Article 1: Stay cool during the dog days of summer!
No one likes higher-than-expected energy bills. Here are some tips to reduce your energy use during the warmer months – without sacrificing your family’s comfort.
- Turn off ceiling fans when you leave the room. Remember that fans cool people, not rooms, by creating a wind chill effect.
- On hot days, avoid using the oven; cook on the stove, use a microwave oven, or better yet – grill outside!
- If you use air conditioning, a ceiling fan running concurrently will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4°F with no reduction in comfort.
- If you live in a climate where it cools off at night, turn off your cooling system and open your windows while sleeping. When you wake in the morning, shut the windows and blinds to capture the cool air.
- Avoid placing lamps or TV sets near your room air-conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
- Minimize activities that generate a lot of heat, such as running a computer, burning open flames, running a dishwasher, and using hot devices such as curling irons or hair dryers.
- Water heating accounts for about 18% of the energy consumed in your home. Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F). You’ll not only save energy, you’ll avoid scalding your hands.
- Wash clothes in cold water. About 90 percent of the energy used in a clothes washer goes to water heating.
- Postpone using heat-producing appliances like the oven, dishwasher and clothes dryer to after 9 p.m.
- On hot afternoons, consider leaving home, and going someplace cool like the shopping mall, movie theater or library. Find a Cool Zone near you at sdge.com/coolzones.
Watch SDG&E’s one-minute video tips for more energy-saving ideas on cooling, weatherization, refrigerators, home electronics, indoor/outdoor lighting and pools.
Article 2: Shop from the comfort of your home on SDG&E® Marketplace
Marketplace can help you manage your energy costs with energy-saving deals any time of the day. Shop for energy-efficiency products from lightbulbs to appliances. It’s easy to apply online for rebates for qualifying clothes washers (up to $25), gas water heaters (up to $100), electric heat pump water heaters (up to $350) and smart thermostats (up to $75). Visit sdge.com/marketplace and start shopping. You can also buy these products in many stores and get an instant rebate at checkout. Visit sdge.com/rebates for a list of stores.
Article 3: You may qualify for a discount on your SDG&E bill
SDG&E offers several Assistance Programs to help lower your monthly energy bill while making your home comfortable.
- California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) (sdge.com/CARE): Save 30% or more every month on your bill. Eligibility is based on participation in certain public assistance programs, or household income and how many people live in your home.
- Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) (sdge.com/FERA): If you don’t qualify for CARE, you may for FERA. You could receive a 12% discount on your energy bill. FERA is only open to households with three or more people.
- Medical Baseline (sdge.com/medicalbaseline): This program has helped over 30,000 people, who have a qualifying medical need or medical device, to lower their energy costs.
- Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) (sdge.com/ESAP): You may qualify for free energy-saving improvements to your apartment, condo, house or mobile home. Depending on your home, you may receive lighting, furnace repair, weather-stripping, attic insulation, and select appliances like a refrigerator.
For details on any of these programs, visit sdge.com/Assistance, call 1-800.411.7343 or email billdiscount@sdge.com.