Practical Energy-Saving Tips for your home

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Saving Energy

How We Use Energy in Our Homes Taking steps to become more energy efficient will save you money while keeping your family comfortable. While some steps may require larger investments, there are many simple low-cost and no-cost measures you can take to lower energy bills. Efficiency pays for itself by saving energy and money year after year, and can add value to your home. Let’s first look at what accounts for the most energy use in the average home: Space Heating..............................................................................................42% Other (electronics and appliances) ......................................................24%

You have the power to save money and energy by being energy efficient. Being energy efficient means getting the most use out of each unit of energy you purchase, using energy wisely, and eliminating or reducing the amount of wasted energy in your home.

Water Heating ..............................................................................................18%

This guide shows you how easy it is to cut your energy use at home with practical tips you can use today.

Refrigeration .................................................................................................. 5%

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Cooling ............................................................................................................. 6% Lighting............................................................................................................ 5% Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2015

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Lighting is one of the easiest places to start saving energy while producing less greenhouse gas emissions. The most popular energyefficient lights available are halogen incandescents and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Energy-saving incandescent lights (also called halogen) last up to 1,200 hours, can be used with dimmers, and use 10%–20% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs.

Lighting Tips: •

Replacing 15 inefficient traditional incandescent bulbs in your home with energy-saving bulbs could save you about $50 per year.

LED bulbs are the most energy efficient, last up to 25,000 hours, light up immediately, stay cool to the touch and have no sensitivity to cold temperatures. Some can be used with dimmers. The best uses for these lights are indoor, outdoor and roadway applications where incandescents were traditionally found, especially where lights are left on for extended periods and changing bulbs is not easily done. LEDs are also a good choice for under-cabinet lighting or anywhere light sources with thin profiles are needed. There are two ways to shop for lighting with instant savings. • Shop online at the CenHub Store (CenHubStore.com). Here you will find deals including LED light bulbs for $6 for a six pack. Online rebates are for Central Hudson customers only. • Shop in store in the lighting sections of your local Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, Sam’s Club and Target. Look for Central Hudson signage. Lower prices are courtesy of Central Hudson.

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Light ing An average of 5% of your energy bill is spent on lighting your home.

Energy-Saving Tips Use ENERGY STAR light fixtures and lamps. They use one-quarter of the energy traditional fixtures use. Install dimmers. By installing dimmers and using only the light you need, you can save up to 40% on lighting costs and extend the life of your bulbs. Be sure to select dimmers that are compatible with the bulbs you choose. Use motion sensors for outdoor lighting. Install a motion sensor to reduce energy use by outdoor lighting by up to 80% without compromising security or style. Practical Energy-Saving Tips | 4

Water heating accounts for 18% of the household energy bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Hot water is essential to most of our lives. We use it to shower, run the dishwasher and wash clothes. The average rate hot water flows out of the kitchen faucet is 2 gallons per minute. An eight-minute shower uses 10 gallons of hot water. Add it all up and the average household uses 64 gallons of hot water a day.

Turn Down the Temperature •

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Reducing your hot water use and employing energysaving strategies can help reduce water heating bills.

Water heating is the 2nd single largest energy expense in most homes.

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Wa ter

Set the thermostat on your water heater to 120°F. This simple process offers many benefits:

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Saves energy. Water is usually heated to 140°F; lowering the temperature will save 6% – 10% on your energy bill.

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Prevents scalding from extra hot water.

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Slows buildup of minerals and corrosion in the water heater and in the pipes.

If you are going on vacation, turn down the thermostat on your water heater to the lowest setting, or vacation mode, if it has one. If there is no risk of freezing you can turn it off completely when you will be away for several days.

