Sustainability

Clean and check your air conditioner annually.

Clean or replace furnace filters regularly. A dirty or clogged filter reduces air conditioning efficiency and increases your cooling costs.

When at home, set the thermostat no lower than 78 degrees Fahrenheit. For every degree you raise the setting, you can reduce cooling costs 3 to 5 percent.

Make sure air registers are not obstructed by furniture, carpeting or drapes.

Use ceiling, window or oscillating fans when rooms are occupied.

Keep heat-producing appliances away from thermostats. Their heat can cause the thermostat to register a higher temperature, which will make your air conditioner run longer than necessary.

Keep shades and drapes closed, especially on sunny sides of your home or apartment.

Use heat-generating household appliances in the morning or late evening when outdoor temperatures are at their low points.

Replace incandescent lights with fluorescent or LED lighting. If this is not possible, reduce the wattage of light bulbs in lamps and light fixtures. This also reduces the amount of heat the air conditioner has to remove.

Clean and check your furnace annually.

Check and add insulation to the attic, exterior walls and basement if appropriate. Some insulation projects may qualify for LES funds through the Sustainable Energy Program.

Set your thermostat at 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 60 degrees at night or when you are away from home for more than four hours. If you have a heat pump, set your thermostat back no more than 3 to 4 degrees.

Open shades and drapes on sunny sides of your home or apartment during daytime hours. Close them at night.

Keep windows tightly latched. Latching generally reduces air leakage through gaps around window sashes.

Warm clothes can be the best insulation of all. A light, long-sleeved sweater equals almost 2 degrees in added warmth; a heavy sweater adds 4 degrees.

Keep the fireplace damper closed unless in use. An open damper can be compared to keeping a 48-inch window wide open during the winter. Close the damper as soon as you are certain the fire is completely out.

If using a portable space heater, turn down the central heating thermostat to offset the energy being consumed by the space heater.