Energy Saving Tips

The following tips can help you cut your energy consumption, the single largest influence on your energy bill. Wilson Energy works diligently to keep internal costs down.

A recent study by ElectriCities showed that our internal distribution costs (electrical lines, equipment, personnel) were the second lowest in eastern North Carolina. Our employees are rated among the highest for their response times.

Beat the Peak - Save on your monthly bill, up to $68 per year

Residential customers can save $4 on their bill every month by allowing us to remotely cycle off their water heater during the peak load of each month. The switch is free; the installation is free. You can also be credited $5/month (during summer months) for allowing us to put a similar switch on your air conditioning unit. Typically, you'll never even notice that the appliances have been turned off for the short time. The credit appears on your monthly bill.  To request installation of one or both switches, call (252) 399.2415 or complete this online form.  A Wilson Energy representative will contact you to set up a day and time for the installation.

**Note** Customers who signed up for load management before January 15, 2000, must allow a Wilson Energy employee to inspect their switch(es) for credits to continue. To schedule a free inspection, call (252) 399.2415 or write to BeatThePeak@wilsonnc.org.

Online Energy Depot "Do It Yourself" Home Audit

Energy Depot is an online tool that helps customers use energy wisely.  You can consider it your energy information "tool box".  Here ar the tools you'll find in Energy Depot and what you can use each for:

  • Personal Energy Profile which can be used to obtain the most comprehensive look at your home energy use and how you can save energy and money.  You can choose either the detailed Full Audit or the abbreviated EZ Audit.
  • Energy Calculator can be used to quickly estimate the annual energy use and costs for individual electric or natural gas home systems and appliances.
  • Energy Comparision Tool can be used when considering replacing your home heating/cooling system or water heater.  This tool allows you to compare your existing system with a range of new systems.
  • Energy Library is a collection of fact sheets to read more about home energy topics and ways to use energy more wisely.

Heating Recommendations

  • Set your thermostat at the lowest comfortable temperature. We recommend 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Every degree above 70 costs an additional 3 percent to 5 percent. For instance, keeping your home at 75 degrees could cost nearly 30 percent more than keeping it at 70.
  • During winter months, health permitting, it's best to lower the thermostat to between 60 to 65 degrees at night. By keeping your thermostat 10 degrees lower at night you'll save 10% to 20% in heating costs.
  • With a heat pump, avoid large changes in thermostat settings. A dramatic increase in temperature may cause the supplemental heat strip to operate, forcing energy consumption much higher along with your costs.  
  • Change your filter regularly. Dirty filters increase heating and cooling costs.
  • Caulk and weather-strip leaky doors and windows. Insulated or storm windows also help reduce unwanted heat loss.
  • Open drapes on the sunny side (usually south and west) of your house during the day. You'd be surprised how efficiently that sunlight will warm those rooms. Close drapes and shades at night. 
  • Make sure drapes and furniture are not blocking air vents or returns. 
  • A portable heater may allow you to lower the temperature in the rest of the house, but it can also be expensive if used 24 hours. Use portable heaters in moderation.
  • Turn off kitchen or bathroom exhaust fans when your air conditioning is operating.     
  • Keep your central unit fan in the “auto” position.  Leaving the fan "on" will force the fan to run 24 hours a day, adding as much as $15 a month to your heating costs.  
  • Keep the outside heating unit clear and clean.
  • Close the flue when you aren't using your fireplace.

Cooling Recommendations

  • Keep your thermostat set at 78-80 degrees Fahrenheit. For every degree above 78, you'll save 6 percent to 8 percent on your cooling costs.
  • When you leave home, set the thermostat up a bit.     
  • Change dirty filters. They should be checked monthly. Inexpensive filters should be changed monthly. Be sure the outside unit and indoor return are free of debris. You may want to hose off your outside unit a couple of times a year.
  • Make sure your home is properly insulated. We recommend the following types in our area: ceiling insulation R-30, walls R-11 to R-15, and floors R-19.
  • Use a ceiling fan or portable fan along with your air conditioning. A fan can make you feel four degrees cooler and costs only a penny or so per hour to operate. It won't cool an empty room, though, so turn it off when you leave.
  • Use shades or curtains to block direct sunlight on the sunny side (usually south and west) of your home.
  • Strategically-placed trees and bushes outside the sunny sides can also save you hundreds of dollars a year.  
  • Whenever practical, use your microwave or countertop appliances for cooking. They usually cost less to operate and they don't heat the room the way a large oven does.   
  • Have a professional check your central unit once a year. A unit working improperly can force your bills higher, especially older units.
  • For central air conditioning systems, set your thermostat fan switch to "auto". Running the central AC fan 24 hours a day can add up to $15 to your bill and doesn't cool any more effectively.

Good landscaping saves you money all year

  • Carefully-positioned trees can save up to 25% of a household's heating and cooling costs. The U.S. Department of Energy says that only three trees planted strategically can save an average household $100 to $250 in energy costs per year.
  • Deciduous trees should be planted on the south and western sides of the house to shade during the summer while allowing light in during the winter.
  • Evergreen trees and shrubs on the north and northwest sides can provide a windbreak.
  • Also, shading your AC unit can make it run up to 10% more efficiently.