Heating water is one of your largest annual energy expense. A water heater can consume approximately 600-kilowatt hours per month. At Vera’s current prices, that cost most folks about $40 monthly or $480 annually to heat water.
- Consider a high-efficiency water heater
The initial investment should pay back in the lower operational costs. - Set the thermostat properly
Set the water heater no higher than 120°F or the minimum setting if the specific temperature can’t be set to prevent burns and to conserve energy. - Fix the drips
If you have a leaky faucet, you’re pouring money down the drain. A slow drip can waste up to 450 gallons of water a month. If it’s hot water, you’re not only paying to heat the water, you may be paying for the disposal, too. - Reduce the flow
Install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators in your bathrooms and kitchen. They can cut water use up to 11%, reducing your energy use. Consider taking short showers instead of baths. Showers typically use less hot water than baths, especially if the shower is less than 5 minutes. If you only need to wash your hair, try using the sink instead of taking a shower. - Use cold water
Use cold water to do the laundry or rinse dishes. Hot water for dishes use about 2 kilowatt hours of electricity (about 13¢) and washing a load of clothes uses about 5 kilowatt hours or about 33¢ per load. - Turn it off
Turn off the water when you’re brushing your teeth, lathering your hands with soap, or scrubbing dishes. - Use your dishwasher
That’s right. Run your dishwasher when it’s full.
Source: Northwest Regional Group, a group of electric utilities in the Northwest
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