Your home can be more efficient. This page provides you with an introduction. Then you can read more under our other topics:

DIFFERENT LIFESTYLES • Your lifestyle and standard of living affect your energy use.

Many things have an effect on your energy consumption.

• family size (including house guests)
• climate control (heating, air conditioning, humidifiers and dehumidifiers)
• hot water use appliance use

Some helpful lifestyle questions:

• "When I take a bath, do I use hot water sparingly, or is the tub completely full of water?"
• "Do I take short showers, or do I stay in the shower until the hot water gets cold?"
• "Do I repair leaky faucets, or simply let them drip and waste hot water?"
• "Do I operate automatic washers and dishwashers with a full load, or just whenever it's convenient (like with a pair of jeans or just a few dishes)?"
• "Do I turn off lights when a room is not in use, or do I leave them on?"
• "Does my television set entertain the entire family, or does it entertain an empty room?"
• "Do I leave the oven on 'warm' for an extended period of time, or do I cook many dishes at once and then turn the oven off?"
• "Is my house well insulated, or is it bleeding heat or cool?"
• "Do I turn off heating and cooling in unused rooms, or am I heating and cooling a lot of empty space?"
• "Am I running dehumidifiers and humidifiers a lot?"
• "Do I have a lot of space heaters, air conditioners or fans?"
• "Do I have a hobby or home business that is energy-consumptive, such as ceramics, woodworking tools or electric dryers for beauty shops?"

SEASONAL NEEDS • Your use isn't the same all year round

Seasonal uses often cause an increase in kilowatt-hours. This includes crop dryers, air conditioners, portable heaters in the garage or basement, engine heaters to keep your car, truck or tractor ready to run, heat tapes to keep pipes from freezing, and so on.

VACATION USAGE • When you're away, your meter doesn't stop running!

When you are gone for a couple of weeks or so on vacation, your electric bill will decrease significantly, right? Wrong.

Just because you leave for two weeks does not mean your meter stops turning. Do not expect your electric bill to be cut in half. Ask yourself a few questions to determine if you should expect a lower bill after your return.

• Was the water heater turned off? If not, it will keep water hot the whole time you're gone.
• Were the refrigerator and freezers emptied and turned off?
• Did you disconnect all clocks, attic fans, power ventilators, air conditioners, lights and TVs with "instant on" features?

If you are determined not to use electricity while you are gone, turn off your main breaker or pull the main disconnect. Remember that when you do this, automatic appliances and lighting will stop. Your refrigerator and freezer will defrost. There will not be any hot water ready when you return, and your home may be too hot or cold when you walk in the door.

• Ask a neighbor to turn on your heating or cooling system and your water heater shortly before you return.
• Unplug all appliances not in use. If a light is left on, put it on a timer. If you are gone for an extended period of time, be sure to notify your REC and make arrangements for uninterrupted electric service.
• Read your meter before leaving and again when you return so you'll know how many kilowatt-hours were used.
• Remember you'll probably have a lot of laundry when you come home. This laundry will give your electric water heater a workout. Even if you give your electric meter a vacation, it may work overtime after you return.