Give your energy bill a vacation

June 2, 2009

When I returned from vacation last summer I was surprised that my electric bill didn’t go down more. Is there anything I can do to save energy when we’re gone this year?

Customers sometimes are surprised to learn their homes continue to use energy when they’re not home. If you’re going to be gone for three or more days, here are some things you can do to cut energy use:

-- Cooling: Turn off central air conditioners and heat pumps. “Returning to a cool home is nice, but why pay to cool the place when nobody is there to enjoy it?” said Rick Cantonwine, Clark Public Utilities energy counselor.

Cantonwine said to use common sense on how warm you allow the house to get. You may want to turn the thermostat up instead of off, especially if you have plants in the house that could be harmed. For every degree you raise the temperature on the thermostat, you’ll save between 1 percent and 2 percent on the cooling portion of your electric bill.

-- Water heating: Why heat and reheat water? Turn off electric water heaters at the breaker box. Typically natural gas or propane water heaters will have a “pilot” or “vacation” setting on the valve. “Just mark the spot where it was set, so you’ll be able to reset it to the same temperature when you return,” Cantonwine said. “And remember to flip the breaker switch right when you get home.”

-- Appliances: Unplug electronics and appliances that continue to use energy even when switched off, such as TVs, DVD players, cable boxes, microwaves, computers, and printers.

Refrigerators use energy around the clock, so if it’s practical it can be worth the effort to empty the fridge and unplug it. Place a box of baking soda on a shelf and leave the door ajar for air circulation. Most likely it won’t make sense to empty a freezer chock full of food, so leave it on. But, if you’re gone for an extended period, it may be a good idea to ask a friend to periodically check that it’s still running.

-- Other precautions: While not energy related, Cantonwine also suggests turning off water to the clothes washer, just in case a hose breaks or a valve fails.

For home security, put a lamp on a timer and install timers on outdoor security lights, if they are not motion-detector fixtures. Install compact fluorescent light bulbs in both. (Compact fluorescent bulbs are not recommended in motion detector fixtures.)

Do not leave pets such as reptiles or fish unattended. Unexpected power outages can turn off heat lamps and aquarium aerators.