Person screwing in a LED lightbulb into a pendant light fixture.

Technology, Measures, & Innovation

Fall Into Savings with These Tips for Energy Efficiency

Fall in the District means colorful leaves, cozy cups of pumpkin spice lattes, and shorter days. This shortage of sunlight, in turn, means your lights are on longer, and this could start to add up on your utility bills. With daylight savings time ending on November 6th (roll back those clocks!), we’ve gathered some tips on lighting and other energy efficiency best practices for the fall season.

Try Smart LED Bulbs

Get all the benefits of long-lasting LEDs with more control. Control your lights remotely using smartphone apps or through virtual assistants like Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant. Many offer the ability to more efficiently use your lights by scheduling when your lights turn or off and you can even have your lights automatically adjust based on your location. They integrate with broader smart home systems and can be customized with various colors to match your mood.
Clean Appliances & Replace HVAC Filters

Perform a thorough cleaning by dusting key appliances in your home, including under the refrigerator, the front vent at the base, and any exposed coils. Clean dust and grease from the kitchen hood and stove, and dust bathroom vent fan covers and light bulbs, as a clean environment helps your appliances run efficiently. In addition, regularly clean or replace air filters and schedule annual HVAC system maintenance to ensure efficiency. Over time, air filters accumulate dust and debris, reducing airflow and increasing resistance, which strains your system and makes it work harder. Check your filter monthly and change it as needed.
Use Outdoor Lighting Only When Needed

Outdoor lighting is a great way to help keep your home safe and secure, especially as nights get longer. But leaving exterior lights on over-night can be costly. You can try to make a habit of turning off outdoor lights before going to bed at night, but another solution could be to invest in smart LED lights that connect to an app on your phone. You can set a timer that automatically controls the light fixtures. Consider solar lighting fixtures for the outside of your home. Outdoor lighting products with photocells or photo sensors allow lights to come on only when the sun is down. District renters and property owners also apply for a rebate on home security cameras through the Private Security Camera Rebate Program. Eligible residents can get a rebate that covers the cost of the cameras, up to $200 each or more than one camera, up to $500 for residential properties and up to $750 for commercial properties.

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Adjust the Temperature

With cooler weather is approaching, it's easier to regulate your home's temperature. Keep it at or below 68 degrees to prevent your HVAC system from overworking. Less strain on the system means lower energy consumption. When you're away, reduce the temperature by 10 to 15 degrees to save up to 10% on heating costs. Consider investing in a Smart Thermostat, which learns your habits to optimize savings.

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Dim the Lights to Maximize Energy Savings

Dimmers let you adjust the feel of a room for mood or activity. Dimmers reduce power to the lighting source or bulb, so they save energy and can extend bulb life. You can choose full light when you are active; choose midlevel light for movie and popcorn time. Lower lights in the later evening hours to transition to bedtime. ENERGY STAR dimmable LED bulbs are already very efficient, so investing in a dimmer can maximize your energy savings. If your current dimmer switches are more than 5 years old, you will need to replace them with ones that are compatible with LED technology. Older dimmer switches work well with incandescent lightbulbs, but when used with dimmable LED lightbulbs, they can cause the light to flicker instead of dim gradually. Remember, not all LED bulbs are dimmable. Look on the package to confirm. An electrician can easily replace your existing switches or dimmers with products that work with newer lightbulb technology. It can be a fairly straightforward do-it-yourself project as well.
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