Here are some tips that may help you save energy and bring down your electric bill in your OBX Long Term Rental home:
- Change out standard light bulbs with ENERGY STAR® Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs).
- Get yourself in the habit of turning off the lights when you leave a room.
- Consider using timers and three-way bulbs in lighting devices.
- Consider plugging your home electronics into power strips with surge protection. Turn the strip off when the equipment is not in use.
- Turn off your computer when not in use and activate sleep mode when away from it.
- Install weather stripping or caulk around windows, doors, exhaust fans and other places where wires or pipes pass through walls.
- Make sure you have closed the damper in your fireplace when it is not in use.
- Consider a programmable thermostat for your HVAC system. It will allow you to adjust the temperature for when you are home, away or sleeping.
- Use a toaster oven instead of a large conventional oven, when possible.
- When boiling water, use a pot with a lid.
- Use the appropriate size pot or pan for the burner element so excess heat won’t be used.
- Adjust your refrigerator settings to be between 33-39 degrees.
- Stocking your freezer will help it work more efficiently.
- Run the dishwasher when it is full and use the energy-saving setting for drying or let dishes air dry.
- Use warm or cold water for washing clothes and cold water for rinsing.
- Wash and dry full loads of clothes.
- Use an automatic clothes-drying cycle instead of a timed cycle.
- Keep the dryer’s lint filter clean for greater efficiency.
- Make sure your furniture and drapes are not blocking the air supply vents for your HVAC.