1.
Light up your life: Pledge to switch out at
least one regular incandescent bulb for a CFL at
www.sce.com/cfl. CFLs now come in a variety of light
qualities and shapes. Best of all, they use about a
quarter of the energy and last up to 10 times longer
than a regular incandescent bulb. Due to an arrangement
with manufacturers, SCE has managed to place inexpensive
CFL bulbs in more than 1500 stores—at reduced prices
(often just 99 cents). Look for displays that have SCE’s
logo.
2.
Survey says: Take the Home Energy Survey
online or in person at
www.sce.com/survey. You’ll get custom information on
ways to make your home or business more efficient, plus
a free compact fluorescent light (CFL), low-flow
showerhead and two faucet aerators.
3. Out with the old!: Let SCE haul away
your old inefficient appliances and we’ll pay you $35
for a refrigerator or $50 for a freezer. When you buy an
ENERGY STAR-labeled replacement, we’ll give you a rebate
for that, too.
4. Chill your bill: Get up to $200 credit
on your summer electricity bills when you sign up for
Summer Discount Plan at
www.sce.com/sdp.
5. Beat the heat: Consider energy-efficient
air-conditioning alternatives: cross ventilation,
whole-house fans, ceiling fans, portable fans and
evaporative “swamp” coolers.
6. More cash in your stash: SCE offers many
rebates at
www.sce.com/RebatesandSavings/:
-
$50
rebate to buy an ENERGY STAR-labeled refrigerator
-
$50
rebate for an ENERGY STAR-labeled room or wall A/C
-
$100 for
a whole-house fan (some large home-improvement
centers and discount stores provide the rebate at
the time of sale)
-
10-20
cents a square foot incentive to use reflective roof
materials when replacing an old roof. This can
reduce roof temperatures by 60 percent.
-
$30-$200
rebate when replacing an old pool pump with a new,
efficient one; variable-speed pumps are especially
effective in reducing costs.
7. Stay in tune: Much like an automobile,
an air conditioning system needs to be regularly tuned
up. Having an air conditioner tune-up can save up to 30
percent on home cooling costs. Tune-ups should be done
by a qualified professional. An enhanced tune-up
includes: condenser and evaporator coil cleaning; duct
testing and sealing; and refrigerant charge adjustments.
In fact, if just 10 percent of SCE’s customers with
central air conditioning got a tune-up, it could reduce
carbon dioxide emissions by 297 million pounds — the
equivalent of taking 26,650 cars off the road. Expect to
pay between $75 and $150 for a tune-up and can find a
list of contractors near them at
www.sce.com/acquality, or by calling 1-800-369-3652.
8. Leave a tip: Share energy-saving ideas
with your neighbors at
www.sce.com/leaveatip. Or, take a tip about simple
and creative ways to save energy throughout the year.
9. Become a vampire slayer: “Energy
vampires” refers to electronic equipment, appliances and
devices that use energy 24 hours a day, even when turned
off. You can cut up to 6 percent from your bill by
connecting devices into a power strip or surge protector
– and turn it off when equipment is not in use. For
equipment that will lose its programming if turned
completely off, use ENERGY STAR-labeled products because
they use less energy in “standby” mode.
10. Follow the sun: You’ll earn rebates and
when you provide your own clean, renewable energy from
solar panels when you take advantage of the California
Solar Initiative. Learn more at
www.sce.com/RebatesandSavings/CaliforniaSolarInitiative/.
