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sustainability
Peoria offers new ways to save on utility bills
Posted
In the new year, the city of Peoria is offering new ways to save on residents' utility bills.
Here are some tips to help lower those energy and water bills.
• Winter in Arizona is the time to let the light shine! Letting as much light in as you can during the day will help warm your home courtesy of the sun. Close your blinds at night to help insulate from the cold night air.
• Use caulk for cracks and openings between stationary objects like door and window frames. You can use weatherstripping around anything that moves, like the door itself or window seals. You can save 5-10% on energy by finding and fixing air leaks.
• Check your water meter to identify leaks. Make sure the irrigation is off and that no water is running in your home. Open your meter lid (typically a metal lid by driveway) and write down the read-out numbers in the display. If the number does not change in 20 min, you have no leaks! If the number does increase, you may have a leak. Learn more about finding leaks at www.smarthomewaterguide.org.
• Enjoy the cool weather by bundling up with cozy blankets and sweaters, while letting the thermostat stay a few degrees cooler. The Department of Energy estimates that 1 degree change on the thermostat equals 1% in energy savings.
• Water heaters are the second highest source of energy usage in the average home. It takes a lot of energy to heat water 24/7. At a high setting of 140ºF, your water heater can waste anywhere from $36 to $61 annually in standby heat losses, and more than $400 in demand losses, according to the DOE. The recommended temperature is 120 degrees. Try lowering yours a few degrees at a time to find your comfort range.
• Winter cooking can help heat your home. When done using the oven, leave the door open a crack while it cools.
• Do you know how your home water use compares to the average? Use the Home Water Calculator tool to estimate your optimal monthly water usage, based on the information you provide.
