Time Your Savings Series: Major Appliances

If you want to save, just time your chores by shifting the use of power-hungry appliances to off-peak hours. That's any time before 3 PM or after 7 PM on weekdays and all day on weekends and federal holidays. Now you're saving!*

Here's how to time your savings with major appliances.

Washers and Dryers

Washers and dryers are some of the largest energy users. Save by doing the following:

• Wash full loads, but don't overfill
• Wash with cold water
• Line dry what you can instead of using your dryer

Start your washer after dinner and then dry your clothes at night or during overnight hours. Keep big loads of laundry for the weekends. If you are in the market for a new appliance, consider ENERGY STAR^® appliances and products and be sure to take advantage of our rebates!

Dishwashers

A dishwasher consumes a significant amount of electricity and creates heat and humidity that can make your home feel warmer. An easy shift is to start the dishwasher before you go to bed. You can also:

• Set dishwasher built-in timer to off-peak hours
• Wash full loads
• In summer, wash during cooler hours of the day

Get in the habit of starting your dishwasher at the end of the day.

Electronics

Electronics like TVs, video game consoles, cable boxes and computers can make up between 5% and 10% of your overall energy costs. It's not realistic to use electronics only during off-peak hours, but here are some ideas to lower the cost.

• Turn off electronic devices when you aren't using them, especially during the Peak hours from 3 PM to 7 PM on weekdays.
• Consider an ENERGY STAR^® certified TV, which is about 25% more energy efficient than a conventional model.
• Plug devices like your TV, game console, cable box and home theater components into an advanced power strip. It can detect when a device is not in use, cut power and save energy. They also offer surge protection, and some have timers.

Meet our TOD Coach

Look to our TOD Coach for tips on how to save on the new standard rate.

To save even more money and energy, purchase ENERGY STAR^® appliances and products.

Learn more about Time-of-Day savings tips.