By taking the actions below, you will help protect the environment, maintain the electrical grid and save energy costs.

Residential

•  Avoid using major appliances like washers, dryers, dishwashers, pool pumps, charging of electric vehicles and applicable industrial equipment, etc., between the hours of 4-9 p.m.
• Set your thermostat to 78 degrees or higher when you are home.    
• Use a ceiling fan to cool off for less. However, be sure to turn fans off when you leave a room — they only cool people, not spaces.
• Block the sun from overheating your home. Inside, use shades, blinds and drapes. Outside, use awnings, trees and shrubs.
• Plug electronics into a power strip, then turn the strip off when not in use.
• Use the power management settings on computers and monitors.
• Replace your five most-used light fixtures and/or bulbs with ENERGY STAR® products.
• Change or clean your air conditioner’s filter at least once a month to keep your system running at peak performance.
• Check for household leaks to make sure air is not escaping.
• Unplug that second fridge located in the hot garage or utility room. IID will pick it up and pay you $50 to recycle it for you. Sign-up here for IID's Refrigerator Recycling Program.
• Choose energy-efficient appliances. They don’t just save you money, but they’re good for the environment, too.
• Avoid over-drying your clothes. It wastes energy, plus causes static and wrinkling.
• Set your dishwashers on economy mode, to use less water and electricity.
• Pull the plug on chargers that aren’t in use.
• Download the IID Connect app for more energy saving tips.

Maximize Your Energy Efficiency with IID's All Weather Energy Savings Program

In addition to the above tips, IID's All Weather Energy Savings Program can help you further increase your energy savings. Participating IID electric customers can receive up to $1,000 in recommended energy saving services and equipment that can help reduce heating and cooling costs while boosting their home’s comfort level. The no-cost services may include: smart programmable thermostat, high efficiency air conditioning motor, duct leak sealing, efficient fan control, ceiling fan, smart power strip, LED lighting, door shoes, door thresholds, door weatherstripping, air conditioner tune-up. To learn more, visit IID's All Weather Energy Savings Program page.

Non-Residential

• Review above-listed tips for residential energy users to determine which may apply to your business.
• Choose energy efficient equipment. Check IID’s Energy Rewards Program for rebate information.
• Turn off air conditioning in unoccupied areas. Conditioning air in storage, basement or empty space is usually unnecessary.
• Install and program thermostats to power down or raise temperature after closing.
• Install motion detectors to control lighting in frequently unoccupied areas, such as restrooms, conference rooms or storage rooms.
• Activate computers’ sleep mode. This reduces electricity consumption to about less than 5 percent of full power.
• Plan meetings during peak periods to minimize use of equipment.
• Adjust schedule or shifts so that increased production occur before or after peak hours.
• Regularly clean and perform maintenance on HVAC units and all energy-intensive equipment to keep it operating efficiently.
• Replace incandescent or halogen lamps with low wattage or higher efficiency lamps.

Looking for more ways to save, see below.

Do It Yourself Energy Assessment

• Check the insulation in your attic, exterior and basement walls, ceilings, floors and crawl spaces. To determine the recommended insulation R-values in different parts of your home, visit the Weatherize section of energysaver.gov.
• Check for air leaks around your walls, ceilings, windows, doors, lighting and plumbing fixtures, switches and electrical outlets.
• Make sure your appliances and heating and cooling systems are properly maintained. Check your owner’s manuals for the recommended maintenance.