Discover Energy-Saving Tips from SDG&E for a Cooler Summer

PSWCDC
Jul 25
2 min read

As the sun's rays intensify, so does our reliance on air conditioning. Let's explore ways to keep your home cool while trimming energy bills, plus other energy-saving tips.

Skip the heated dry on your dishwasher: Use the air-dry setting or open the door after the final rinse to let dishes dry naturally.
Cool down with a fan: Use ceiling and tabletop fans to cool off and leave the thermostat at a higher temperature. Turn fans off when you leave a room; fans cool people, not rooms.
Fire up the grill: Take the heat out of your kitchen by cooking outside. It's also a good excuse to enjoy the outdoors with your family.
Delay chores: Shift some chores like laundry and running the dishwasher outside of the on-peak hours from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Save even more if you do laundry on the weekends before 2 p.m.
Give your natural gas clothes dryer timer off: Consider outdoor line-drying on sunny, breezy days to save on natural gas costs.
Use less hot water: Water heating accounts for 18% of your home's total energy use, per Energy.gov. The longer you run hot water, the higher your energy use and bills. To save, turn the temperature on your water heater down a little and insulate your water heater and pipes.
Block the sun: During the heat of the day, cover windows to block the sun's heat. If you can, open windows at night and in the early morning to let in cool air.
Charge devices while you sleep: Before going to bed, plug your devices in so they can recharge during super off-peak hours when energy is less expensive.
Clean behind your refrigerator: Dusty coils make your fridge work harder. Cleaning them every 6 months can help improve efficiency.
Use cold water for laundry: Most detergents work just as well in cold water. Heating water accounts for a big chunk of energy use when you do laundry.

For more ideas on how to save energy, visit sdge.com/SimpleSteps.

Actual savings obtained in each instane may vary and will depend on various factors, including geographic location, weather conditions, equipment installed, usage rates, and similar factors. Completing multiple energy-saving measures will not necessarily result in cumulative savings.