Conservation Tips

At Home

• Buy an energy efficiency dish washer and make sure it is at least 90% full before you run a load.
• Buy a water heater blanket to keep your water heater insulated. You’ll save approximately $40 per year.
• Replace incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs. For each bulb replaced you’ll save up to $50 over the bulbs lifetime.
• Up to 16% of your heat can escape through unprotected windows. Try closing drapes at night or install insulating shutters to retain heat.
• 75% of electricity used by home electronics is consumed while “off”. Use a power strip and switch it off when not in use.

Outside the Home

• Plant drought-resistant lawns, shrubs and plants
• Place a layer of mulch around trees and plants. This will help slow evaporation of moisture while discouraging weed growth
• Don’t water the gutter or concrete. Make sure your sprinklers are positioned to water the lawn or garden and not paved areas. Also, try to avoid watering on windy days.
• Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks
• Don’t let the hose run while washing your car; only use the hose for rinsing. This simple step can save as much as 150 gallons when washing a car. If possible bring your car to a car wash.

On the Road

• Ride your bike or try Space Coast Area transit. The City has a great network of sidewalks and paths that can burn calories instead of gas! (provide a link to sidewalk/bikepath map) – check with Elia.
• Combine errands to reduce trips
• Avoid peak time travel.
• Use cruise control when highway driving.
• Improve your fuel efficiency by about 15 percent by driving at 55 mph rather than 65 mph, so follow speed limits.
• Avoid idling. It uses more gas then stopping and re-starting your vehicle. Avoid drive-through restaurants. Instead, park and go inside.
• Put items inside the vehicle rather than on roof racks to reduce drag. If possible, remove roof racks when you are not using them.
• Avoid quick acceleration or sudden braking unless your life is in danger. Avoid tailgating because it requires more braking and accelerating.
• Give your vehicle a regular tune-up. Keeping your vehicle in top condition means it will run efficiently and get more miles to the gallon.
• Regularly check your vehicle’s tire pressure – poorly inflated tires waste gas and cause more pollution.

In the Office

• Use dimmers and motion or occupancy sensors to conserve energy.
• Use natural lighting or day-lighting and turn off unnecessary lights near window when it is bright enough outdoors.
• At the end of the day, make sure to turn off computers, printers and photocopiers.
• Use technology for video, phone or Web conferencing to reduce the need for business travel.
• Create programs to encourage or reward employees for carpooling, biking or using mass transit