Energy efficiency – it’s as easy as flipping off the lights when you leave a room or keeping your thermostat at a comfortable rather than cold setting on a hot summer day. Or, if your old fridge or air conditioner has seen better days, shop for a new, more efficient ENERGY STAR® model. Simply, if we all become more energy efficient, we’ll reduce our collective demand for energy, improve the environment, be less susceptible to rising fuel prices, and decrease the need to build more power plants in the future. Yes, energy efficiency saves energy and saves you money. See what CPS Energy is doing about energy efficiency

Energy efficiency starts at home. According to ENERGY STAR, heating and cooling equipment accounts for almost half of your home’s energy use, followed by home electronics, large appliances, water heating equipment and lighting. How you use these devices and how efficiently they draw electricity or natural gas will determine your monthly utility bills.

We have included a number of simple, often overlooked, steps you can follow to make the most of your energy use. We also encourage you to take advantage of rebates we offer for appliances or home improvements that increase your home’s energy efficiency and, ultimately, save you money.

Try our Home Energy Calculator to see what the costs of energy use may be for each appliance in your home. Also see our Winter Energy Savers to help you reduce your energy bill during the cold weather months.

• Keep room temperature between 78 and 80 degrees during the warmer, summer months. For each degree cooler, costs can increase 7 to 10 percent. During the winter, a thermostat setting of between 68 to 70 degrees is recommended.
• Consider using a programmable thermostat. Set it at a higher temperature while you’re at work, then program it to be a comfortable temperature when you return home. Try our Peak Saver Thermostat
• Use ceiling fans to circulate air and make a room feel cooler. Don’t forget to turn off fans when you leave the room!
• Check your air filter every month, especially during the winter and summer, and replace dirty filters that make your system work harder and waste energy.
• More heating and cooling tips.

• Turn off your television when you leave the room, especially those plasmas!
• Unplug any battery and cell phone chargers once the units are fully charged – small amounts of saved energy add up on your electric bill!
• Shut down your computer at the end of the day. “Stand-by” mode still uses electricity.
• Look for the ENERGY STAR logo when purchasing home electronics products such as TVs, DVD players and cordless phones.
• Learn more ENERGY STAR tips for using and purchasing energy-efficient home electronics.

• Don’t leave the refrigerator door open! If your refrigerator was made before 1993, it uses twice as much energy as a new ENERGY STAR model. Consider replacing it and save on your electric bills. Try our Refrigerator Calculator to see your unit's energy cost.
• Use lids on pots and pans to reduce cooking times. When heating smaller portions, use a microwave or toaster oven.
• Dry only full loads of laundry (a full washer load usually means a full dryer load), without overfilling your dryer.
• Clean the lint filter before you dry each load of clothing. Also periodically clean accumulated lint from the dryer vent.
• When considering the purchase of a new dryer, look for a dryness or moisture sensor that automatically turns the dryer off when it detects the desired level of dryness. How about a gas clothes dryer rebate?
• Learn more ENERGY STAR tips for using and purchasing energy-efficient appliances. Try our Appliance Calculator to see costs associated with major appliances in your home.

• Use your clothes washer and dishwasher with full loads only. When using these appliances, use cold water as much as possible. Consider a SAWS Rebate for the purchase of high-efficiency washing machines.
• Check your water heater for leaks and proper settings on the thermostat. The recommended setting for our area is 140 degrees. How about a gas water heater rebate? 
• Don't leave hot water running when shaving or rinsing dishes, and take quick showers or shallow baths. This will reduce the amount of energy needed to heat the water and save on your water expenses, too.

• Turn lights off when you leave a room. Every cent can add up to a lower monthly bill! Try our Lighting Calculator to see your homes energy cost associated with lighting.
• Switch from higher wattage, standard light bulbs to lower wattage, compact fluorescent lights(CFLs). CFLs use one-fourth as much energy and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
• Use dimmer switches to control the amount of light you are using.
• Put your lights on a timer if you are going on vacation.
• Learn more ENERGY STAR tips for using and purchasing energy-efficient light bulbs and fixtures.