If you’ve been spending more time at home like the rest of us, it’s likely your next energy bill will higher than normal. Whether you’re working from home or home with kids, you’re probably increasing your use of electricity day-to-day. Here are 10 ways you can begin conserving your home’s energy use today:
- Reduce your thermostat. Decreasing the indoor temperature by one degree can decrease energy use by 3 – 5%.
- Wash clothes with cold water and dry them outside when you can.
- Change your central HVAC system filter when dirty by the manufacturer's recommendations. Dirty filters can impact your home comfort and increase your electricity bill.
- Set both the upper and lower water heater thermostats no higher than 120° F.
- Open your blinds and use natural light as much as possible during the day.
- Turn computers and monitors off when not in use.
- Enable the auto power-down feature on gaming consoles.
- Unplug battery chargers and other cords when not needed.
- If you don’t unplug them, use energy-saving modes or automatic sleep function on electronics.
- Set the refrigerator temperature to 34°-37°F and freezer temperature to 0° - 5°F.
From flipping a switch to upgrading your lighting, there are many ways you can save big while you are enjoying the comfort of your own home. Butte Electric understands there may be members now and in the future experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. We are committed to working with these members and providing a payment plan for those in need. If you are struggling to pay your bill, please call us at 605-456-2494 or 1-800-928-8839 so we can review a payment plan that will work for you.