The Honest Broker: Energy Saving Tips for Florida Homeowners

BY: DIANE LOTT, BROKER PARADISE FOUND REALTY

Controlling your energy usage is easy. Here are some of the quickest and most effective ways to help you conserve energy, shrink your energy bills, and gain more control over the energy usage in your home.

During summer, cool your home at 78 degrees or higher with the thermostat fan switched to auto. For additional savings, raise your thermostat to 82 degrees or higher when you’re away.
Limit the time you run your pool pump; Summer – six hours a day / Winter – four hours a day.
Turn off lights. In addition to turning lights off when you are not using rooms, consider using natural light alone during the day and candles during the evening.
Reduce your water heater temperature from 140 degrees to 120 degrees which, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, is the recommended temperature setting to save about $2 a month.
Clean or replace the A/C filter regularly to help your unit run more efficiently and trim cooling costs.
Turn off your ceiling fan when you leave the room. A fan that runs all the time costs up to $7 a month.
Replace old, high-flow showerheads with water-efficient showerheads and save up to $80 a year.
Adjust the water level on your washing machine to match the load size, especially when using hot water. Always use a cold rinse.
Clean the lint filter in your dryer before every load to dry your clothes faster.
Use the auto sensor function on your dryer to conserve energy by not over-drying your clothes.
Run your appliances in the evening. Especially if it’s a brutally hot day. Why? These appliances produce heat, and it will cause your air conditioning to work harder during hot days. It’s better to run your dish washer once it cools down a bit.
Check your refrigerator and freezer temperature. According to FPL, the ideal refrigerator temperature runs between 37 and 40 degrees, and the ideal freezer reading is 5 degrees. Any colder, and you are wasting money. It’s also important to keep your refrigerator and freezer full so they do not have to work as hard to stay cold.
Unplug devices. Be sure to not only turn off but unplug your computer, television and other devices that can drain power even when they are not on.