Energy-Saving Tips

Is your home or business energy efficient? Here are a few simple things you can do to reduce your energy consumption and save money.

 

Hot Weather Energy-Saving Tips:

  • Set your thermostat at 78°F or higher — every degree of extra cooling will increase energy usage by six to eight percent.
  • Point fans in your direction. Fans blowing directly on you can make it feel about 4 degrees cooler, and lessen your need for air conditioning. In the summer, fan blades should move counterclockwise to push cool air downward.
  • Close interior blinds, drapes, or shades to block the sun and heat during warm weather.
  • Try to save heat and humidity-generating activities (cooking, laundering, and dishwashing) for early morning or evening hours.
  • Use a clothesline instead of a clothes dryer.
  • On warm days raise your thermostat to 80°F or higher if leaving home for more than four hours.

 

General Energy-Saving Tips:

  • Always turn lights off in rooms you are not using.
  • Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater. For each 10 degrees of reduction, you can save 3-5 percent in energy costs.
  • Don’t leave bathroom or kitchen ventilation fans running longer than necessary; they replace inside air with outside air.
  • Keep your refrigerator and freezer full. They operate more efficiently when full.
  • Unplug or recycle that spare refrigerator in the garage if you don’t really need it. Refrigerators are typically the second largest electricity users in a home. If your refrigerator is more than ten years old, consider replacing it.
  • Always choose ENERGY STAR® certified appliances.

 

Reducing Energy Usage during Tight Grid Conditions

High electric demand and extreme weather during the summer can lead to power shortages. During times of extreme demand, Hillsdale BPU may be ordered by MISO to activate emergency plans, known as load-shedding.

If the power grid is nearing capacity, Hillsdale BPU’s first action will be requesting help from our customers, who can assist us by beginning conservation measures such as turning off unneeded lights and electronics and limiting the use of air conditioning. These simple steps, when followed by enough customers, can make a world of difference.

Examples of ways to reduce energy consumption can be found on this page and on the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Saver website.

Customers who rely on electricity to support life-sustaining medical equipment should have a backup plan and register with Hillsdale BPU in advance. Registration does not guarantee priority power restoration.

 

Cold Load Pickup

When power is restored after an outage, circuits can become overloaded because of lights, electronics and thermostats left on prior to the outage. This is called cold load pickup and can cause a second outage. Customers without power can help us avoid cold load pickup by:

  • Turning off their thermostats
  • Turning off or unplugging any fixtures or appliances
  • Only leaving on one light to indicate when the power is back on
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