Ideas for your Home
Did you ever wonder why your electric bill is so high month after month?
The Tolland Public Library has plug-in electric meters that can be taken out on loan, similar to a book. The ‘Kill-A-Watt’ electric meters were donated by the Tolland Energy Task Force for use by residents to help reduce their electric bills. To help make energy use calculations more simple, download the TETF Kill a Watt Spreadsheet.
Save energy and reduce your energy bills by doing the following:
- Replace all of your incandescent light bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Light (CFLs) bulbs. CFLs use 2/3 less energy and last up to 10 times longer!
- Turn off everything not in use: lights, TVs, computers, etc.
- Unplug appliances, cell phones, TVs, hairdryer, etc. when not in use.
- Check the furnace or air conditioner filter each month, and clean or replace it as needed. Dirty filters block air flow through your heating and cooling systems, increasing your energy bill and shortening your equipment’s life.
- During hot months, keep window coverings closed on the south, east, and west windows. In the winter, let the sun in.
- Glass fireplace doors help stop heat from being lost up the chimney. Also, close the fireplace damper when not in use.
- Activate ‘sleep’ features on computers and office equipment that power down when not in use (saves $37/month!).
- Lower the temperature on your water heater.
- Install a programmable thermostat.
- Seal and weather-strip your windows and doors to ensure you are not wasting energy on heat or air conditioning that escapes through leaks.
- Wrap your water tank with an insulation wrap. Do annual furnace tune-ups.
- Purchase EnergyStar products when replacing old appliances, TVs, furnaces, cell phones, etc.