Summer Energy Tips

Courtesy of Vectren.com:

• Upgrade to a high-efficiency natural gas water heater. Water heating can account for up to 25% of your home’s energy consumption. Vectren offers $100 to $150 rebates on energy efficient natural gas models!
• Wash your clothes in cold water, which reduces your washer's energy use up to 90% by eliminating water heating costs.
• Use less hot waterby taking shorter showers, running your dishwasher only when it’s full, or fixing leaky faucets.
• Use low-flow showerheads. For an investment of $5 to $10, you can save $50 to $75 per year on water bills and $20 to $50 or more per year on energy bills by reducing hot water usage.
• Caulk and weatherstrip around your windows and doors to save you up to 10% on heating and cooling costs.
• Conduct an online energy audit, which will help pinpoint opportunities for year-round energy savings based on the size and age of your home and appliances.
• Add insulation to your attic and walls to save up to 30% on heating and cooling costs.
• Enroll in Budget Bill through your gas company. Under this free billing plan, your estimated costs for a year of utility service are spread out in equal monthly bill amounts for the year to help budget accordingly.

Did you know that as a rule of thumb, you can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon of gas?