Energy-Saving Tips Fix leaky faucets. One drip per second wastes 1,661 gallons of water per year and can cost up to $35 per year. Install low-flow faucets. You can purchase quality, lowflow faucets on Central Hudson’s online CenHub Store (CenHubStore.com) to achieve water savings of 25%–60%. Wrap your water heater with an insulating blanket. Insulating could reduce standby heat losses by 25%–45% and save you about 4%–9% in water heating costs. Take short showers. Showers use less hot water than baths. Buy a water heater that fits your needs. If your water heater is too big, you will pay to heat water you do not need. Central Hudson provides rebates and a list of recommended contractors online at SavingsCentral.com. Practical Energy-Saving Tips | 6

An appliance overhaul is a great way to help you save energy.

Appli ances

When you consider the amount of time we keep an appliance once we’ve acquired it, it’s worth investing in energy-efficient models. Refrigerators have an average lifespan of about 12 years, while washing machines tend to last 11. That could be more than a decade of significant energy conservation and energy bill reduction if you choose energy-efficient models. An EnergyGuide Products with the ENERGY STAR label meet label on each appliance will strict energy-efficient guidelines set by the show you how much energy U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a model will use. Although the U.S. Department of Energy. these labels will not show ENERGY STAR is a voluntary program of you which appliance is the the EPA, established in 1992 under the most efficient on the market, Clean Air Act. It’s a partnership between they will show you the the government and more than 9,000 annual energy consumption organizations, helping individuals and and operating cost so you businesses come together to save money can compare them yourself. and our environment by facilitating a If you’re not sure where to nationwide shift toward more energystart, keep in mind that, efficient behavior and consumption. typically, clothes dryers use Windows, heating and cooling equipment, the most energy, followed lighting and appliances can all earn by refrigerators and freezers, ENERGY STAR qualification. washing machines and dishwashers.

ENERGY STAR: A Label for Savings

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If buying new appliances is not in your immediate budget, there are many energy-saving steps you can take. For example, making sure to unplug appliances when not in use will help reduce energy costs. Roughly 50 devices and appliances in the typical household are always drawing power, even when they appear to be off, according to the Department of Energy’s Berkeley Lab. Some of these appliances can cause substantial increases to your energy usage. Coffee makers only use 1–3 watts of electricity when off and still plugged in; but factor in your microwave, small kitchen television, toaster oven, and other unused appliances and you could save $10–$20 per year by unplugging these appliances when you're not using them. There are more energy-savings tips related to appliances on the following pages.

Every appliance has two price tags. The first is the purchase price for the appliance. The second is the price you pay to run that appliance over its lifetime. Practical Energy-Saving Tips | 8

ENERGY STAR refrigerator models with topmounted freezers use 10%-25% less energy than side-by-side or bottom-mount units.

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You can save energy in your kitchen through more efficient use of your dishwasher, refrigerator and freezer, and other common appliances. The refrigerator and freezer account for almost 6% of the average home’s energy bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Replacing your old refrigerator with an ENERGY STAR qualified one could save you up to $350 over the lifetime of the appliance.

Energy-Saving Kitchen Tips •

Place the faucet lever on the kitchen sink in the cold position when using small amounts of water; placing the lever in the hot position draws hot water even though it may never reach the faucet.

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Keep range top burners and reflectors clean; they will reflect the heat better and you will save energy.

• Look for blue flames in natural gas

appliances; yellow flames indicate the gas is burning inefficiently and adjustment is needed.

Central Hudson will pay customers $50 to recycle an old, working refrigerator or freezer, will pick it up free of charge, and will properly recycle it. Schedule your appointment at RecycleMyAppliance.com.

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You can save an average of 1,300 gallons of water over the lifetime of your dishwasher if it’s an ENERGY STAR qualified model (when compared to standard models). As with washing machines, most of a dishwasher’s energy needs go to heating the water. Running full loads, activating energy saving features and air drying lead to big savings.

• Don’t keep your refrigerator or freezer

Kitch en

Use small electric pans, toaster ovens, or convection ovens for small meals rather than your large stove or oven, as they use one-third to one-half as much energy as a full-sized oven.

