Ways to Reduce Your Bill

Trying to cut back on your power use? Here are some helpful tips that will help you accomplish just that. Click here to calculate your energy usage and for more tips on what you can do to save energy!

Homes consume over 20% of Kansas' energy. Heat & Air units consume 60%, water heaters 20%, and lights, appliances, and cooking uses the balance. Conserve energy. Most conservation measures are inexpensive and do not require home modifications.

1. Use the Climate, your windows and your draperies to naturally heat and cool your home between seasons. Do not turn on your heat or air units until it becomes a necessity. Attic insulation keeps heating costs low. If your home is over fifteen years old, check your insulation.

2. Heating Hints

Set thermostat to 68 degrees during the day
Lower thermostat and save 4% in total fuel and heating costs for each degree.
Regularly clean and replace your heating/cooling system filter.
Do not obstruct supply/return air vents
Close the damper when the fireplace is not in use.
In steam heated homes, keep radiators from of dust and obstructions.
You don't have storm windows? Tape clear plastic inside windows.
Cover drafts at the bottom of doorways with a small, rolled-up rug.
Avoid letting hot water run constantly.
Take quick showers instead of tub baths.
Repair leaks. One drop a second wastes 60 gallons of water a week.
Install kitchen faucet aerators and flow reduction showerheads.

3. Around the House

Turn off lights, especially in summer, they produce heat!
Use low watt or fluorescent bulbs.
Clean lights, fixtures and bulbs. Dust absorbs up to 50% of light.
Caulk or cover your outside window facing with clean plastic tape.
Stuff plastic, oakum or insulation around plumbing pipe holes.
Cover outside electrical outlet edges with tape or purchase gaskets.
Home insulation, location and construction affects energy costs.
Close and seal access doors properly. Use weatherstripping if necessary. Insulate the access door if possible.

4. Ventilation Attic ventilation prevents condensation and reduces temperatures. Inadequate ventilation increases energy use and causes structural deterioration.

Follow these tips:

There must be an adequate net free vent opening. *
The intake and exhaust ventilation areas should almost equal
Locate intake vents near the lower part of the ventilated space.

* Calculate the net free area (NFA) of needed ventilation by dividing the attic floor's square feet by either 300 (if vapor barrier is present) or 150 (if there is no vapor barrier). Ventilate attics by installing intake and exhaust vents to use convection currents, wind and pressure differences. Intake and exhaust vent areas should almost equal.