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Using Utilities Wisely

Even though OMU provides low-cost and ample water and electric services, we always urge our customers to use these resources wisely; for instance:

Electricity:

Listen to your mother: Turn off everything not in use: lights, TVs, computers, electronics.
Replace your four most used 100-watt incandescent bulbs with four comparable 23-watt compact fluorescent bulbs to save more than $108 over three years.
Ceiling and other fans provide additional cooling and better circulation so you can raise the thermostat and cut down on air conditioning costs on summer days.
Did you know that cooling and heating account for almost half of the average family's energy bill? Clean or replace air conditioner filters monthly. Make sure your air conditioning equipment is properly maintained with a professional tune-up.
A programmable thermostat automatically coordinates indoor climates with your daily and weekend patterns, increasing home comfort and reducing energy bills — without you having to "remember." It's one of the most cost-effective energy-saving investments you can make.
Close blinds or shades on the south- and west-facing windows of the house during summer days or install shading devices. Plant vines and trees.
Let nature do its work and allow the sun to help heat your home on winter days by keeping blinds or drapes of sun-exposed windows open in the daytime and closed at night to conserve heat. Close all unoccupied areas and reduce heat. Close the damper on fireplaces when not in use.
Caulk and weatherstrip to ensure that you're not wasting energy on heat or air conditioning that escapes through leaks to the outdoors.
Activate "sleep" features on computers and office equipment that power down when the equipment is not in use for a while. Turn off equipment during long periods of non-use to cut costs and improve longevity.
Fill it up: do full loads when you use clothes washers, dryers, and dishwashers.
Use dimmers, timers, and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor lighting.
Use a microwave oven instead of a conventional range or oven when possible.
Take showers instead of baths to reduce hot water use.

Water:

Check all faucets, pipes, and toilets periodically for leaks. A faucet drip or invisible leak in the toilet will add up to 15 gallons of water a day, or 105 gallons a week, which adds up to 5,475 gallons of wasted water a year. Check your flapper periodically to make sure it's a tight fit.
Water your lawn and gardens in the evening to avoid evaporation.
Install a 1.6 gallon low-flow toilet. Ultra-low flow toilets use only 1.6 gallons of water per flush. Using these could cut indoor water use by as much as 20%. Older toilets use 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush.
Check for toilet leaks. Once a year, check for toilet leaks. Remove the toilet tank cover and drip 10 drops of food coloring into the tank. After 15 minutes, check for color in the toilet bowl. If you see any color, your toilet has a leak and should be repaired immediately. Again, remember to check your flapper periodically to make sure it's a tight fit.
Don't use the toilet as a wastebasket. Using a wastebasket instead of the toilet for tissues and other bits of trash will save gallons of water that are otherwise wasted.
Install high efficiency, low-flow faucet aerators. Older faucets use between 3 and 7 gallons per minute. Low-flow faucet aerators use no more than 1.5 gallons of water per minute. The aerators can be attached to most existing faucets.
Fix leaky faucets immediately. A leaky faucet may simply need a new washer. Small faucet leaks can waste 20 gallons of water a day. Large leaks can waste hundreds of gallons.
Turn off the water while shaving, brushing teeth, etc. Don't let the water run when you brush your teeth, wash your face or hands, or shave. This can save 3 to 7 gallons per minute.
Fill your dishwasher. Your dishwasher uses the same amount of water whether it is full or just partially full of dishes, so be sure to fill it. Many dishwashers have a water saver cycle to save even more water.
Keep drinking water in your refrigerator. Don't let the faucet run until the water cools down. Instead, keep a container of drinking water in the refrigerator. Running faucets waste 3 to 7 gallons of water per minute. Before rinsing, put the sink stopper in place instead of running the water. If you need to use the garbage disposal, release the used sink water as the disposal is turned on.

The buzz about compact fluorescent light bulbs

There is a lot of buzz about the use of compact fluorescent bulbs. According to the EPA, the bulbs use 2/3 less energy than standard ones and last up to 10 times longer. Replacing a 60-watt incandescent bulb with a 13-watt CFL can save you up to $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb. In addition, CFLs offer convenience, as they last longer and come in a variety of sizes to fit almost any fixture. In addition, they produce 70 percent less heat than regular bulbs, making them safer to operate and can help reduce energy needed to cool your home.

CFLs, which have become more affordable over the past two years, are available in the hardware sections of most stores.

However, when disposing of CFLs, please take precautions. Click here to open a publication provided by the EPA and the U.S. Department of energy that details how to handle the disposal of CFLs.

Click here to access the Home Energy Saver