SWPPD Blog

            The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that heating water for use in your home  accounts for 12 to 18 percent of your energy bill. Here’s how to lower that number: Read More

            The next time you think you smell a dead mouse in the house but can’t find one, check your electrical outlets. Read More

            With summer at its hottest, it’s tempting to hide inside to escape the heat. Instead of cooping yourself up indoors with the TV and your computer, how about taking advantage of the last month of vacation season with some fun in the sun? Read More

            If just the thought of easing up on the air conditioning in the middle of a summer heat wave makes you sweat, consider this trick to save electricity: Go outside. Read More

            You might plant shrubs and bushes to make your yard look nicer. They might also lower your energy bill.  Read More

• Turn the thermostat up to 80 degrees if no people or pets will be in the house while you’re gone. Don’t turn the air conditioning completely off; a home that’s too hot and humid can become a breeding ground for mold and even damage some of the construction materials your home was build with. If you’re leaving your pets at home for a pet-sitter to check on, leave the a/c at a comfortable setting.
• Shut off the water heater.
• Unplug electronics like the TV, coffee pot, electric razors, electric clocks and cell phone chargers. Even if those things are turned off, they still use a trace amount of electricity as long as they are plugged in.
• Plug your lights into a timer. Burglars are far less likely to break into a house if they think someone is home and awake. Just leaving on a few lights isn’t going to fool them, though, because if they’re watching your house, they’ll see the lack of activity. Instead, program your lights to turn on and off at the times of day when you usually would turn them on and off. You’ll save energy and possibly ward off trouble.
 Read More

• Turn the thermostat up to 80 degrees if no people or pets will be in the house while you’re gone. Don’t turn the air conditioning completely off; a home that’s too hot and humid can become a breeding ground for mold and even damage some of the construction materials your home was build with. If you’re leaving your pets at home for a pet-sitter to check on, leave the a/c at a comfortable setting.
• Shut off the water heater.
• Unplug electronics like the TV, coffee pot, electric razors, electric clocks and cell phone chargers. Even if those things are turned off, they still use a trace amount of electricity as long as they are plugged in.
• Plug your lights into a timer. Burglars are far less likely to break into a house if they think someone is home and awake. Just leaving on a few lights isn’t going to fool them, though, because if they’re watching your house, they’ll see the lack of activity. Instead, program your lights to turn on and off at the times of day when you usually would turn them on and off. You’ll save energy and possibly ward off trouble.
 Read More

If your electric bill seems higher than it used to be, it’s time to investigate. Read More

            Cool air could escape from your home this summer through two spaces you probably don’t pay much attention to: the attic and the crawl space under the home. Read More

Take some time this summer to invest in your home’s energy efficiency. Here are three projects that will pay off in lower energy bills. Read More