Get Your Free Audit
It may not be the best time of year to mention “audits.” While mentioning the word audit during tax season may make some people break out into a cold sweat, there’s another kind of audit that can leave a smile on your face.
What is an Energy Audit?
- We’ll review your energy usage and send an energy advisor to your home or business
- They will do a thorough inspection from top to bottom, showing you ways to improve your energy efficiency and where you may be wasting watts
- They’ll also tell you about rebates that can help to make energy efficiency improvements more affordable
Your Grays Harbor PUD is here to help you use energy as efficiently as possible. We look forward to serving you with a free energy audit!
- Call Energy Services today at (360) 538-6383 or email to energyservices@ghpud.org to arrange for your free audit
Energy Saving Tips
Here are some simple, inexpensive things you can do to save energy in your home:
Home Heating System
- Dress warmly and turn the thermostat down a few degrees (to around 65- 68º) while you’re at home, and set it back 5 – 10º when you’re gone or overnight
- Caulk and weather-strip around doors and windows
- Keep the window coverings closed, especially at night
Water Heater
- Install a timer to turn off your water heater during times you won’t need it
- If you have an older water heater, insulate it using a “water heater blanket.”
- Turn the temperature setting down (115º – 120º F)
- When washing clothes, use warm or cold settings instead of hot
Refrigerator
- Make sure you don’t have the temperature settings lower than they need to be
- If you don’t have a frost-free freezer, defrost it frequently
- Clean the coils once a year to improve efficiency. Washing Machine, Dishwasher, and Clothes Dryer
- Only run these appliances when you have a full load
- Use lower temperature settings whenever possible
Clothes Dryer
- Clean the lint filter after each load, and check the exhaust vent periodically to make sure it’s not clogged
- Install a vent cap with a hinged cover that will prevent cold air from entering the house when the dryer is not in use
Range/Oven
- A microwave oven uses less than 10% of the energy used by an electric range to heat food
- Use the microwave instead of the range or oven whenever possible
Coffee Pot
- Instead of leaving the hot plate on all morning, turn it off and use your microwave to heat your coffee by the cup as you need it
Lighting
- Turn off lights when you don’t need them
- Replace incandescent lamps with energy efficient compact fluorescents
If you have questions about energy conservation, call us at (360) 538-6383
Appliance Operating Costs
Do you ever wonder what it costs to run an appliance or other electric device? The following tables show typical average monthly costs for various items that use electricity in the home:
Kitchen Appliances
| Appliance | Approximate Wattage | Estimated Use | Kilowatt-Hour | Average Operating Cost per Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blender | 450 | 5 min per day | 1 | $0.09 |
| Bread maker | 430 | 16 hours per month | 7 | $0.61 |
| Can opener | 125 | 30 min per month | <1 | $0.05 |
| Coffeemaker (10-cup, auto-drip) | 900 | 8 hours per day | 216 | $18.79 |
| Coffeemaker (10-cup auto-drip, with auto-shutoff) | 900 | 2 hours per day | 54 | $4.71 |
| Dishwasher – Energy Star | 1500 | 4 loads per week | 24 | $2.09 |
| Dishwasher – non–Energy Star | Varies | 4 loads per week | 54 | $4.71 |
| Freezer – 20 cubic feet, Energy Star | 200 | Continuous* | 40 | $3.49 |
| Freezer – 20 cubic feet, older model | 800 | Continuous* | 160 | $13.97 |
| Garbage disposal | 500 | 10 min per day | <3 | $0.26 |
| Microwave oven | 1000 | 30 min per day | 15 | $1.30 |
| Mixer | 200 | 2.5 hours per month | <1 | $0.07 |
| Oven – Conventional | 3500 | 30 hours per month | 105 | $9.16 |
| Range – large element | 2100 | 30 min per day | 32 | $2.79 |
| Range – small element | 1600 | 30 min per day | 25 | $2.18 |
| Refrigerator – 22 cubic feet, Energy Star | 500 | Continuous* | 47 | $4.10 |
