Appliances & Lighting
Even as a resident of an apartment or condominium, you can still look for the ENERGY STAR^® label. If you buy any of your own appliances, you'll want to understand how ENERGY STAR qualified appliances are more energy efficient. You can also encourage your landlord or the builder of your condominium to provide ENERGY STAR qualified appliances. ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent lightbulbs, room air conditioners and clothes washers can help you save energy, water, money and help the environment.

If you own or manage an apartment or condo building, we can send you the fact sheets and energy saving tips listed below, which you can provide to your residents.

For more information on ENERGY STAR qualified products, visit the Appliances or Lighting pages.

Energy Saving Tips
In some cases, you can significantly reduce your energy usage by following a few simple tips:

Water Heating Tips

• Use a standard meat thermometer to test the water temperature from your sink faucet. If it is higher than 120º F, you are spending more energy than you need for hot water. This can also pose a burn hazard for children and seniors. If you have access to the water heater, lower the temperature setting or have your landlord do it.
• Leaky or dripping hot water faucets can waste as much as 48 gallons of hot water a week. Have them fixed quickly.
• Reduce hot water use by installing a low-flow showerhead if your current one uses more than 3 gallons per minute.
• Reduce hot water use by washing clothes in cold water if possible, and always use the cold-water rinse cycle.

Appliance Tips
Refrigerators use the most energy of all your appliances. Keep energy use down by:

• Keeping the fresh food compartment at 37º-40º F and the freezer compartment at 0º-5º F.
• Regularly defrost refrigerators and freezers that have a manual-defrost function. Don't let more than 1/4 inch of frost build up.
• Replace dried, broken or cracked door gaskets.

For additional energy saving ideas, read the summer and winter tips sheets below.
     Summer Tips Fact Sheet
      Winter Tips Fact Sheet

For additional energy saving information on the lighting and appliances, take a look at the fact sheets in the Info Library area on our Web site. We have compiled a list of tips, facts and techniques to help you take a bite out of your energy bill.

Eligibility
Eligibility is based on your electric and gas utility provider.

To determine your eligibility for Focus on Energy programs, please click here.