During summer daytime hours or when you're not home, remember to set your thermostat at 78° or higher. Setting your air conditioner 5° higher can save up to 20 percent on cooling costs. This will help Mesa avoid expensive on-peak power purchases on the energy markets and those savings are passed onto you.
Use smart thermostats or programmable features to help save energy when you’re not home.
Keep windows and doors closed to prevent the loss of cooled or heated air.
When the air temperature outside is cooler than inside, open windows to let cooler air in when safe. In the morning before the day starts to heat up, close windows and blinds to keep warm air out.
During the summer, tilt blinds up and close drapes and shades on windows that receive direct sunlight.
During the winter, open window coverings to allow the direct sunlight to heat rooms.
During the summer, using a ceiling fan while the air conditioner is on will allow you to raise your thermostat about 4°F and experience the same level of comfort. Remember to shut off ceiling fans when you leave the room - fans cool rooms, not people. Also, adjust your ceiling fans to run counter clockwise to push cool air down.
During the winter, run ceiling fans at low speed in a clockwise direction to gently draw room air up and force warm air down.
Turn off unnecessary lighting and use task or desktop lamps with LEDs instead of overhead lights.
Enable "power management" on computers and turn off when not in use.
Unplug phone charges, power strips (those without a switch) and other equipment when not in use. Together, these small items can use as much power as a refrigerator.
In the summer, avoid using heat-producing appliances like the oven, dishwasher, clothes washer, and dryer until cooler times of the day to avoid heating up your home.
Run your dishwasher and clothes washer only when full. During summer, wait until after 9 p.m. to use these and other major appliances.
When possible, wash clothes in cold water. About 90 percent of the energy used in a clothes washer goes to water heating.
A dirty filter forces your air conditioner and furnace to work harder, using more electricity or natural gas.
Caulk or seal around air vents, registers, doors and windows. Pay close attention to connections where vents and registers meet floors, walls and ceilings, as these are common places for leaks.
Turn your water heater down to 120° or the "normal" setting when home, and to the lowest setting when away. Water heating can account for about 13 percent of home energy costs.
On hot afternoons, consider leaving home, adjusting your thermostat accordingly, and going someplace cool like the pool or the library.
Turn off unnecessary office lights and use natural lighting where possible.
In the summer, set zone thermostats to 78º or higher when possible.
Check window vents to make sure they are clear of paper and other debris.
Adjust the blinds on windows that receive direct sunlight: closed in the summer, open in the winter.
Keep windows and doors closed to prevent loss of cooled or heated air.
Turn off any office equipment that is not currently in use. Alternately, look for sleep or power-saving modes between uses during the day.
Enable power management settings on all computers and turn off screens when not in use.
Plug electronics such as coffee-makers and microwaves into power strips and switch them off when the business is closed.
When leaving the workplace, get in the habit of checking to make sure computers, printers/copiers, and other office equipment are fully shut down. If possible, switch them off at the power strip to prevent energy drain.