| Refrigerator – 22 cubic feet, pre-1993, non-Energy Star | 800 | Continuous* | 188 | $16.41 |
| Toaster (2 to 4 slices) | 1200 | 3 min per day | 2 | $0.17 |
| Toaster oven | 1250 | 15 min per day | 10 | $0.87 |
Bathroom Appliances
| Appliance | Approximate Wattage | Estimated Use | Kilowatt-Hour | Average Operating Cost per Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bathtub with jets – does not include hot water | 3100 | 15 hours per month | 47 | $4.10 |
| Blow dryer | 1875 | 15 min per day | 14 | $1.22 |
| Curling iron/hair straightener | 85 | 10 min per day | <1 | $0.05 |
| Electric Razor | 15 | 10 min per day | <1 | $0.02 |
Laundry Room Appliances
| Appliance | Approximate Wattage | Estimated Use | Kilowatt-Hour | Average Operating Cost per Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clothes dryer | 5000 | 20 hours per month | 100 | $8.73 |
| Iron | 1200 | 8 hours per month | 10 | $0.87 |
| Clothes washer – 4.2 cubic feet, Energy Star (includes hot water) | Varies | 6 loads per week | 10 | $0.87 |
| Clothes washer – non-Energy Star | Varies | 6 loads per week | 32 | $2.79 |
Household Items
| Appliance | Approximate Wattage | Estimated Use | Kilowatt-Hour | Average Operating Cost per Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air cleaner (HEPA filter) | 100 | 10 hours per day | 30 | $2.62 |
| Air compressor – 1 horsepower | 2000 | 5 hours per month | 10 | $0.87 |
| Air conditioner – window unit | 1100 | 5 hours per day | 165 | $14.40 |
| Alarm system | 6 | Continuous | 4 | $0.35 |
| Ceiling fan (excluding lights) | 40 | 6 hours per day | 7 | $0.61 |
| Cell Phone Charger | 10 | 4 hours per day | 1 | $0.09 |
| Clock radio | 10 | 1 hour per day | <1 | $0.06 |
| Computer – desktop (with monitor) | 300 | 4 hours per day | 36 | $3.14 |
| Computer – laptop (when plugged in) | 60 | 4 hours per day | 7 | $0.61 |
| DVD/Blue-Ray player | 25 | 3 hours per day | 2 | $0.17 |
| Electric air cleaner – on furnace | 50 | Continuous | 36 | $3.14 |
| Electric blanket | 175 | 8 hours per day | 42 | $3.67 |
| Hot tub – fiberglass, 300 gallons, 102ºF (includes pump) | Varies | 3 to 4 times per week | 321-855 | $28.01 to 74.64 |
| Ink-Jet printer | 50 | 4 hours per month | <1 | $0.06 |
| Laser printer | 500 | 4 hours per month | 2 | $0.17 |
| Light bulb – incandescent (60 Watt) | 60 | 6 hours per day | 11 | $0.96 |
| Light bulb – CFL (15 Watt) | 15 | 6 hours per day | <3 | $0.26 |
| Light bulb – LED (10 Watt) | 10 | 6 hours per day | 2 | $0.17 |
| Lighting – fluorescent T12 (2 tubes per fixture) | 88 | 6 hours per day | 16 | $1.40 |
| Lighting – halogen lamp | 300 | 4 hours per day | 36 | $3.14 |
| Lighting – exterior – barn light (metal halide) | 150 | 12 hours per day | 54 | $4.71 |
| Satellite dish | 50 | Continuous | 9 | $0.78 |
| Space heater | 1500 | 8 hours per day | 360 | $31.43 |
| Stereo | 50 | 4 hours per day | 6 | $0.52 |
| TV – 32″ LED/LCD | 50 | 6 hours per day | 9 | $0.78 |
| TV – 42″ plasma | 240 | 6 hours per day | 43 | $3.75 |
| Vacuum cleaner | 960 | 30 min per week | 2 | $0.17 |
| Video game console (Xbox, Wii, or Playstation) | 40-200 | 3 hours per day | 4-18 | $0.35 to 1.57 |
| Water heater – standard (50 gal) | 4500 | Continuous* | 425 | $37.10 |
| Water heater – heat pump (50 gal) | 1700 | Continuous* | 142 | $12.40 |
| Well pump | 1000 | 1 hour per day | 30 | $2.62 |
*These appliances are controlled by a thermostat and are not “on” continuously. All costs are based on the current Grays Harbor PUD residential second-tier rates of $0.085 per kilowatt-hour and are rounded to the nearest cent. Amounts are based on a 30-day month. Appliance wattages and operating costs on this table are approximations. The amount of electricity used in your home varies depending on family size and living habits.
Tip: A heat pump can reduce your heating costs by 30 to 50%. A heat pump also gives you the added comfort of air conditioning during the summer. Weatherizing your home can also help to reduce the cost of heating and cooling.
Of course, if you’re replacing any of these things, you’ll want to purchase the most efficient one available that meets your needs.