• Make sure refrigerator and freezer door seals are tight.

too cold. Recommended temperatures are 35°F to 38°F for refrigerators and 0°F for freezers.

• Clean your refrigerator coils every six

months. Dust accumulation on the condenser coils on the rear or bottom of the refrigerator restricts cool-air flow and forces the unit to work harder and longer than necessary.

• Before you leave for the day, make a habit of turning off all unnecessary kitchen appliances.

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Conventional washers can use 40 gallons of water on just one load of laundry. But ENERGY STAR washers can use fewer than 10 gallons of water. They use less energy, too.

ENERGY STAR Washing Machines... •

Cut energy bills by an average of $50 per year. That’s a total of $550 saved over 11 years, the average lifespan of a washing machine.

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Save an average of 7,000 gallons of water each year.

• Have a faster spin speed to remove more If all clothes dryers sold in water from your clothes, which helps dry the U.S. were ENERGY STAR clothes faster. certified, Americans could save $1.5 billion each year in energy costs and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to more than 2 million vehicles.

Energy-Saving Tips for Washing Clothes Wash clothes with cold water and use cold-water detergents. Washing clothes uses a lot of energy, especially if you use hot water. About 90% of the energy used is just to heat the water. Wash only full loads. Machines use roughly the same amount of energy to wash one item as they do a full load. If you are washing a small load, use the appropriate water-level setting.

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ENERGY STAR clothes washers and dryers use 20% less energy than conventional models.

Use less water and use cooler water to reduce energy usage when washing clothes.

Laun dry

Energy-Saving Tips for Drying Clothes Use sensor drying. This feature ensures that your dryer will automatically shut off when clothes are dry. Use a low heat setting. Longer drying cycles on a low heat setting use less energy. Hang your laundry to dry. Your dryer uses about 20% of the total power your appliances consume. Hang-drying saves energy and reduces wear and tear on clothes, which helps them last longer. Periodically inspect your dryer vent. Making sure it is not blocked can prevent a fire and will also save energy. Practical Energy-Saving Tips | 12

Consumer electronics play an increasingly larger role in your home’s energy consumption, accounting for up to 13% of household electricity use.

Living rooms are home to most of the electronics in the house. We watch TV, play video games and turn on the computer from our living room area — and the costs add up, even when these electronics are off.

Electro nics

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Energy-Saving Tips

Power Strips: A Smart Way to Save Use a power strip as a central “turn off ” point when you are done using equipment. Household devices such as computers, DVD players, home theater systems and televisions go to a standby state when not in use, but still consume some energy. U.S. households spend approximately $100 per year to power devices while they are in a low power standby mode (roughly 8% of household electricity costs). Using a power strip for your electronics allows you to completely disconnect the power supply from the power source, eliminating standby power consumption.

Choose an efficient Central Hudson offers instant rebates television. Some features to its customers on power strips on the on today’s televisions can online CenHub Store (CenHubStore.com). raise your energy bills. When shopping for a new TV, look for the ENERGY STAR label, which uses 40% less energy than similar non-labeled models. Unplug or use a power strip to turn off computer equipment when not in use. Your printer, copier and scanner could be wasting up to half the energy they use. One misconception, carried over from the days of older mainframe computers, is that equipment lasts longer if it is never turned off. For energy savings and convenience, turn off the monitor if you aren’t going to use your PC for more than 20 minutes and turn off both the computer and monitor if you’re not going to use your computer for more than two hours. Don’t use gaming consoles to stream videos. You’re using an energyinefficent device to do what other dedicated devices can do more efficiently. Use a laptop instead of a desktop computer. Laptops are 85% more energy efficient than desktops because they require less electricity to operate. Use a power meter. These devices can help you root out the main culprits in your home’s electronics collection and identify opportunities for savings. Central Hudson Gas & Electric | 13

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Heating and cooling needs vary by season, but by combining proper equipment maintenance and upgrades with recommended insulation, air sealing and thermostat settings, you can save about 30% on your energy bill while reducing environmental emissions.

