Florida Public Service Commission Encourages Energy Conservation in Your 2008 Resolutions

“Even small changes in how we manage our monthly energy usage help save energy and save money,” said PSC Chairman Matthew M. Carter II.  “By installing just five compact fluorescent light bulbs, you can save an estimated $25 per year.”

Carter added, “Whether your New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, eat healthy, or exercise more, we hope energy conservation is in your plan for 2008.”

Here are some suggestions from the PSC to help with your energy conservation resolution:

?                  Insulate your home.  Check the insulation levels in your attic, exterior and basement walls, ceilings, floors, and crawl spaces.  You can reduce the load on your heating and cooling equipment by as much as 30 percent by investing in insulation.

?                 Draft-proof windows, doors and other air leaks.   Move a lit candle around the frames and sashes of your windows.  If the flame flickers, you may need caulking and/or weather stripping.

?                 Open your blinds or shades.   During winter months open blinds to let the sun warm your home.  Close blinds or shades for large windows situated in the east or west sides of your home during the summer months.

?                 Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket.  Heating water accounts for about 20 percent of all home energy usage.

?                 Keep your indoor thermostat at 68 degrees in the winter.  Wearing a heavy long-sleeved sweater adds about 3.7 degrees.

?                 Unplug electronics.   Unplug phone chargers, electronic devices and turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.  When plugged in, they continue to use energy.

?                 Practice smart appliance usage.  During peak periods utilities must produce additional electricity to meet customer demand.  To help lower overall energy consumption, the best time to use electric appliances in the winter is 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. – 6 a.m.  For more information see the PSC’s brochure on Reducing Electric Costs at http://www.floridapsc.com/publications/consumer/brochures.aspx .

?                 Upgrade to energy-efficient appliances.   According to the U.S. Department of Energy, appliances account for about 20 percent of your household's energy consumption with refrigerators, clothes washers, and clothes dryers at the top of the consumption list. Appliances that meet federal efficiency guidelines display an Energy Star label.  For more information on the Energy Star program, visit www.energystar.gov .

?                 Learn your family's lighting needs.   Pay attention to high-use areas such as the living room, kitchen, and outside lighting.  Look for ways to reduce lighting energy use and use lighting controls—like occupancy sensors, dimmers, or timers.  Replace standard (also called incandescent) light bulbs and fixtures with compact or standard fluorescent lamps.

?                 Conduct a home energy audit.   A home energy audit will pinpoint those areas and suggest the most effective measures for cutting your energy costs.  You can conduct a home energy audit yourself, you can contact your local utility, or you can call an independent energy auditor.  For more information about home energy audits, visit the U.S. Department of Energy at http://www.eere.energy.gov .

The PSC is committed to making sure that Florida's consumers receive their electric, natural gas, telephone, water, and wastewater services in a safe, affordable, and reliable manner. The PSC exercises regulatory authority over utilities in the areas of rate base/economic regulation; competitive market oversight; and monitors safety, reliability, and service.

For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com .