LADWP Urges Wise Energy Use as the Summer Heats Up Use Energy Saving Tips to Save Money

LADWP Urges Wise Energy Use
as the Summer Heats Up

Use Energy Saving Tips to Save Money

LADWP has sufficient power resources to meet customer demands during the hot weather and has our crews ready to respond to any situations. It is prudent to use energy wisely during high demand periods and to give air conditioners a rest for an hour or two every day, as to not overload the equipment.

These simple tips are easy to implement in daily routines and are highly effective conservation measures:

Tips for the Home

■Adjust thermostat to 78 degrees to reduce energy usage during the hottest hours of the day when air conditioning systems have to work hardest to cool.

■Limit the use of appliances during peak hours of the day- use washing machines, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners and other heavy appliances during evening hours.

■Try to avoid using your stove or oven during peak hours of the day since it will add to the heat inside the home.

■Ventilate your home at night and early morning by opening windows and doors to clear out the heat and allow cooler air to circulate.

■Turn off lights and equipment when they are not in use.

■Replace incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) wherever appropriate.

■Close draperies, shades or blinds during the heat of the day to reduce the extra heat from direct sunlight.

■Check your home for adequate insulation and for proper sealing of windows and exterior doors.

■Plant shade trees to reduce heat gain inside the house.

■Install / use ceiling fans or “whole house” fans for comfort cooling. A whole house fan will cool down your house early evenings and early mornings for a fraction of the energy cost of operating an A/C unit.

■Install a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature automatically and maximize your energy savings.

■Clean or replace air-conditioner filter(s) every month to maintain efficiency and air flow.

■Regularly brush or vacuum the condenser coils at the bottom or rear of your refrigerator and check door gasket for tight fit and adjust if necessary.

■When buying appliances choose energy-saving EnergyStar-rated models.

■Limit the time you run your pool pump during summer to six hours a day, and schedule the run time to avoid operation between 1 pm and 5 pm.

■Unplug “energy vampires” like cell phone chargers, DVD players, microwave ovens and other appliances that use energy even when turned off or in sleep mode.

Tips for the Workplace

■Turn off your desk and overhead lights, and meeting room lights, if they are not needed, or install motion detector switches in each room.

■Keep personal appliance use to a minimum.

■Turn off all computer equipment when you leave the office or when they are not in use for long periods of time.

■Be sure your computer equipment goes into sleep mode when temporarily not in use.

■Go paperless when possible. Reduced printing and copying translates into reduced energy use.

LADWP Energy Conservation Rebate Programs 

LADWP offers a number of programs and rebates to help our customers save money and reduce their energy use.

■Energy Star-Rated Room Air Conditioners. $50 rebate on qualifying models.

■Central Air Conditioners. $120 per ton rebate on an energy efficient model.

■Refrigerator Exchange for Low Income Customers. Qualifying low-income or Lifeline customers can receive a free energy efficient refrigerator in exchange for an old inefficient model.

■Refrigerator Turn-In and Recycle. LADWP customers who buy new Energy Star-rated refrigerators and turn in their old model for recycling can receive up to $115 in rebates.

■Whole House Fans. $200 rebate per unit.

■Energy Star-Rated Residential Window Products. Rebate of $2.00 per square foot of glass for qualifying models.

■Cool Roofs. Rebate of $0.20-$0.30 per square foot.

■Pool Pump and Motor Replacements. $500 rebate on variable speed models.

For More Information

■To learn more about rebates, click here,

■The City of Los Angeles “Ready L.A.” for information on how to prepare for a heat wave, click here

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