. The City of Columbia has recently began installing LED lights in office buildings. We also have a $200,000 grant from the Department of Energy to convert hundreds of city-owned street lights to LED. But you don’t have to install hundreds to save energy at your residence or office. Switching all lights or just the lights you use the most will make a difference.
· Thermostat: The Department of Energy suggests you turn your thermostat up or back 7 to 10 degrees from its normal setting for 8 hours a day, saying that can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling.
· Unplug items that use electricity all of the time. Clock, lights.
· Buy Energy Star appliances.
· Turn off lights when not in the room.
· Replace your air filter every three months so your HVAC unit doesn’t have to work any harder than it needs to.
Bedroom/Living Room
· Ceiling fan only works to cool you when someone is in the room.
· Extra clothes if cold.
· Turn off ceiling fan when not in the room. Cools only through wind chill, doesn’t change the actual temperature of the room.
· Change ceiling fan direction to clockwise in the winter. It pulls cold air up and pushes warm air down. For direction, search YouTube or Google.
Bathroom
· Take shorter showers.
· Get a low flow showerhead. The EPA estimates that the average household can save $70 in annual water and energy costs by switching to a WaterSense-approved showerhead.
· Check regularly for leaks.
· Set your water heater to 120 degrees.
Kitchen
· Wash dishes with your dishwasher. It uses significantly less water. Cleaning dishes in the sink uses about 27 gallons of water; a dishwasher can use as little as three.
· Check regularly for leaks.
· Unplug appliances that use standby by power.
Laundry Room
· Wash clothes in cold water. 90 percent of power used for washing comes from heating the water.
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