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Energy efficiency tips during COVID-19

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  5. Energy efficiency tips during COVID-19

As COVID-19 impacts our local communities, we understand the increasing financial hardships facing our members. With more people at home for an extended period of time, households will likely see an increase in energy use.

HCE wants to help our members with common sense advice and easy-to-use tips to reduce the impact on your budget.

Tips for home
Tips for business

Tips for Homes

  • Replace non-programmable thermostats with programmable or smart thermostats.
  • Have a throw blanket or sweater by your home desk instead of turning on a space heater. Most space heaters use 1,500 watts and can spike your bill.
  • Turn off heat tape at all breakers if you don’t need any longer (heat tape can use 6 to 12 watts per foot).
  • If you have a hot tub and it’s sitting idle, turn the heat down to 85°F
  • Limit the use of whole-house humidification systems.
  • Change out lighting to LEDs.
  • Unplug equipment when not in use or put plug loads on advanced power strips (computers, monitors, electronics, microwaves, coffeemakers, etc.)
  • Insulate attic and/or crawlspace hatch doors.
  • Weather strip doors and caulk around windows – learn how!
  • Insulate water heater and hot water pipes (set water heater to 120°F).
  • Put clothes on a drying rack or outside clothes line instead of using the dryer.
  • Clean refrigerator coils.
  • Replace your furnace filter.
  • Install water-saving showerheads and aerators on kitchen and bathroom sinks
  • We have a variety of rebates available on energy saving devices. Upgrade to products that will downgrade your energy consumption. We also have custom rebates available.
  • Sign up for a new HCE program: Peak Time Payback – reduce your usage when we call a critical peak time and receive a credit on your bill.
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Tips for Businesses

  • Set your Building Automated System (BAS) to unoccupied (especially in schools and buildings that are completely empty).
  • Swap out non-programmable thermostats with programmable or smart thermostats.
    Check economizers on your HVAC system to ensure they are working properly.
  • Turn off heat tape at all breakers if you don’t need any longer (heat tape can use 6 to 12 watts per foot).
  • Unplug equipment or put plug loads on advanced power strips (computers, monitors, electronics, microwaves, coffeemakers, etc.)
  • Replace air filters, clean HVAC and refrigeration coils
  • 24/7 lighting – put on vacancy sensors. HCE has rebates available for these!
  • Change out lighting to LEDs.
  • Turn off snowmelt systems.
  • Turn off breakers on items such as walk-in coolers that are empty (keep door open to prevent mold).
  • We have a variety of rebates available for energy-saving products. Upgrade to products that will downgrade your energy consumption. We also have custom rebates available.
  • Sign up for a new HCE program: Peak Time Payback – reduce your usage when we call a critical peak time and receive a credit on your bill.
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