Energy-Saving Tips

Seasonal

Use a ceiling fan year-round. The fan has a cooling effect in the counter-clockwise direction. In the clockwise direction at a low speed, the fan produces a gentle updraft, forcing warm air near the ceiling down into the occupied space. Keep shades/drapes closed in the summer and open in the winter. Shade will help keep your house cool in the summer and sunlight will help warm it in the winter.

Heating and cooling accounts for about 48% of your energy bill.

Check your fireplace flues. Over time, repeated heating and cooling can cause the flues to warp or break, creating a channel for air loss.

Programmable and Smart Thermostats Programmable thermostats automatically adjust your home’s temperature to maximize your savings by turning down the heat while you are away during the day and while you are asleep at night. Used properly, they can save up to $150 a year, according to ENERGY STAR. When using a programmable thermostat in the winter, make a schedule and stick to it. Program it to set back the heat two hours before you go to bed and increase it just before you wake. Set back the heat during the day if no one will be home for four or more hours. Lowering thermostats one degree can save up to 3% on heating bills. Setting your air conditioner thermostat a few degrees higher in the summer will also help with savings. Central Hudson's CenHub Store offers instant rebates on thermostats, which are controllable from your smart phone or tablet, and capable of learning your temperature preferences. Rebates are for Central Hudson customers only. Go to CenHubStore.com.

Close your fireplace damper when not in use. Forgetting to close the damper after a fire goes out leaves a big “hole” where heated or cooled air can escape the house.

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Lock your windows. Even when closed, they might not be pressed tightly against the weatherstripping if they’re not locked, which allows cold outside air to infiltrate the home. Install storm windows. For older windows, use a plastic window sealing kit or storm windows to cut drafts. Central Hudson Gas & Electric | 15

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Most homes use a furnace or boiler to power the heating system, regulated by thermostats. Set your thermostat to 68°F in the winter and 78°F in the summer to save energy.

Heat ing

Energy-Saving Tips Schedule maintenance each fall on your entire heating system, including air ducts. Maintenance ensures your heating system is running safely and efficiently before winter. If ducts are poorly sealed or insulated, they are likely contributing to higher energy bills.

Heating your home accounts for about 30% of an average home’s energy bill — the single biggest energy expense in your home.

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Replacing Heating Equipment Think about replacing old furnaces, especially if yours is older than 15 years. New high-efficiency furnaces are far more efficient than older versions. For furnaces and boilers look for a high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE), which is a ratio of how much heat the system creates compared to the amount of energy it consumes. The higher the AFUE, the more efficient the system. The national minimum is 78% AFUE, but there are ENERGY STAR models on the market that exceed 90% AFUE. Central Hudson offers rebates on efficient furnaces, boilers, heat pumps and water heaters for its customers. For information, go to SavingsCentral.com. This is also a good resource to find a recommended contractor for installation.

Use a space heater. A portable electric heater can save energy if you heat a small area while lowering the temperature in the rest of your home. Turn down the thermostat and close the doors to the room with the space heater to seal in the warmth. Purchase a new model with built-in safety features and thermostat controls. Check filters. Forced air furnaces and heat pumps have filters that need to be cleaned or replaced regularly. Check air vents, radiators and registers. If they are blocked by furniture or drapes, heat won’t get into the rest of your home. To cut heating costs, arrange your room so that the register is as unobstructed as possible. Be safe. Elderly people and those with medical conditions can have greater heating needs. Adjust the thermostats accordingly.

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Cooling Nearly 5% of all electricity produced in the United States is used to air condition homes, according to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.

Cooling your home is just as important as heating it — and the cost can be nearly as high. Before you turn on the air conditioner, reduce your need for cooling. Use fans and natural ventilation first. Only turn on the air conditioner if these measures aren’t enough.

Energy-Saving Tips Properly maintain your air conditioner’s compressor unit. By following proper maintenance procedures, a quality model may hold up for 20 years.

