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Home Energy Saving Tips
Appliances and Other Products
Select products with the ENERGY STAR® label when buying new appliances for your home. Savings: 5-25 percent of operating costs.
 Use Cold Wash and Don't Over Dry Clothes
Use lower temperature settings on your washing machine, preferably the cold water cycle, and only use cold for rinses. The temperature of the rinse water does not affect cleaning. Load the washing machine to capacity. Washing one large load will take less energy than washing two loads on a low or medium setting. When you don't have a full load, match the water level to the size of the load.
Don't over-dry clothes that you are going to iron. Take clothes out of the dryer while they are still slightly damp to reduce the need for ironing - another big energy user. Over-drying can cause shrinkage, generates static electricity, and shortens fabric life. If you have room, you can also "hang your clothes out" to dry.
- Clean the dryer filter after each use. A clogged filter will restrict airflow and reduce dryer performance.
- Dry full loads when possible, but be careful not to overfill the dryer, because air needs to circulate around the clothes.
Cooking Appliances
 Don't preheat your oven, and use the smaller of the two ovens if you have a dual unit. Cook complete meals of several dishes simultaneously in the oven.- If you have a microwave oven, use it for reheating and cooking small quantities of food.
- Cook on range top burners when practical instead of in the oven.
- Use the smallest pan necessary to do the job. Smaller surfaces require less energy. Match the pan size to the element size. For example, a 6" pan on an 8" burner can waste over 40% of the heat produced by the burner.
Refrigerators
- Unplug and properly dispose your extra refrigerator if it's used mainly for occasional cold drinks or ice cubes. You could reduce your annual energy bill by as much as $160 by doing so.
- Open refrigerator/freezer doors only when necessary.
- Keep refrigerator coils (on the back or the bottom of the appliance) clean.
- Make sure the seals on your refrigerator, freezer and oven doors fit tightly. Easily perform this test by leaving a lit flashlight inside a closed appliance and if you see light around the gasket, replace the gasket.
Dishwashers
- Operate your dishwasher only with full loads. And if the manufacturer's instructions permit, open the door of the dishwasher at the end of the last rinse cycle, rather than using the drying cycle.
- Choose a dishwasher with several wash cycle selections. If your dishes are only slightly dirty, you can use the light or energy-saving wash cycle, it uses less water and runs for a shorter period of time.
- Choose the right size for your home. Standard capacity models hold more than 8 place settings and 6 serving pieces. Compact capacity models hold 8 place settings and six serving pieces or less. If you have to operate a compact model more frequently, you may actually use more energy than you would with a standard model over time.
Water Heaters
- Set your water heater thermostat at the lowest temperature that provides you with sufficient hot water, but not lower than 120° F. For most households, 120° F water is fine. If you use a lot of hot water, you may need to set the temperature higher to provide enough hot water for your needs.
- Wrap your water heater with a water heater blanket, especially if it's in an unheated area of your home. The blanket could save you up to 10% on water heating costs.
Efficiency Maine Energy Facts
- During 2003 – 2005, the Efficiency Maine Program saved home owners, schools, and businesses more than 121 million kilowatt hours (kWh) with a lifetime economic benefit to the state of $86.6 million.
- In 2006, Efficiency Maine saved more than 74 million kWh, which helped avert the production of more than 320,000 tons of carbon dioxide, a major pollutant contributing to global warming. These savings are equivalent to the annual electricity use of nearly 11,000 homes in Maine and the carbon pollution reduction of taking 7,624 cars off the road.
Efficiency Maine is a statewide effort to promote the more efficient use of electricity, help Maine residents and businesses reduce electricity costs and improve Maine’s environment. It was created in 2002 by the Maine Legislature with the passing of “An Act to Strengthen Energy Conservation.” For more information on the annual report or energy efficiency, visit the PUC’s Efficiency Maine website at efficiencymaine.com or call 1-866-ESMAINE.
Please note that the savings referenced are for a typical household. In addition, the savings percentages apply only to the category of energy use. For example, using fluorescent lamps saves 30 to 38 percent of your lighting bill, not your total electric bill. The figures cannot be added to find your total savings.
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Public
Utilities Commission