Programmable control devices comes in handy for this
Having company can certainly DRIVE up your utility bills, unless you find ways to reduce energy usage. But there are convenient energy-saving ideas that will keep your guests happy and your money in your wallet. Turning down your water heater temperature, working around peak electricity prices, and using a programmable control unit help. Having more people means a lot more hot water usage, which causes more work for your water heating system – and higher energy costs. The easiest way to solve this is by lowering the temperature on your water heater. Lowering the temperature by 10 degrees can reduce the amount of electricity used by three to five percent. Power companies charge more during peak times, meaning that in periods of high demand for electricity, the cost of electricity increases. To save money,try funneling your electrical usage more to during off-peak times. Peak hours are usually 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Also, avoid running energy-consuming appliances such as washing machines and clothes dryers, dishwashers, heaters, electric ovens, and water heaters. You can also save 10-percent on your yearly energy costs by turning your temperature down seven to 10 degrees for eight hours a day or night. During the day, keep your temperature set to 74, while you’re away; only turning up while you’re at home and you need cooling. At night, switch to heat, but keep your temperature set to a cool 62 degrees, or lower. That means your heating plan will only come on when your home dips below 62. Programmable control devices comes in handy for this. With programmable controls, you can set a schedule to automatically switch temperatures whenever you want.