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Make sure your duct system is in good condition. Even if an air conditioner or heat pump is installed and maintained with adequate airflow and the appropriate level of refrigerant, the unit will not operate efficiently if the duct system is in poor condition. Duct sealing can reduce cooling energy use by 10%–15%.

Size Matters When you buy a new air conditioner, make sure to get one that’s the right fit for your home. Don’t base the size of a new system on the size of the old one — it could have been the wrong size to start with. If you buy one too big, it won’t remove the humidity from your home and it will turn on and off more frequently than a properlysized system. That increases the wear and shortens its lifespan. If you buy one too small, it won’t be able to cool your home enough on the hottest days of summer. For a central air conditioning system, your contractor should base the new equipment on the amount of heat your home gains during the summer — something that will be calculated with software. Central Hudson offers rebates on energy-efficient air conditioners and can help you find a contractor.

Clean filters regularly. Dirty or clogged filters block airflow and reduce efficiency. Install room air conditioners correctly. If the unit is not installed tightly, cooled air will escape from your home. Place your room air conditioner properly. If the thermostat of your unit is near electronics or appliances that produce heat, it will read higher than it should. Also, place the unit in a shaded window where it will not be heated by sunlight. Choose ENERGY STAR rated windows with Low-E coatings. Much of your home’s heat enters through the windows. Low-E helps block that heat. Central Hudson Gas & Electric | 19

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Sealing and insulating your home can reduce your heating and cooling costs by as much as 30%, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Heat naturally flows from warm areas to cool ones. If your home isn’t well sealed, the air you use to heat and cool can flow right out of your home. Several areas are prone to air leaks, including the attic, basement, windows, doors, baseboard molding, electrical outlets, wall- or windowmounted air conditioners and dropped ceilings above bathtubs and cabinets.

Energy-Saving Tips

Finding Air Leaks For a thorough and accurate measurement of air leakage in your home, hire a qualified technician to conduct an energy assessment, particularly a blower door test. In the meantime, you can: • Shine a flashlight at night over all potential gaps while a partner observes the house from outside. Large cracks will show up as rays of light. This method is not a good way to detect small cracks. • Shut a door or window on a dollar bill. If you can pull the dollar bill out easily, you’re losing energy. • Light a stick of incense and use it to locate leaks. Hold it in areas you think are drafty. Moving air makes the smoke waver, showing you where there is a leak.

Caulk cracks and gaps less than ¼ inch wide. Caulk is flexible and a good way to seal air leaks. Apply it when the outdoor temperature is above 45°F and not very humid, or the caulk may not dry properly. Weather strip doors and windows. It’s an easy way to seal leaks. Compression and V-strip weather stripping are good for windows. For doors, either replace the threshold or attach a door sweep to seal the air gap at the bottom of the door.

Insu late

Know how much insulation you have. Only 20% of homes built before 1980 are well insulated, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Use higher R-value insulation. Higher R-value insulation, such as spray foam on exterior walls and cathedral ceilings, gives you more insulation with less thickness. Central Hudson Gas & Electric | 21

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Install foam gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on walls. Outlets and switch plates are some of the most common sources of air leaks.

Windows and doors can be responsible for up to 25% of heat loss in winter. Practical Energy-Saving Tips | 22

In some areas, watering the yard can account for 50% of a home’s total water use in the summer months.

Yard

When it comes to the outdoors, most families like to use a lot of water — for the lawn, the garden and even washing the car. Learning to use less water outside makes a big impact on your bills. You can save tens of thousands of gallons by taking simple steps like selecting a better watering system and not mowing too often.

Energy-Saving Tips Let your grass grow. Longer grass loses less water to evaporation than short grass and helps shade the roots, reducing browning and weed growth as well as water needs. Choose drought resistant plants. If maintained properly, a landscape of drought-resistant and native plants will use less than half the water of a traditional yard.

