You have the power to save money and energy in your own home this summer

Summer means hotter temperatures. We expect the energy market in the West to be tight. There may be times when we ask our Members to voluntarily conserve electricity during peak times – 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

This is not meant to be a hardship. Energy conservation can be as simple as turning off lights or appliances when you do not need them.

Here are ways you can conserve energy:

• Take advantage of air circulation from ceiling fans. Circulating the air in a room can make a major difference in comfort while limiting energy use. In the summer, use the switch on your fan to rotate the blades counterclockwise and push cool air down.
• Run large appliances such as the washer, dryer and dishwasher after 8 p.m. or early in the morning. Running these appliances at cooler hours saves the air conditioning from working as hard. Wash clothes with cold water, which can cut one load’s energy use by more than half.
• Keep window coverings closed during the day to block the sun’s heat. Consider adding solar screens or window tinting.
• Improve/replace weather stripping around doors and windows. A combination of proper insulation, energy-efficient windows and doors, shading, and ventilation will usually keep homes cool with a minimum of energy use.
• Turn off lights and unplug unused appliances, such as coffee makers, game consoles, cellphone chargers and TVs – which still draw some power while turned off or in standby mode.
• The less water you use, the less energy you use. Check your toilet for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If the color appears in the bowl without flushing, your toilet has a leak. Also, fix leaky showerheads and faucets. A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water per year. Faucet and shower aerators are inexpensive devices that reduce the amount of water flow.
• Replace old appliances with new energy efficient appliances. If your refrigerator or dishwasher is more than 10 years old, the money you can save on energy use for a new appliance could pay for itself in just a few years.

With just a few small changes, you can relax in comfort this summer while saving money. For more energy saving tips, visit www.trico.coop/sustainable-energy/home-energy-savings.