By Madison Gas and Electric (MGE)
Stay cool and comfortable at home with these tips from MGE.
1. Use a qualified contractor to professionally maintain your central air at least every two years. Be sure to routinely clean leaves and grass clippings off your outdoor air conditioning unit.
2. Run major appliances before 10 am and after 9 pm or on weekends. This helps lower the demand for power during peak times.
3. Set your thermostat as high as is comfortable, preferably 78° or higher when you are home and up to 85° when you are away. Consider upgrading to a smart thermostat — they can adjust temperatures automatically based on your routine and can make saving energy easier. Consider participating in MGE Connect® and help reduce strain on the electric grid during periods of heavy energy use — all while getting a reward.
4. Swap your light bulbs with LED bulbs, which use up to 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last longer.
5. Unplug your phone chargers, printers, computers and other electronics when you are not using them. These devices can still use energy when not in use. Standby or “phantom” power can account for 5% to 10% of your total energy use.
6. Run a whole-house fan, room fan or ceiling fan. Be sure to turn off ceiling and room fans when no one is in the room — fans cool people, not rooms.
7. Seal around your window air conditioner so cool air cannot escape. If you need to purchase a new unit, consider a Wi-Fi window air conditioner — you can control them remotely with smartphone apps, which allow you to adjust the temperature while you’re away.
8. Keep your window coverings closed to block out direct sunlight.
9. Run full loads in your washer and dryer to cut down on excess energy usage.
10. Keep your water heater temperature set at 120°, and if you go on vacation, remember to switch it to vacation mode.
By managing our energy use collectively, we can help manage energy costs and reduce carbon emissions as we work together to achieve net-zero carbon electricity by 2050. Find other ways to save energy at mge.com.
