Year 'round

• Don't Block Vents

Never place a bed, dresser, couch or other piece of solid furniture in front of vents Doing so wastes energy and keeps your home from being as comfortable as possible.

• No Peeking

Every time you open the oven to check an item, you lose 25-50 degrees, even if it's just a peek. That makes your oven work harder to maintain the temperature. Try a timer instead.

• "Off" Means Not Used

Turn off all unnecessary lights, television, stereo and other electrical appliances when they're not in use.

• Shorten Your Showers

Seven-minute showers can save up to $60 per person per year in hot water costs compared to 15-minute showers.

• I See the Light

Lighting accounts for 6 percent of the total energy use in the average American home and costs between $50 and $150 per year in electricity. Save money by turning off lights when leaving a room and by putting energy-saving compact flourescent bulbs in your light sockets.

• Dry, Dry Again

Dry laundry loads right after eacg other so your dryer doesn't have to reheat for each load. Your clothes will dry faster, too.

• Twist and Turn

Twist energy-saving compact flourescent bulb into your light sockets and turn on the energy saving-up to $50 over the life of one bulb. Energy-saving compact bulbs use up to 75% less energy than standard bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.

• This vs. That

When buying new appliances, compare energy-efficiency ratings and annual operating costs. The energy and cost savings from a high-efficiency appliance can more than make up for a higher initial cost in a short time.

• Less is Better

You can save more than 10 percent on your water-heating bill by turning down your water heater just then degrees-from the standard 140 degrees to 130 degrees. You can also install flow-restricting showerheads and reduce hot water usage by up to 50 percent without affecting shower pressure.

• Energy Smart Computing

Turning off a computer, monitor and printer when not in use can save 100 to 300 watts. According to most computer manufacturers, turning a computer on and off will not adversely (more than six times daily). Activating the computer's Energy Star™ features can also save energy while the computer is on, but idle.

• Is Your Refrigerator Running?

Your refrigerator may be running away with your energy dollars. If you are using an old, extra refrigerator in your garage, it could be adding an extra $4-$6 on your monthly energy bill. If it is usually almost empty, consider emptying it and unplugging it until the additional space is really needed. For any refrigerator, use a thermometer to make sure it is set no colder than necessary-typically 37 to 40° F for the fridge and to 5° F for the freezer.

• Not Just Any Hot Air

Your clother dryer will use less energy when it is loaded to its rated capacity. A dryer filled to only one-third of its capacity uses about 25% more energy per pound of laundry than a fully loaded dryer. With fewer clothes in the dryer, heated air flows through the dryer more rapidly without contributing to the drying process. Conversely, overlaoding a dryer can result in wrinkled clothes, uneven drying and extended drying times.

• Choices Are Blowing In The Wind

Sign up for wind energy from Platte River through your municipal electric utility. Wind does cost a little more than the electricity from our mix of hydropower, natural gas and coal-fired power plants due to the wind's variability. On average the wind blows at full power about 35% of the time. By signing up, you'll be supporting zero emission, renewable energy.