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Home Energy Saving Tips
Cooling Your Home
Use Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Standard incandescent light bulbs lose 90% of their energy as heat. Compact fluorescent bulbs produce only a fraction of the heat and do not waste electricity.
 More Tips
- Save up to 3% on your cooling costs for every degree you raise your thermostat in the summer. For example, raising it from 73 to 78 degrees can save up to 15% in cooling costs.
- If you are going to buy a room air conditioner, look for the ENERGY STAR® label. ENERGY STAR® room air conditioners exceed minimum federal standards for energy consumption by at least 10%.
- Do not let the air conditioner bake in the sun. Room air conditioners work best when kept out of direct sunlight. Install them near shade trees or on the north side of the house if possible.
- Seal gaps along the sides of your air conditioner to keep the outside air from seeping in.
- Clean air conditioner filters regularly, keep the front and back of air conditioners unobstructed.
- In warmer weather, delay heat-producing tasks, such as dishwashing, baking, or doing laundry, until the cooler evening hours.
- Use an exhaust fan to blow hot air out of your kitchen while cooking. The savings in your cooling costs far outweigh the electricity use of the fan.
- Instead of an air conditioner, open windows on opposite sides of the house for cross-ventilation.
- Use fans in your windows to draw in cooler night air. Close the windows during the day to keep the cooler air in.
- Close window blinds, curtains, shades, or drapes in the daytime summer hours. Sunlight shining in windows usually adds the largest amount of unwanted summertime heat. During some of our hottest weather, it's even helpful to keep the windows themselves closed to keep hot air from blowing into your home. In the evening and early in the morning, open windows to allow cooler air in.
- Plant shade trees to block heat from your windows and roof.
Efficiency Maine Energy Facts
- During 2003 – 2005, the Efficiency Maine Program saved home owners, schools, and businesses more than 121 million kilowatt hours (kWh) with a lifetime economic benefit to the state of $86.6 million.
- In 2006, Efficiency Maine saved more than 74 million kWh, which helped avert the production of more than 320,000 tons of carbon dioxide, a major pollutant contributing to global warming. These savings are equivalent to the annual electricity use of nearly 11,000 homes in Maine and the carbon pollution reduction of taking 7,624 cars off the road.
Efficiency Maine is a statewide effort to promote the more efficient use of electricity, help Maine residents and businesses reduce electricity costs and improve Maine’s environment. It was created in 2002 by the Maine Legislature with the passing of “An Act to Strengthen Energy Conservation.” For more information on the annual report or energy efficiency, visit the PUC’s Efficiency Maine website at efficiencymaine.com or call 1-866-ESMAINE.
Please note that the savings referenced are for a typical household. In addition, the savings percentages apply only to the category of energy use. For example, using fluorescent lamps saves 30 to 38 percent of your lighting bill, not your total electric bill. The figures cannot be added to find your total savings.
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Public
Utilities Commission