Ideas for Saving Your Energy Dollars

Since 1999, the cost of natural gas, the fuel used by Florida for 40 percent of its electric generation, has skyrocketed by more than 600 percent.

During that time municipal electric utilities have done a good job of holding the line on spending and overhead. But today's reality of increasing fuel costs, charges over which your local utility has no control and from which no profit is made, has all of us looking for ways to economize. (To read more about how rising fuel costs are impacting electricity prices, click here.)

We've thought hard about how to work with you to make your bill the lowest possible by saving energy. We've made a few lists and found some sites with good tools. Check out the links below.

United State Department of Energy

• Home Energy Saver: a web-based do-it-yourself energy audit tool
• Energy Star: helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.
• Energy Savers: a consumer guide to energy efficiency and renewable energy
• Energy Savers website features tips for saving energy and money for the home and home office.
• The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy offers tips at the Energy Savers site.
• Energy saving tips from the U.S. Department of Energy
• HogBusters Training Camp: an animated game for exploring energy savings opportunities

Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA)

• News release urges energy conservation
• Fact sheet about FMEA and Florida's public power utilities
• FMEA home page

Tips for Saving Energy

• Adjust thermostat settings for air conditioning to 78F degrees or higher, if health permits; keep temperature readings constant until notified that the energy shortage has passed.
• When you're not going to be home for an extended period, raise the thermostat setting to 82F degrees or higher.
• Close curtains and blinds to help insulate homes and buildings against cooling loss.
• Avoid using room air conditioners; turn them off when you leave the room or home.
• Reduce use of all non-essential electric appliances. Run your dishwasher and wash and dry your laundry later in the evening.
• Turn off all non-essential lighting and electric appliances, such as pool pumps.
• Turn off lights when you leave a room or when they aren't needed.
• Shower later in the evening or early in the morning.
• Leave refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
• If someone in your home is dependent on electric powered, life-sustaining medical equipment, check back-up facilities.
• Cook outdoors, use a microwave oven or small appliances like a toaster oven or electric skillet to avoid heating up the kitchen and adding moisture to the air. Microwaves use less than half the power of a conventional oven and cook food in about one-fourth the time.