- Start by learning how you use electricity. What are your home’s most significant energy users? Where is energy being wasted? Find out with a no-cost energy survey from KUA. There are two ways to go: Call our customer service department at 407-933-9800 or email our green team at [email protected] to speak with an energy auditor who can conduct a phone-assisted audit. KUA also offers free in-home audits where a trained energy professional will come to your home and assess its overall efficiency. Learn more at http://kua.com/energy-conservation-and-renewables/home-energy-audit/
- Cook Your Holiday Meals Efficiently. Use the most efficient appliance for the job. The holidays can mean more time in the kitchen whipping up meals and treats. A slow cooker is more energy efficient than a stovetop for stews and soups. When baking, don’t peek into the oven — your oven’s temperatures can drop 25 degrees each time you open the oven door, wasting heat, costing you money, and delaying that delicious holiday meal. When you’re finished with the oven, turn it off, but leave the door open to heat so the residual heat can help warm the kitchen and nearby rooms.
- Lower your water heater temperature. Water heaters are one of the most significant energy users in your home. Many people have their water heaters set at 140 degrees, but lowering it to 120 degrees can save as much as $60 per year. Lowering the temperature is done by turning the thermostat knob on the exterior of the unit.
- Check and Replace Central Heating Filters Regularly. Dirty filters trap lint, pollen, dust, and more, which can reduce airflow and lower indoor air quality. This increases your heating costs because your system must work harder to heat your home. Check your filter every month. If it’s dirty, replace it. At a minimum, replace your filter at least once every three months.
- Let the Sun Shine in. Sunny Florida provides ample, free, all-natural, home-warming sunshine during the winter. If you open the curtains or blinds on your south-facing windows, you can reduce your use of your home heating system. And sunlight can improve your mood! At night, don’t forget to close your window coverings to keep in the day’s warmth.
- Switch to LED Holiday Lights. Your holiday lights will be much brighter, cost less, and last longer if you replace your incandescent holiday lights with strings of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Costs have come way down for LED lighting, which uses 75% less electricity than traditional lights. Also, LED lights are cool to the touch. And they last up to 25 times longer than traditional bulbs. Ho Ho Ho!
- Become a Fan … of Ceiling Fans. Your ceiling fans can work 365 days a year, but most have different settings for summer and winter use. In the winter, flip the switch so the fan rotates clockwise, pushing warm air from the ceiling to the floor. And if no one is in the room, turn off the fan.
- A sweater is better! Rather than crank up the heat, consider putting on sweatpants or a sweater when you’re home. That way, you can remain comfortable without having to heat your entire home or apartment. If you work from home or are retired and spend a lot of time indoors, the savings can add up quickly. Don’t forget to put on socks and a hat too — let your clothes warm you up!
- Install a Smart Thermostat. Smart thermostats automatically adjust the temperature in your home to ensure you are comfortable all year round at the lowest possible cost. We also have a rebate for up to 50% of the costs of a new smart thermostat, up to $100. Learn more at http://kua.com/energy-conservation-and-renewables/rebates/.
- Close Vents and Doors of Unused Rooms. Many homes or apartments have a rarely used room, such as a guest room, storage room, basement, or your child’s room while they’re away at college. Heating those rooms wastes money! Close the vents and doors of all unused rooms. When your children or guests return, you can simply open the vents again for their stay.
- See the Light — with LEDs. Replacing all the incandescent light bulbs in your home or apartment with LEDs can improve the quality of light so you can read or do the crossword puzzle more quickly. LEDs pay off over time because they use less electricity and last longer than traditional light bulbs. Incandescent light bulbs are disappearing from retailer’s shelves in response to changing federal energy laws, so stock up today!
- Kill Energy Vampires. Anything with a digital display or glowing light uses a continuous trickle of energy, even when it’s not operating. That means computers, gaming systems, and TVs. The average home can have as many as 30 phantom electric loads. If you aren’t using an appliance, unplug it or connect it to a power strip that you can easily switch off and on.
