Family & Living

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- The average California resident could cut his or her electric bill in half. But the pressures of keeping a job, raising a family and handling other household expenses often outweigh the need for a comprehensive review of power use.

A visit to Flex Your Power at http://www.flexyourpower.org could make that review a lot easier. In fact, identifying just five ways to save power now could show up as extra cash well before the holidays arrive. The best part is these tips cost little or no money, while they will quickly generate extra money from lower electric bills.

Consider the following five low and no-cost tips for easy energy savings:

-- Minor differences in degree settings on thermostats can multiply into major energy savings. While it's still summer, re-setting thermostats to just 5F degrees higher can save about 10 percent on cooling costs. During colder months, lowering the temperature by 3 or 5 degrees can reduce heating costs by up to 20 percent.

-- Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) cost about as much as regular, incandescent light bulbs, yet save 75 percent off of lighting costs. They last longer, too. Older bulbs generate more heat than light. Switching four of the most frequently used light bulbs to CFLs can save $35 in a year.

-- Heating water when unnecessary costs money you could keep. Turning the water heater down to 120F still gives you a hot shower. If you have a dishwasher, the water heater thermostat should not be set any higher than 140F.

-- Save even more money by turning down the water heater thermostat to its lowest setting when away from home. Water heating accounts for 13 percent of all home energy costs. To save even more money, consider washing clothes in cold water. About 90 percent of the energy used in a clothes washer goes to water heating.

-- Fall might be arriving in September, but there's plenty of hot summer heat left in California. To keep your home as cool as possible, avoid using the oven. Instead, cook on the top, use a microwave or grill outside.

All of these tips and many more energy-saving resources are available online at http://www.flexyourpower.org. People can also learn more about saving energy by calling 1-866-431-FLEX. Both the Web site and toll-free number are available in Spanish. Flex Your Power is funded by California utility ratepayers and administered by the California Investor Owned Utilities under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.

SOURCE Flex Your Power