While You Are Sleeping
Running your dishwasher, washer or dryer, or charging your phone can promote energy conservation.
Changing small habits can save energy now and may save you money in the future.
By using appliances at night, when most of Idaho sleeps, you can conserve energy. Energy conservation can mean changing when we use energy to reduce stress on our energy systems. Most people are using power during "peak" times—late afternoon and early morning—to heat or cool their homes and run household appliances. You can spread out Idaho's energy demand by letting some of these appliances run while you sleep.
So how might you save money? Idaho Power has installed "smart meters" in some portions of its service territory. By 2011 everyone who gets power from Idaho Power will have a smart meter. These meters allow you and Idaho Power to track energy use per hour. Eventually, we will pay rates that show not only how much power we use but also when we use it. Energy used during peak times will cost more.
So run the dishwasher at night. Wash and dry your clothes before bed. Charge your various handheld electronics while you sleep. Sign up for Cool Credits. These changes in habit will pay off.
Sara Cohn
Community Conservation Associate
