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Energy Saving Tips

SIMPLE STEPS TO HELP SAVE MONEY ON YOUR ELECTRIC ENERGY COSTS:

Heating/Cooling Tips:	• Clean or replace filters once a month. • Set thermostats a low as comfortably possible in the winter and as high as comfortably possible in the summer. • West Florida Electric recommends thermostats be set at 68 degrees or cooler in the winter and 78 degrees or warmer in the summer.
Water Heating Tips:	• Repair leaky faucets promptly. • Lower the thermostat on water heaters. A setting of 115 degrees Fahrenheit provides comfortable hot water while conserving electricity.
Indoor Lighting Tips:	• Use compact fluorescent bulbs - they are up to four times more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs and provide the same lighting. • Turn off lights in any unoccupied room.
Dishwasher Tips:	• Let dishes air-dry. • Check user's manual for recommended water temperatures; many models have internal heating elements that allow users to set water heaters to lower temperatures.
Refrigerator/Freezer Tips:	• Don't keep refrigerators or freezers too cold. Recommended temperatures are 37 degrees to 40 degrees Fahrenheit for the fresh food compartment of refrigerators and five degrees Fahrenheit for the freezer section. Chest-type freezers should be kept at zero degrees Fahrenheit. • Make sure refrigerator door seals are air tight.
Other Kitchen Tips:	• Use a covered kettle or pan to boil water - it's faster and uses less energy. • Match the size of pans to heating elements. • Turn electric stovetop burners off several minutes before the allotted cooking time. Stored heat will allow the food to finish cooking without using more electricity. The same principle applies to oven cooking. • Use small electric pans or toaster ovens for small meals rather than your large stove or oven. • Use pressure cookers or microwave ovens when convenient to do so.
Laundry Tips:	• Wash clothes in cold water when possible. • Wash and dry full loads. • Clean the lint filter in dryers before each load to maximize air circulation. • Use the cool-down feature of dryers to allow clothes to finish drying with residual heat.
For detailed information on energy efficiency and renewable energy, visit the Department of Energy's website at http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/or http://www.energystar.gov/. EMPLOY THESE STEPS IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOUR METER HAS BEEN READ