5 Quick, Easy Ways to Save Energy and Money
In case you haven’t noticed by the heat wave, summer is finally here. During times like these, energy demand throughout San Diego County sky rockets. So why not “power down” and earn some money while you’re at it? My husband will just need to understand why I am cleaning the house less and be OK with it-lol.
Starting this summer, most San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) residential and small business customers are eligible to earn a bill credit for using less electricity on specific days through the utility’s Reduce Your Use campaign. Reduce Your Use days may be called on hot summer days when energy demand is high and will last from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
If you’re eligible for Reduce Your Use day rewards, you can set up email or text alerts by visiting sdge.com/reduceuse and be notified the day before a Reduce Your Use day occurs.
Participation is optional during the Reduce Your Use day but why not participate? SDG&E customers who respond by reducing their energy use from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Reduce Your Use days will see a credit of $0.75 per kilowatt hour (kWh) on their next energy bill. You can also log into My Account at sdge.com on Reduce Your Use days to view your conservation goal and see how much energy you used and saved during the Reduce Your Use day.
By implementing just a few changes around the house, you can offset increases on your energy bill. Here are five small, quick and inexpensive energy efficiency tips provided by SDG&E:
- Let the sunshine in! Take advantage of natural daylight to reduce lighting. Dim or turn off lights and signage during the day.
- Use CFLs. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), which provide the same amount of light, use up to 75 percent less energy and can last up to 10 times longer.
- Adjust the thermostat. Adjust down in the winter, up in the summer and shut off when not in use. Even a few degrees can significantly reduce heating and air conditioning costs.
- Power down. Turn off or set office equipment to power down when not in use. Turning off one computer and monitor nightly and on weekends can save up to $80 a year. Setting PCs, monitors and copiers to use sleep mode when not in use can help cut energy costs by up to 50 percent.
- Lower the thermostat on your water heater — 120° F is sufficient for most common uses. A 10° F reduction can save up to five percent on water heating costs.
These are just some of the ways homeowners can make a big impact on their own energy use, and also contribute toward a more energy-efficient San Diego.
Category: Community Connections
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