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Plant trees that lose leaves on your home’s south side. They protect your home from the summer sun. After the leaves fall, they let the winter sun help heat your home.

Watch that Sprinkler Sprinklers can use more than 260 gallons of water per hour — and the bills add up quickly, whether you use a well pump or municipal source. To save water, check your aim: The sprinkler should only water your lawn, not a nearby yard or sidewalk.

Use a shut-off nozzle when watering. It saves water when you use a hose to water plants.

Use a drip hose instead of a sprinkler, if possible. Sprinklers spray water onto the top of plants, where it evaporates. Drip hoses deliver water to a plant’s roots.

Set up your sprinklers carefully. Make sure sprinklers do not spray the sidewalk or street to avoid wasting water.

Water early in the morning or late at night, when temperatures are lower. Check the forecast. You shouldn't water the lawn when it is going to rain.

Install an automatic shutoff device if you Rethink your outdoor have an irrigation system. lights. You save energy by switching to efficient outdoor lights. Consider installing a motion sensor to increase security and savings.

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Maximizing energy savings often means making changes throughout your home. Make each change as safely as possible and install some additional safety features to keep your family safe.

Safety

Safety tips Appliances: More powerful appliances may need their own separate circuit. Have an electrician look at your wiring to ensure that it’s up-to-date and safe. Unplug appliances while you are cleaning or repairing them. Dryers: Rigid or flexible metal venting material should be used to sustain proper air flow and drying time. Keep dryers in good working order and clean them regularly. Gas dryers should be inspected by a professional to make sure that the gas line and connection are intact and free of leaks. Turn the dryer off if you leave home or when you go to bed.

Keep space heaters in an area where they will not be knocked over and keep them away from flammable materials such as furniture or curtains.

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Heating: Keep the area around your furnace clear. Never store anything flammable near your furnace or water heater. It’s a fire hazard.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors Often called the invisible killer, carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and kerosene) burn incompletely. In the home, heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel can be sources of carbon monoxide. Symptoms include dizziness, headache, nausea, irregular breathing and confusion, and if undetected, can cause death. Stay safe:

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Install CO detectors in your home, including the area near the heating system and any fuel-burning appliances, and also near the bedrooms.

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Your oven, stove and charcoal grill were designed for cooking. Never attempt to heat your home with them. Doing so can create a fire hazard and cause a deadly build-up of CO.

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If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Make sure everyone inside the home is accounted for. Call for help from a fresh air location and stay there until emergency personnel arrive.

If adding a coal or wood burning stove, be sure it is professionally installed and vented. Electronics: Don’t overload outlets with too many devices, as they may overheat and cause a fire. Practical Energy-Saving Tips | 26

Save Money and Energy Go to Central Hudson’s CenHub Store for instant rebates on energy-efficient products such as smart thermostats, LED lighting, advanced power strips, water-saving products, air conditioner controls and more. Rebates are exclusively for Central Hudson customers: CenHubStore.com. Check out additional energy-savings tips, earn points for following tips redeemable for gift cards, and gain personal insights on how you use your energy: CenHubInsights.com. To help you save energy and reduce your energy bill, Central Hudson offers several HVAC and appliance rebate and recycling programs. We also offer a list of Trade Allies to help with installation: SavingsCentral.com. LED lighting: There are two ways to shop for lighting with instant savings. Shop online at the CenHub Store (CenHubStore.com). Shop in store in the lighting sections of your local Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, Sam’s Club and Target. Look for Central Hudson signage. Lower prices are courtesy of Central Hudson. Sources All estimates for energy savings vary by region and for each individual family. Savings are meant to be suggestive and are estimated based on research and other findings. • The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy: www.aceee.org • The U.S. Department of Energy: www.energy.gov • The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: www.eere.energy.gov • ENERGY STAR, a joint program of the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: www.energystar.gov • Alliance to Save Energy: www.ase.org • U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: www.cpsc.gov

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