Energy Conservation for Home & Office
Why Conserve Energy:
Wise use of electricity can lower your consumption and save you money. Florida Keys Electric Cooperative (Upper and Middle Keys) and Keys Energy Services (Lower Keys) have trained professionals on staff who can show you how. At your request, and at no cost to you, a Member Services Representative will come to your home or business and perform an energy audit. At the conclusion of the audit, you will be provided with a written report containing steps you can take to use electricity wisely and lower your monthly electric bill. What You Can Do:
Call to schedule a free energy audit. In the meantime, here’s a list of effective ways to help you conserve energy.
- Cool your home efficiently
Cool your home at 78 degrees or warmer with the thermostat fan on "auto." For more savings, raise the thermostat to 82 degrees or warmer when you are away. - Install a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature. It can be set to automatically raise the temperature of your home when you are at away from home and cool it back down to a comfortable 78 degrees before you return home.
- Clean or replace you air conditioner's filter every month.
- Turn off your ceiling fan when you are not in the room. You feel cooler under a ceiling fan because of the wind-chill effect, but the fan does not lower the air temperature. A fan that runs constantly can cost up to $7 a month.
- Consider replacing old air conditioners with new high-efficiency units. The cost of a high-efficiency air conditioner may be greater, but energy savings in the long run can more than repay the cost.
- Seal and insulate your air-conditioning ducts. Tightly sealed and insulated ducts will keep cool air from escaping into your attic.
- Shading your home will lower interior temperatures so that your air conditioner does not have to work as hard. Close curtains and blinds during the day. A trellis, awning or sunscreen can help keep sunlight off of windows. Plant trees to help shade your home, but remember, plant them wisely. Do not plant trees under or near overhead power lines unless the tree is of a type that will not grow tall enough to come within 10 feet of the lines.
- Light your home efficiently
Use fluorescent lights in areas where general lighting is needed. - Turn lights off when rooms are unoccupied. A 100-watt light bulb that is left on continuously can cost more than $6 a month.
- Install motion sensor-activated outdoor lighting instead of leaving an outside light on all night.
- Seal your home
Check your insulation. A well-insulated attic is one of the main defenses against the loss of cool air. Depending on your roof type, you should have up to 10 inches of insulation (R30 rating) in your attic. - Place weather stripping around windows and doors to keep cool air in.
- Make sure wall outlet trim plates fit properly. Caulk and seal around smoke detectors and baseboards to cold air in.
- Watch your water
Set your water heater temperature between 120 and 140 degrees. - Install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators. Less hot water used in the shower or sink means less electricity needed to re-heat water.
- Avoid pre-rinsing dishes before loading the dishwasher to save up to $70 a year.
- Limit the time you run your pool pump. During the summer, six hours a day is sufficient. During the winter, 4 hours a day should do the job. Avoid running the pool pump during the peak electrical demand time between 4pm and 8pm.
FREE ENERGY AUDIT:
To schedule an energy audit in the Upper and Middle Keys, call FKEC Member Services in Tavernier at 305.852.2431 or in Marathon at 305.743.5344. In the Lower Keys call Keys Energy Services at 305.295.1081.
Tavernier office # is 305.852.2431
Marathon office # is 305.743.5344