Planning before you leave on vacation can help avoid a high energy bill when you return. Most people expect to have a lower-than-usual electric bill when they return home, but what some people forget is that many appliances run even when no one is home. Other appliances even run more because of a temperature change in the home or lack of maintenance when you are away.
Heat pump or air conditioner left on - Even if you set the thermostat at a higher than usual setting, the air conditioning unit will run periodically. The running time will be related to the temperature outside and the amount of glass and insulation in your home.
Swimming pool pump - If the pool pump is not operated with a timer, it will run 24 hours a day while you're away. If you normally turn the pump off for a period of time each day, the 24 hour operation can make a big increase in energy use.
Water heater - Unless you turn it off at the fuse box or circuit breaker panel, your water heater will continue to operate to maintain water at the temperature you have set on the thermostat.
Freezer - If the air conditioning is turned off or set at a higher than usual temperature, the efficiency of the freezer decreases as the temperature in your home increases. The hotter your home becomes, the higher the number of hours your freezer will run.
Refrigerator - It is not unusual for a manual-defrosting refrigerator to run twice as much as usual, due to the higher temperatures in your home. Self-defrosting refrigerators may run an additional 20 to 30 percent.
Before you leave:
-
Unless there is something in your home that might suffer heat damage, turn your heat pump or air conditioner off. If you prefer to leave it on, set the thermostat at 85 to 90 degrees. For each degree you raise the temperature, you'll save 2 to 3 percent on the cooling part of your electric bill.
-
Give your water heater a vacation, too. Turn it off at the circuit breaker or fuse box. (Before you turn the breaker back on, run water from the hot water faucet to be certain the heater still has water in it).
-
Turn your refrigerator's thermostat control to a slightly warmer setting if you're going away for a few days. If you'll be gone for an extended vacation of four weeks or more, you may want to turn it off. If so, thoroughly clean it out and prop the door open to prevent mildew from forming.
-
Turn off lights except those you need for security. Use timers to control lights which are left on for security purposes.
-
Unplug waterbed heaters. Like water heaters, waterbed heaters operate to keep the water at your selected temperature.
-
Unplug "instant-on" televisions.
-
If you're going to be gone for an extended vacation, sign up for the AutoPay program which will automatically have your APS bills paid by your bank.
When you return:
-
If you are one of our Combined Advantage or Demand Advantage customers, be sure to spread out the usage of your major appliances when you return home from your trip. For example, if you turn the heat pump or air conditioner back on, do the laundry, and everyone in your family lines up to take hot showers, you may end up with a much higher bill because of the increased demand charge. So, it is a good idea to wait until the house cools off and the heat pump stops running before you take your showers and do laundry.
-
If you are a Time Advantage or Combined Advantage customer, remember you'll save a considerable amount if you wait to do these activities during lower cost, off-peak hours (weekdays - Monday through Friday, 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. or 7 p.m. to Noon, depending or your rate selection- and all day and night, Saturday and Sunday).
Protect your home while you are away:
-
Use a timer to turn a radio on and off throughout the day and evening.
-
Use a timer to turn lights on and off during the evening. Close the draperies in at least one lighted room, or a burglar can walk or drive by, and look in and see that no one is home. Tell the neighbor which lights will be turning on and off.
-
Controlling lights with timers, make sure your yard is well lit at night.
-
Consider obtained "call forwarding" for your phone to automatically forward your calls to another number where someone will answer them for you.
-
Ask the police if they have a "vacation home check" program. If they do, ask them to check while you are away.
-
Have your lawn watered and cut, and have all shrubberies cared for.
-
Have mail, newspapers and other delivered items picked up or held until your return.
-
Have a neighbor put trash in your garbage cans, and on collection day, have the cans placed where they are normally emptied by the trash collection service.
More Ways to Save Energy, Save Money
|
|
|
