Ways to save on electric bill

The Utility Reform Network, a statewide utility watchdog group based in San Francisco, has several tips that can help reduce an electric bill by as much as 15 percent:

•Regularly clean furnace and air conditioner filters. Dirt buildup on coils means poor efficiency.

•Do laundry in cold or warm water rather than hot, and dry freshly washed clothes in the sun instead of a dryer. Changing a washer's setting from hot to warm reduces a load's energy consumption by half.

•Set the water heater thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Each 10 degree reduction will cut the cost of washing clothes by up to 13 percent.

•Allow two inches of space around the refrigerator so that heat from its coils can easily escape. Direct sunlight or close contact with other appliances make a refrigerator work harder.

•Check the seal on the refrigerator door by closing it on a dollar bill. If the dollar pulls out easily, a new gasket may be needed.

•Use the fluorescent light bulbs that are discounted by utility companies and are available in many stores. Customers pay for these through rates, and they are more efficient than incandescent bulbs.

•Weather-strip windows and doors. Tiny cracks and gaps around doors, windows, plumbing pipes and flues can add up when heating or cooling a house.

•When purchasing new home appliances, look for energyefficient ones with the Energy Star Label. Rebates for energy efficient appliances may be available at utility company websites.

Further ideas on how to reduce consumption and costs can be found at www.epa.org.

For more information on the Utility Reform Network, visit www.turn.org.