• Energy Savings Lower Costs •
Cutting back on energy usage saves some cash while doing your part for the planet. It also contributes to a greener world by reducing carbon emissions. With a few easy tweaks to your daily routine, you can shrink your energy bill without sacrificing comfort. without sacrificing comfort or convenience.
Let’s dive into some practical strategies to conserve energy. Reduce your usage on the power grid and spend less on your energy bill with these cost-saving energy efficiency tips and tricks.
Energy Efficiency for Every Day
Electricity is more expensive during “peak hours,” (between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.) when electricity is in high demand, but electricity from renewable resources is less available. Reducing your energy consumption during peak hours can reduce demand on the power grid and help you save on your electric bill. These tips and tricks can help you save electricity and save money:
In the Kitchen:
- Reduce the time that you’re using your oven and stove by trying the following:
- Keep pots covered for shorter cook times.
- Bake multiple dishes at once to cut down on the time that the oven is running.
- Bake smaller portions. The same amount of food baked in smaller portions requires shorter cook times.
- Use the residual heat after you turn off the oven to heat up foods.
- Consider energy-efficient alternatives to the stove or oven, like air fryers or toaster ovens.
- During the summer, consider cooking on the barbecue grill. This can also help reduce your A/C use.
- Avoid leaving the fridge open for prolonged periods.
- Allow leftovers to cool before storing them in the fridge to avoid warm foods increasing the temperature inside your fridge.
- Run dishwashers early in the day or late at night.
Doing Laundry:
- Avoid using your washing machine or dryer during peak hours.
- Wash your clothes with cold water.
- Wait until you have a full load before using the washing machine for fewer washing cycles and less electricity consumption.
- Hang dry your clothes instead of using the dryer.
Cooling Your Home:
- In the summer, pre-cool your home before peak hours by turning your A/C down to 72 degrees. Between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., set your A/C to 78 degrees, if health permits.
- Use fans instead of the A/C, whenever possible.
- Turn off fans when no one is using them. Fans cool people, not rooms.
- Close the blinds or drapes.
Heating Your Home:
- In the winter, set your thermostat to 68 degrees. At night or when no one is home, set your thermostat to 58 degrees.
- Use alternatives to central heating, like space heaters or electric blankets whenever possible.
- Unplug space heaters when no one is using them.
Flex Alerts and Power Outages
Flex Alerts are voluntary calls for consumers to conserve electricity. A Flex Alert is typically issued in the summer when extremely hot weather causes energy demand to increase until it meets generation capacity, usually during peak hours.
When the state’s power grid operator, California ISO, calls for a Flex Alert we have the opportunity to prevent more dire emergency measures, including rotating power outages, by reducing our own energy use with the tips above. Sign up to receive Flex Alerts here.
Power outages can occur for many reasons including, but not limited to, emergency repairs for damaged equipment, routine maintenance for reliability, expanding the grid for future growth, and preventing wildfires in prone conditions. Check the SDG&E outage map when experiencing an interruption to your power service or visit the SDG&E outage center webpage.
During adverse weather conditions, SDG&E may use a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) to help prevent potential wildfires. If your area is prone to wildfires, sign up for PSPS event notifications from SDG&E.
San Diego Energy Savings Programs
Take advantage of energy savings programs in San Diego to cut back on energy costs. Several SDG&E programs provide home improvements at no cost or low cost to you. An SDG&E home energy specialist can look at your property and income to see if you qualify.
The SDG&E CARE program gives a monthly discount to eligible customers. There are also multiple SDG&E rebates on select models of high-efficiency appliances & fixtures for your home. On the website, you can also find information about SDG&E assistance programs, appliances you can replace, and home improvements you can make if you possibly qualify for a rebate.
OhmConnect by San Diego Community Power can help you reduce your energy bill, and will even pay you for the energy you save. OhmConnect tells you the most critical hour during the week when electricity is most expensive and rebates you for using power at off-peak times. You can get paid to save energy with OhmConnect.
Find a Cool Zone in San Diego
The Cool Zone program is an established network of free, air-conditioned settings, such as libraries or community centers, across San Diego County that allow respite for anyone looking to escape our extreme heat during the summer.
Cool Zones are also a way to lower your household utility usage and help conserve energy for the local community during our high-heat months. Use this interactive map to locate the Cool Zone site nearest you with location information or call 2-1-1 from your phone.
The Bottom Line
Saving energy saves money and lightens the load on the power grid. What’s not to love? With these energy-saving hacks at your disposal, you’re not just cutting down on your bills but also doing your part for the environment. Saving energy isn’t just a trend — this lifestyle benefits everyone.
It’s super satisfying to know you’re making a positive impact on the planet. Plus, who wouldn’t want a little extra cash in their pocket each month? Try out these tips and watch your energy bills shrink while your eco-friendly cred grows. Give it a shot and see the difference it makes on your wallet over time.
Sources:
https://www.portofsandiego.org/energy-savings-programs-your-home
https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/Documents/Energy_Saving_Programs.pdf
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