UseEnergyWisely (PDF)
101 Low Cost, No Cost Home Energy Saving Tips (PDF)
Home cleaning tips to reduce your energy costs
Reduce your energy bill with a new water heater from Polk-Burnett
Tips to keep your house cool
Conserve energy and save with a new ETS heater from Polk-Burnett
Turn off phantom electricity
How much electricity do you use?
Conserve energy and save with EnergySense rebates and grants
Control your energy use and save!
Home cleaning tips to reduce your energy costs
You have the power to make a difference. The cost to generate electricity is getting more expensive, as fuel, shipping and construction materials drive prices up for the co-op and its members. Polk-Burnett is working to control costs and make a difference. You can do your part, too. The solution to rising energy costs requires action on your part, now more than ever. Follow these tips to trim your energy use and take control of your energy bill:
- Clean your refrigerator’s exterior coils; dirty coils make the compressor work harder.
- Clean your dryer’s inside lint filter before each drying cycle; then clean the dryer’s outside vent, so the vent door closes tightly.
- Change furnace filters monthly.
- Check weather-stripping around windows and doors, and replace if damaged or cracked from winter weather.
- Clean inside and outside coils on your HVAC system; coils should be kept clean and free of debris.
- Install white shades, drapes or blinds on windows this spring to reflect heat away from your house this summer.
- Check to see that your fireplace damper is closed tightly.
- Inspect appliances for upgrades and repairs; a 10-year-old air conditioner is only half as efficient as a new one. You may be able to save energy and money by upgrading appliances. Watch for the Energy Star label and rebate credits from Polk-Burnett.
For a list of qualifying items, call 800-421-0283, ext. 318/319 or click rebates. (return to top)
Reduce your energy bill with a new water heater from Polk-Burnett
Water heating is the third largest home energy expense (16%), after heating and cooling (56%) and lighting and appliances (23%).
What can you do?
It may be time to upgrade your water heater. You’ll save energy and reduce your electric bill. When you install a high-efficiency, 105-gallon Marathon® electric water heater from Polk-Burnett, you also qualify for off-peak rates! Off-peak products combined with off-peak rates mean extra savings for you!
- Marathon® water heaters have a lifetime warranty; the tank is warranted not to leak for as long as you own your home.
- The seamless poly tank will not rust or corrode; the tough outer shell resists dents and scratches.
- Marathon water heaters provide superior performance, high efficiency and low operating costs!
For more information about energy-efficient water heaters from Polk-Burnett, call member services, 800-421-0283, ext. 318 or 319 or click water heaters. (return to top)
Tips to keep your house cool
We’re looking out for you… below are seven simple ways to trim your energy use and lower your electricity bill:
- Use portable or ceiling fans; air movement makes you feel about four degrees cooler.
- Change A/C filters monthly during the summer.
- Don’t place lamps or TVs near your air conditioner thermostat; the heat from these appliances will cause the A/C to run longer.
- Install white window shades, drapes or blinds to reflect heat away from the house. Close curtains on south- and west-facing windows during the day.
- Reapply caulking and weather-stripping to keep cool air inside.
- Close your fireplace damper.
- Inspect your air conditioner; regular repairs or an upgrade may improve efficiency. (return to top)
Conserve energy and save with a new ETS heater from Polk-Burnett
Heating and cooling are your largest home energy expenses (56%). Lighting and appliances are second (23%) and water heating is third (16%).
What can you do to help reduce energy costs?
It may be time to upgrade your heating system? You’ll save energy and reduce your electric bill. When you install a high efficiency Electric Thermal Storage (ETS) heater from Polk-Burnett, you also qualify for off-peak rates. And off-peak products combined with off-peak rates mean extra savings for you!
- ETS heaters are easy to operate and are maintenance free.
- ETS heaters are safe and clean.
- ETS heaters are 100% efficient!
- No carbon monoxide. No exhaust. No fuel tanks.
For more information about low-cost, warm off-peak electric heat from Polk-Burnett, call member services, 800-421-0283, ext. 318/319 or click ETS heat. (return to top)
Turn off phantom electricity
Turn off all the lights in your house at night and wander around. You’ll be amazed at how many devices continue to glow. Utility executives call it phantom load, the electricity that flows to devices that are turned off but still drawing power. A microwave with a clock that’s on 24 hours a day. A TV that’s not on, but continuously consuming electricity so it’s ready when you hit the remote’s “on” button. Wireless phone chargers that keep drawing power even when no phone is plugged in. Individually, none of these turned-off devices use much power. But together, they represent an estimated 2 to 8 percent of a home’s electricity usage. For someone in the Boston area with a six percent phantom load, that’s more than $5 a month, or $60 a year. As the cost of energy goes up, you have the power to take control. Find the phantoms in your home to conserve energy and save money on your electric bill. ~excerpt from The Boston Globe (return to top)
How much electricity do you use?
Take charge of your energy use and save money on your electric bill. The Kill-A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor will help show you which appliances and equipment are consuming more power and draining more dollars. You can calculate your electrical expenses by the day, week, month or year, and start making decisions about your lifestyle choices. You have the power to conserve energy, save money and preserve our environment. For more information, contact member services, 800-421-0283, ext. 318/319 or click Kill-A-Watt Monitor. (return to top)
Conserve energy and save with EnergySense rebates and grants
Purchase qualifying Energy Star® appliances and light bulbs and receive a rebate credit on your electric bill. For details and a list of qualifying products, call 800-421-0283, ext. 318/319 or click
rebate form.
Look for the Energy Star® label. Energy Star products use less energy, help save money on your electric bill and help protect the environment by reducing the need for power generation.
Make a difference one bulb at a time. If every American replaced just one regular light bulb with an Energy Star compact fluorescent (CFL) bulb, we’d save enough energy to light three million homes for a year! Plus, receive a $2 rebate from Polk-Burnett on CFL bulbs. For a rebate form click here.
Plus, receive rebates for heat pumps and A/C, home performance testing, construction of an Energy Star® home and renewable wind and solar projects. Contact member services, 800-421-0283, ext. 318/319 or visit rebates. (return to top)
Control your energy use... and save!
- Start by becoming aware of how much energy you use each month.
- Read your meter daily.
- Write down your daily activities: Did you do laundry? Run the dishwasher. Have houseguests? Chart these for two weeks; over time, you will see a pattern of energy use.
- Browse our Use Energy Wisely booklet and start controlling your energy use today! UseEnergyWisely (PDF) (return to top)