Empty Home Energy Checklist

Some members go away and are expecting a smaller energy bill on their return, only to find the bill was pretty much the same as when they’re home.

A home's electrical devices are consuming energy all the time, whether the house is occupied or not. This is why it's important to take the proper steps to prepare a home to be empty when it won’t be used for a long period of time. These are a few steps you can take to reduce energy bills while you're away.

Decide which actions from the list below apply to our home and are worth the effort and disruption, depending on how long you plan to be away.  Place a check marker under “TO DO’ for those that you’ll do, and then put a check mark beside each once it’s done. When you come back home, you can easily see the items you need to put back to normal and check them off as you do them.

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TO DO

DONE

BACK TO NORMAL

HEATER/THERMOSTAT ~ 40% of a home’s energy usage

 

 

 

Turn all thermostats down to 50°F to 55°F

 

 

 

Unplug all unattended space heaters

 

 

 

Unplug electric blankets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WATER HEATER ~ 25% of a home’s energy usage

 

 

 

Fix leaky taps and pipes

 

 

 

Adjust the water heater thermostat to 120°F (always)

 

 

 

Turn off the water heater at the electrical panel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REFRIGERATOR/FREEZER

 

 

 

Defrost and unplug refrigerator/freezer and prop open door

 

 

 

OR, adjust refrigerator thermostat to a warmer temperature and place plastic gallon jugs of water in refrigerator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ELECTRONICS

 

 

 

Unplug all small electronic devices (e.g., clocks, humidifiers)

 

 

 

Unplug all TVs, entertainment electronics, and computers

 

 

 

Unplug all power adapters and  charging devices

 

 

 

Unplug microwave, coffee maker, and other appliances w/clocks

 

 

 

LIGHTS

 

 

 

Install timers or day/night sensors on indoor & outdoor security lights

 

 

 

Unplug all night lights

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WINDOW COVERINGS

 

 

 

Close all curtains and drapes for insulation and security

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER HOME ELECTRONICS

 

 

 

Unplug hot tub heater and drain/winterize hot tub

 

 

 

Unplug air conditioners if not needed for humidity control

 

 

 

Unplug landscaping water features if not needed for aquatic life

 

 

 

Other:

 

 

 

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