It may sound counter-intuitive to suggest that utility companies support energy efficiency by their customers. However, the HUEE members recognize that it is in our best interest to help our customers use less energy to aid in securing our energy future, be more environmentally responsible and lower customer costs.

National Geographic's Green Life Interactive Household

Take a tour of an average house and compare "Your Carbon Life" and "A Greener Way" to find solutions for YOUR household energy consumption. Click Here to Go There.

Top 12 Tips from HUEE

1. Take that FREE heat. Open curtains during sunny days to let the sunlight in and warm the house. Remember to close the curtains at night to help hold the heat in.
2. Help out your furnace. Change the filter regularly and also make sure both supply and return vents are clear of furniture, rugs and curtains.
3. Make sure the weather stripping on doors and windows is in good condition. Replace if necessary and remember when closing windows lock them tight...and close the storm windows too.
4. Lower the temperature on your hot water heater to 120°F or to the “low” setting. If you can’t comfortably hold your hand under the faucet when the hot water alone is on, it’s hotter than necessary.
5. When using your dishwasher or clothes washer, make sure you have a full load first.
   Consider doing most of your clothes washing in cold water.
6. After you have taken a hot bath, leave the water in the tub until it cools to help heat the home in winter.
7. Cook with lids on your pots. It warms up quicker and helps keep the heat in the pot.
8. The biggest energy wasters in homes are almost always too many air leaks and not enough insulation. Seal and insulate your home. Download the Energy Savings Map on this website as a guide for doing this. Or, consider getting an energy audit.
9. Get an energy audit on your home. Sometimes the problems are not readily apparent. A real energy audit will identify the real problems and eliminate costly guesswork.
10. When you turn on your air conditioner, set the thermostat at the temperature you want. Setting it colder doesn’t cool the house any quicker. It just wastes energy. Same with the furnace, except try setting it a little cooler and wear more warm clothing.
11. Many modern electronics stay powered up even after you turn them off. That uses electricity for no purpose. Plug these types of electronics into a power strip with a switch then turn the power strip off.
12. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) now fit in almost any fixture and use only 25% of the energy as old fashioned incandescent bulbs. They also last 10 times longer! Replace as many incandescent bulbs with CFLs as you can. Remember though, you need a specially made CFL to use on dimmer switches.

Questions About Your Home Comfort or Energy Use?
Call the Metropolitan Energy Center (MEC) Home Energy Info Line at (816) 835-7593 or visit their website by clicking here.

Energy Savings Map
Visit the Energy Savings Map for suggestions to improve the energy efficiency of your home.

Energy Saver$ Booklet
U.S. Department of Energy's "ENERGY SAVER$" Booklet is available in both English and Spanish.