Live reporting - Energy $ense - behavioral, hot water, etc.

Behavioral

• hot water use
• heating & cooling
• lighting
• electric use reductions

kilowatt meter, approx $30 to measure usage by device within the home

Hot water use

• adjusting hot water heater (recommended setting the temp at no higher than 120 degrees F)
• insulate heater (if an older heater, consider a blanket wrap)
  
• shorter showers (try)
  
• hand dish washing (do a full load whenever using the dishwasher)
  
• wear clothes longer (a personal decision)
  
• washing with cold water
  

Fred followed a low carbon diet and was able to reduce his carbon footprint by 22% by following some of these tips

Hot water tips
buy the most efficient, don't buy more capacity than you need

put a cut off switch on your shower head, and reduce flow when water is not needed

Heating & cooling

• turn down the thermostat
• change the A/C filter frequently
• regular tune up of furnace or heat pump
• seal doors and windows

decide for yourself what temperature you can live with, Fred used to use 74 as the standard setting during the day, he has now dropped it to 68,

Air sealing

• rope caulk
• clear plastic on windows
• weather stripping along door edges
• plug holes in ceilings, floors, walls, etc.

lighting

• use CFL bulbs, last longer, uses less electricity
• turn off lights when not in room