Now that the first electricity bill of the new leasing year has made its way to the mailboxes, students are scrambling to figure how to lower utility costs. Most people know about using fluorescent light bulbs and not leaving windows open while the air is running, but some tips go beyond the obvious energy-saving strategies to keep bills at bay.
Heating & Air Conditioning
Gainesville residents should have their thermostats set to 78 degrees in summer months and 68 degrees during the winter, said Kik Koppitch, Gainesville Regional Utilities senior account manager. Each degree of increase during the winter and decrease in the summer can result in a 4 percent increase in a monthly bill.
For a typical resident who uses about 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month, the deviation from the recommended temperatures can result in a $4 to $5 increase per degree, Koppitch said.
To keep the cost from fluctuating, he recommends the use of ceiling fans instead of reaching for the thermostat first.
Although fans don't actually cool the air, Koppitch said when the air from the fan hits your skin it gives the impression that it is between 2 to 4 degrees cooler in the room. If you like the temperature at 75 degrees in your home, you can have the fan running and still be able to turn the thermostat up to the recommended 78 degrees.
"It will still feel like it's 75 degrees in the room when the fan is on," he said.
Hot Water Heater
According to Anna Prizzia, director of the UF Office of Sustainability, hot water heaters are the second biggest energy hog in houses and apartments. Prizzia said although students have little to no control over when landlords replace the appliance, they can be proactive in reducing the amount of energy it uses.
First, Prizzia said she recommends that students buy an insulating blanket for the heater, available at local hardware stores for about $20. The blanket can remain on the heater year round, reducing the amount of heat lost by the appliance. This allows it to work more efficiently and use less energy.
Also, Prizzia said that if you are going out of town for a few days or more, you should switch your hot water heater setting to vacation mode to reduce the amount of energy spent heating water that will not be used.
Water-saving Tips
Watching water usage can save on power bills too. Prizzia said that laundry or dishes should only be done if the appliances have full loads. This can save up to 1,100 gallons of water each month. If you time your showers to keep them under five minutes, you could save up to 1,000 gallons of water per month, which will drastically reduce energy usage by using less hot watter.
Electronics
Even when their switches are turned off, many electronic devices are still using energy when plugged in. Prizzia said she suggests buying a power strip with multiple outlets for items such as televisions, lamps and computers.
The items are then controlled by one switch on the strip, which makes it easer to turn everything off at the same time. Prizzia said the power strips cost between $5 to $10 and can be found at any local hardware store.
Instead of going to Lowe's or Home Depot, Prizzia said she likes to shop at local hardware stores like Zell's Ace Hardware, located at 3727 W University Ave.
"Putting money into local economy is a great way to be sustainable as well," she said.
If you don't want to spend money, however, Prizzia recommends unplugging items such as coffee pots and printers that are used infrequently.
"You can save up to $100 a year if you shut your electronics off by using a switch on the wall or unplugging them," she said.
Refrigerator & Freezer
Having a good seal on your refrigerator and freezer is key to conserving energy in the kitchen. Koppitch said that letting the least amount of cold air out of the appliance will minimize how long and how hard its compressor will work to replace that cold air to make sure the door seals are up to par, place a dollar bill in the door while closing it. If the appliance does not hold the dollar firmly, the seal needs to be replaced.
Also, Prizzia said the more items you have in your refrigerator and freezer, the less the appliance will work to make the temperature cooler.
"If there are already cold things in the freezer, it will not use as much energy to pump cold air," she said.
Prizzia recommends filling up a water jug and putting it in the freezer. It will turn to ice and help keep the temperature down.
