(KANSAS CITY, Kan.) — Between heating a home or apartment, entertaining indoors, or cooking a traditional holiday dinner, the amount of energy used this time of year and throughout the cold-weather months can be elevated. To conserve energy usage, there are tips and simple steps you can take to help lower utility costs now and throughout the new year. These include:

1.  Keep the Oven Door Shut

   Don’t open the oven frequently to check on food when baking. Each time the door is opened, the temperature inside is reduced by up to 25 degrees, forcing the oven to use more energy to restore the proper cooking temperature. Instead, turn on the oven light and peek through the window.



2. Use Small Appliances

   Consider using crock pots, toaster ovens, microwaves, or a warming plate instead of the oven when possible. These appliances use less energy than the stove, which can help keep costs down.



3. Lower the Thermostat While Cooking

   Ovens and stovetops generate lots of heat while in use, which can help keep the temperature in a home comfortable without using the furnace.



4. Only Heat the Rooms You Use.

   Close off vents and keep the temperature lower in rooms you rarely use like storage areas, extra bedrooms, etc.



5. Don’t Hand-Wash Dishes

   Use the dishwasher instead of washing by hand. Dishwashers use less hot water, and only run the dishwasher after it is fully loaded.



6. Cook Multiple Dishes at Once

   Plan dishes that can be cooked simultaneously at the same temperature. If side dishes cook at the same temperature as the main dish, it reduces the amount of time the oven needs to run and the amount of energy required to prepare a meal.



7. Let the Sun Warm You Up.

   Open curtains on the south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat the home and close them at night to reduce the chill from cold windows.



8. Use a Drying Rack.

   Clothes dryers use lots of energy. Instead, try using a drying rack or hang up your clothes – and situate them in front of a sunny window.



9. Use LED Light Bulbs.

   LED bulbs use 75% less energy than in can descent and last around 25 times longer. If you haven’t already, make the switch to LED today.



10. Adjust your Water Heater and Conserve.

    Water heating accounts for 18% of a home’s energy use. Installing low-flow faucets and shower heads can reduce usage levels by 35-60% - and don’t forget to lower your water heater thermostat to 120’ F.

For more information on related topics, go to www.BPU.com. BPU also provides helpful information on a variety of issues through videos on its YouTube channel.

BPU’s water department was originally created in 1909, and its electric utility was operational in 1912. The purpose of the utility, then and to this day, is to provide the highest quality electric and water services at the lowest possible cost. Today the publicly owned utility serves approximately 65,000 electric and 53,000 water customers, primarily in Wyandotte County, Kansas. The mission of the utility and its employees is “to focus on the needs of our customers, to improve the quality of life in our community while promoting safe, reliable and sustainable utilities.” BPU’s Web site is www.bpu.com.