Quick Tips for Saving Energy - COVID-19

So many families have transitioned to working, learning, and staying at home as they shelter in place and help slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect their fellow community members.Most will see a surge in home energy use with more people constantly at home, more devices plugged in, and more hours of use than ever before.CVEA urges members to be mindful of their energy use and consider making adjustments to avoid high energy costs later on.

Here are a few easy tips to keep in mind:

**Under normal conditions game consoles, televisions and similar electronics are responsible for up to 12 percent of energy use when turned on; that percentage has likely increased during these unprecedented times. They also use energy when not in use, so remember to not just turn them off, but consider unplugging.

**When streaming online content, use the smallest device that makes sense for the number of people watching. Avoid streaming on game consoles, which use 10 times more power than streaming through a tablet or laptop.

**Take showers, not baths. It takes a lot of energy to heat enough water to fill a bathtub. Limit the length of shower for each family member.

**Wash clothes in warm, not hot water, whenever possible.

**We've heard all the jokes about the number of times everyone is going to the refrigerator while at home :-), but seriously, limiting the number of times you open the refrigerator door and shortening the length of time you leave it open can help reduce energy usage.

**Be mindful when cooking; use the stove top instead of the oven. When using the oven, don't preheat any longer than necessary, and cook multiple meals in the oven at once when possible. Then, you've used the same amount of energy and only need to quickly reheat meals when it's time to enjoy them.