Dry-up Household Water Consumption!
Did you know that water-related energy use consumes 19% of California's electricity, 30% of its natural gas, and 88 billion gallons of diesel fuel every year? To reduce your water consumption at home:
- Turn off your water if you aren't actively using it (like when you brush your teeth).
- Take shorter showers. Showers account for 2/3 of all water heating costs! Using less water in your shower means using less energy to heat the water.
- Stop unseen leaks by reading your meter.
- Install low-flow shower heads and aerators on your faucets.
- Install and use water efficient landscaping and irrigation methods (for example, plant drought tolerant plants and/or install permeable surfaces and drip irrigation systems).
- Only run your dishwasher when there's a full load and use the energy-saving setting. You can save 100 pounds of carbon dioxide per year and save water.
Reduce Hot Water use for Energy Savings
Landscaping Water Conservation
Unplug it!
Did you know that appliances, chargers, home theater equipment, stereos and televisions use electricity even when their power is "off"?
- Eliminating this "leaking" electricity could save you 6–26% on your average monthly electricity bill. Take a walking tour of your home and unplug seldom-used appliances and install power strips so that the power to frequently used items can be easily turned off.
Change the lights!
- Replace any incandescent light bulbs that remain in your home with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). Replacing one incandescent light bulb with a CFL can save $30 or more in electricity costs over the bulb’s lifespan. CFLs need to be disposed of carefully because of the mercury content. Consumers can contact their municipal solid waste agency for disposal information or look for a local recycler. Find a recycler nearest you by visiting the Earth911 website.
Find an Energy-Saving Light Bulb
PG&E Rebates on CFLs
Set your Thermostat for the Season
- Set your thermostat in winter to 68°or less during the daytime, and 55° before going to sleep (or when you're away for the day), to save 5-20% on your space heating costs.
- During the summer, set thermostats to 78° degrees or more to save 5-20% on your cooling costs.
- For an easy fix, purchase an inexpensive programmable thermostat that makes these changes for you.
Save Energy and Money at Home
PG&E's Heating and Cooling Rebate Program
Increase Energy Efficiency at home!
Did you know that you can save up to 350 lbs of CO2 and $150 per year at home by simply keeping air filters clean?
- To determine more ways to increase energy efficiency, take advantage of free home energy audits offered by many utility companies.
- When you are ready to purchase an appliance, ensure that you purchase an EnergyStar appliance. Visit Energy Star’s website to learn more about appliances that reduce energy use by 10–75 percent, without compromising quality or performance.
- To reduce carbon emissions associated with energy use, install or purchase alternative energy for your electricity needs.
- Weatherize your home or office. Caulk and weather-strip your doorways and windows to reduce heating and cooling costs. Not only can you save around $274 a year, but you can save 1,000 pounds of carbon a year.
Consumer Reports Green Buying Guide for Appliances
PG&E's Home Appliance Rebate Program
PG&E's General Improvement Rebate Program
PG&E's Climate Smart Program (voluntary option for PG&E customers to reduce their personal impact on climate change)
Buy Green Power (With SMUD's Greenergy, you can buy energy produced by naturally occurring renewable resources like the wind, sun and methane gas).
Stop Unwanted Services!
Did you know that junk mail production in the US consumes as much energy as 2.8 million cars?
- Stop your junk mail at www.directmail.com/junk_mail.
- Stop unwanted catalogs at www.catalogchoice.org.
Use Green Energy
Green power is electricity produced from renewable resources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, and water. Find out if your local utility offers green energy. For a list of local utilities visit our Financial Resources for Households page.
