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Program Your Thermostat
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Set the Water Heater to 120 Degrees
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Cook More Efficiently
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Use Cold Water for Laundry
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Find New Uses for Old Phones
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Make Your Own Non-Toxic Cleaners
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Use a Low Flow Showerhead
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Reduce Weight in your Vehicle
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Switch to Fluorescent Bulbs
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Buy in Bulk
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Unplug Your Appliances When They're Not in Use!
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Turn Off Your Engine Instead of Idling Your Car
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Set the Water Heater to 120 Degrees
What to do:
Make sure the water heater thermostat is set to 120 degrees. Higher settings waste energy by overheating water. Check out the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Savers site to find out more about setting your water heater to the proper temperature.
Why it Helps the Earth:
Washing dishes, washing hands, taking showers... the energy it takes to heat water adds up to become a major portion of household energy use.
What the Research Says:
According to Energy Savers, lowering water temperature by 10 degrees reduces energy use by 3 to 5 percent. If you do wash clothes with heated water, the 120 degree setting will reduce your cost of doing laundry by 20 percent according to the Rocky Mountain Institute's research.
Why it Helps You:
Having a 120 degree maximum water temperature still cleans well, but prevents burns and scalding. According to Energy Savers, 120 is also an optimal temperature that prolongs the life of water heaters.
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Last Revision: September 12, 2010