Air conditioners, refrigerators and pool pumps are humming as power stations sweat and electric bills spike. PSEG Long Island offers some tips to save money and energy this summer, including the following:
• Close blinds, shades and draperies facing the sun to keep out heat and help fans and air conditioners cool more efficiently.
• Install a thermostat that can be programmed and raise the setting to the highest comfortable temperature. Each degree the thermostat is raised translates to a 3-percent savings on air-conditioning costs, according to the power company.
• Close doors leading to uncooled parts of the house. If you have central air conditioning, close off vents to unused rooms and keep filters clean.
• Even with air conditioning, use ceiling and other fans for additional cooling and better circulation.
• Seal holes and cracks around doors and windows. Eliminate air leaks around window air conditioners with foam insulation or weather stripping.
• Plug electronics into power strips and turn off the power switch when the items are not in use. TVs, computers and other electronic devices draw power when they are in standby mode or turned off but still plugged in.
• Use timers and motion detectors for indoor and outdoor lighting.
• Install whole-house fans that bring in cooler air at night. They can pre-cool a house and reduce energy use during the day if heat is kept out by closing windows and shades.
PSEG also recommends replacing inefficient pool pumps, central air-conditioning systems, refrigerators, air purifiers and dryers to reduce energy use and lower energy bills.
The company is offering up to $450 in rebates for customers who purchase an Energy Star pool pump; up to $500 on new central air-conditioning units, and up to $1,000 for replacing inefficient units; $40 or $75 for replacing a refrigerator with an Energy Star model, depending on the size; $150 for purchasing a “super-efficient” electric dryer; and $50 for the purchase of an Energy Star air purifier.
For more information, visit www.psegliny.com/savemoney.
on Jul 14, 2014