Ways to Save

Laurens Commission of Public Works wants to help you save electricity, natural gas, and water - along with conserving resources and reducing your utility bills.
 

Index

 Water Conservation Tips

The Laurens CPW wants to help you save money and water. 

  • Make the right landscaping choices. Pick grass that grows well in your region, and try xeriscaping to cut back on water use. 

  • When washing dishes by hand, make sure to fill the sink instead of letting the water run continuously.

  • Check for leaks. A leaky faucet or toilet can waste thousands of gallons every year. Fixes are usually inexpensive and easy.

  • When doing laundry, make sure the load setting matches the amount of clothing you have inside the washer. 

  • Buy efficient appliances. Many modern appliances automatically take care of the efficiency for you! Check for the WaterSense label when you shop. 
[ Return to Top ]

 Natural Gas Conservation Tips

Whether you use natural gas to heat your home or simply for a few appliances around the house, there are many ways to conserve and save on your utility bill. 

  • Seal it up. Check for leaks around windows, doors, and other openings to the outside. Seal these leaks with caulk and keep the warmth in. 

  • Cover it up. Cover bare floors with carpet.

  • Control the temp. Use programmable thermostats to help conserve energy. 

  • Insulate. Wrap old water heaters with proper insulating jackets, and set the temperature to 120 F (or lower). Insulate your plumbing. 

  • Wash cold. Whenever possible, use the cold water setting on your washing machine. 

  • Clean it up. Make sure your dryer filter is lint free (to help prevent fires). Regularly change your air filter in your HVAC system. 

  • Use mother nature. When it's cold outside but also sunny, open the blinds during the day to let the sun help heat your home. 

  • Regularly check and/or replace HVAC filters every month during peak cooling or heating season. New filters usually only cost a few dollars. Dirty filters cost more to use, overwork the equipment, and result in lower indoor air quality.

  • Consider installing a programmable thermostat to automate your HVAC system. Programmable thermostats will optimize your HVAC operation “24/7″ based on your schedule and can be “overridden” as needed for unscheduled events. So consumers and staff always enter a comfortable facility, this “smart thermostat” can turn on the HVAC one hour before arrival instead of heating or cooling unoccupied space.

[ Return to Top ]

 Electricity Conservation Tips

The Laurens CPW has partnered with the Energy Depot. This is a set of online tools and resources to help you better understand and manage your home energy use and costs. The Energy Depot is your one-stop resource for energy information and it's available for free.



You can use Energy Depot to:



  • Receive a personalized energy profile with an estimate of your energy costs for each home energy system/appliance group.

  • Learn specific things you can do to reduce energy use and how much you can save.

  • Complete a do-it-yourself home energy audit and receive your report online.

  • Quickly estimate the annual energy use and cost of home energy systems and appliances.

  • Compare your heating and cooling systems or water heater to a range of new systems.

  • Learn how soon you can pay for a new more efficient heating or cooling system or water heater through lower energy bills.

  • Use the Energy Library to answer your energy questions.

  • Get answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding home energy use.


In addition, there are lots of ways to conserve power at your home. 

  • Adjust the temperature. Make sure your thermostat is set to 68 degrees in the winter and 78 or higher in the summer. Use fans in the summer to keep air circulating. 

  • Make sure heating and cooling ducts are sealed and well insulated.

  • Seal it up. Make sure windows and doors aren't leaking air, and seal them up if you find a leak. 

  • Unplug it. Unplug appliances like TVs and computers when they aren't in use. 

  • Check the flow. Make sure HVAC vents are free from obstructions. Have your central heating and air units checked annually. 

  • Switch the bulb. Replace your standard lights with LED models. As a general rule LEDs cost about 80% less to operate and last about 10 times longer.

  • Consider installing switch plate occupancy sensors in proper locations to automatically turn off lighting when no one is present and back on when people return. 
[ Return to Top ]