As you use this energy calculator it is important to note that:

By not selecting an unlikely combination of appliances the Energy Calculator should render a reasonably accurate estimate of your monthly energy cost.

Shrewsbury Electric offers residential customers a complete home energy audit at no charge. Audits are conducted by the Home Energy Loss Prevention Service (HELPS).

When you sign up for your free HELPS audit, an energy conservation specialist will visit your home to:

Customers may call the toll-free hotline with any questions concerning energy conservation in their home. HELPS staff has a wealth of information about all aspects of residential energy conservation, and can provide it either by mail or e-mail.

• Remember that light colors reflect heat and dark colors absorb it.
• Close draperies or shades during the day to block the sun especially on windows that face south or west. Open them in the evening to let cool air in.
• Keep cool air in by installing insulation and weather-stripping.
• Turn off lights when not in use. Switch incandescent bulbs to cooler compact fluorescent ones (CFLs use just 25% of the energy incandescent bulbs use!).
• Cook on the grill to keep cooking heat outside. When using the stove, vent cooking heat outside with a range hood.
• Use a microwave instead of an oven. Microwaves use less than half the power of a conventional oven and cook food in about one-fourth the time. Ovens also heat up the kitchen, making your cooling system and refrigerator work harder.
• Postpone doing laundry and dishwashing until nighttime to avoid peak-electric use hours. Hang laundry outside to dry.
• Use the air-dry feature on dishwashers.
• Service air conditioners annually and be sure the air conditioner is the right size for the area. Change the filter regularly. Choose an air conditioner with the Energy Star label when buying a new one.
• Turn the air conditioner thermostat up to at least 76° or higher or use a programmable thermostat. Close doors to unused rooms. Turn air conditioners off when no one is home.
• Use an attic fan to draw hot air out of the attic. Use a whole-house fan to draw fresh air in through windows and exhaust it out roof vents.
• Use ceiling fans to circulate air.

• If you leave for vacation, turn the water heater down or off. If you have an electric hot water heater, you can turn it off at the circuit breaker.
• If you've been comfortable with the water temperature at the current setting, try lowering it. A temperature of 115° provides comfortable hot water for most uses. However, if you have a dishwasher, check the owner's manual first to see what water temperature is required to clean dishes. If your dishwasher has a built-in water heater use it to bring the water temperature up to the recommended level.
• Check your owner's manual for the manufacturer's recommendation about insulating the hot water tank. Some manufacturers do not recommend adding insulation around the tank. Newer high efficiency models do not need to be wrapped.
• If the doors to the closet that houses your hot water heater have louvers or grills, do not cover or set anything in front of them.

• When boiling water, cover the pot. It will use less energy and take less time.
• Use pots and pans that fit the burners. Pans that fit a burner absorb more of the energy, reducing the amount of heat that is lost. Keep oven and burners clean. A clean oven uses energy more efficiently.
• Use the broiler when possible. The broiler uses less energy, and preheating is not required.
• Use a microwave oven, instead of the conventional oven whenever you can.
• Don't peek. Every time you open the oven door to look at the food, the oven temperature is lowered by 25° to 75°. Use a timer if your oven door does not have a window.
• Don't preheat the oven if the food requires more than one hour of cooking time.
• Don't forget to turn off the oven when you're finished cooking.

• Check the gasket around the door every so often for gaps and improper fit. The door should close firmly against the gasket. Check for tightness by placing a dollar bill between the gasket and the door. Close the door and then pull out the dollar. You should feel a slight drag when you pull it out. If you don't, the gasket should be replaced.
• Let food cool before putting it in the refrigerator so the refrigerator does not use energy unnecessarily.
• Clean the coils located on the back of the refrigerator twice a year, more often if you have pets. Most refrigerators will easily slide away from the wall for cleaning. Unplug the refrigerator before cleaning the coils. Use a vacuum cleaner or a soft brush. See the refrigerator owner's manual for further information.
• Try to keep the door open no longer than necessary. Be sure to close the door when you're through.
• When purchasing a new refrigerator purchase a model with the Energy Star label.

• Run the dishwasher only when it's fully loaded. If necessary, scrape dirty dishes and store them in the dishwasher until you have a full load.
• Be sure to load the dishes in their proper locations. See the dishwasher owner's manual for instructions on proper loading.
• Scrape dirty dishes with cold rather than hot water.
• Check and clean the dishwasher drain as necessary. Solid pieces of food waste can build up over the dishwasher drain.
• Check the owner's manual to learn about special energy-saving features that your dishwasher may have. Use these features whenever possible to save money. Many dishwashers have energy-saving settings, such as a setting for partial loads (which use less hot water) or energy-efficient drying cycles.
• If you are purchasing a new dishwasher purchase a model with the Energy Star label.

• To save money, use hot water only for very dirty clothes. Most clothes can be washed in either warm or cold water. Refer to the washing instructions on the clothing labels or washing machine.
• Doing full loads of laundry in the washer saves both energy and water. Sort and organize your laundry so that you will be doing full loads.
• Be careful not to overload the washer. Your clothes may not get fully clean and may need to be washed again. This is a waste of energy, water and time. Many washing machines have settings for smaller loads that save energy and water.
• Be sure to clean the lint from the dryer's filter after every load. The efficiency of the dryer goes down when lint collects over the dryer filter.
• Operate the dryer like the washer: don't overload it. Overloading uses excess energy because the items take longer to dry.
• Group similar types of fabrics together before drying them. For example, put towels together in one load. A lower dryer temperature may be used for certain clothes. See the owner's manual from the dryer for more information.
• Consider purchasing an Energy Star rated clothes washer.