Immediate Electricity Saving Tips

• Lower your thermostat 2–4°F, if health allows.
• Use “heat” mode only—avoid running emergency heat on heat pumps.
• Close doors to unused rooms to shrink the heated area.
• Wear layers and use blankets to stay warm with a lower thermostat setting.
• Reduce fireplace use (unless it’s your primary heat source); fireplaces can pull warm air out of the house.

Cut Standby and Always-On Power

• Unplug nonessential electronics (chargers, speakers, countertop appliances).
• Turn off gaming consoles, streaming devices, and PCs—these often draw significant idle power.
• Use power strips to switch off groups of devices at once.

Lighting Reductions

• Turn off all unnecessary lights.
• Rely on task lighting (one lamp instead of multiple overhead fixtures).
• Use LEDs only, if incandescent bulbs are still present.

Kitchen & Cooking Changes

• Avoid using the oven, which is energy-intensive.
• Use microwaves, slow cookers, or toaster ovens—much more efficient.
• Limit opening the refrigerator (cold air loss makes it work harder).
• Prepare cold meals when possible to avoid appliance use.

Water Heating Reductions

• Take shorter, cooler showers—water heating is a major energy load.
• Run dishwashers on “eco” or “air dry” modes, and only when full.
• Delay laundry until after the emergency period; dryers are especially power-hungry.

Laundry & Dryer Efficiency (If running loads is unavoidable)

• Wash with cold water only.
• Use the lowest dryer setting, or hang-dry in a warm room when possible.
• Clean the lint trap to reduce run time.

Space Heater Safety & Efficiency

• Avoid using electric space heaters if central heat is available—they consume a lot of power.
• If you must use one:
  • Use only one heater in the room you occupy.
  • Turn it off when you leave the room.

Prevent Heat Loss

• Cover windows with insulated curtains or blankets to reduce drafts.
• Roll towels or blankets at the base of doors to block cold air infiltration.
• Close blinds—even that small barrier helps retain heat.

Shift Large Appliance Use

• Avoid running anything with a heating element, including:
  • Clothes dryers
  • Ovens
  • Space heaters
  • Hairdryers
  • Steamers or irons
• Postpone running hot-water appliances:
  • Dishwashers
  • Clothes washers
  • Showers

Turn Off Non-essential Entertainment Electronics

High-wattage or always-on devices to shut down:

• Home theater amps
• Gaming systems
• VR equipment
• Large TVs
• Multi-monitor setups

Safety Reminders

• Never use outdoor grills, heaters, or generators indoors (carbon monoxide hazard).
• Don’t use ovens for heating—dangerous and inefficient.

If You Have These Systems

Electric Vehicles

• Pause EV charging until the strain period ends.
• If essential charging is needed, charge at reduced amperage.

Smart Thermostats

• Enable “eco mode” or accept utility conservation events.