Efficiency Archives | Citizens Utility Board

We asked CUB supporters for their best energy efficiency tips

Elizabeth — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 21:07:35 +0000

This month, we asked email subscribers to submit their best energy efficiency tips and we got many creative answers outside of CUB’s standard energy efficiency tips. Here’s a few of our favorite submissions: Victoria: “I spent some of my early years in Atlanta, GA in the 1940s and learned from neighbors there that when the heat of the day was at its peak we should close all blinds and shades and utilize fans (often handheld) to maintain coolness for our bodies. Splashing cool water on our skin was also helpful. With our current rash of heat waves it helps to keep old strategies along with new ones in our toolbox of adaptations.” Linda: “I have only a window air conditioning unit in my bedroom. When it is excessively hot, I close the door and turn on the AC unit for about 2 hours before bedtime. I turn it off when I turn the light out for sleep rather than run it all night. The AC cools the room and removes the humidity which makes the room a lot more comfortable. In very warm weather, I try to do laundry around times that are not general office hours. I also sometimes hang clothes up (until they are) about half dry and pop them in the dryer for a shorter time, using less gas and electricity but still getting rid of wrinkles.” Eric: “We turn our air conditioner off at every opportunity and open the windows. We have a few small fans we use to move through the house by putting them in windows blowing out to draw air from other windows across the room or house. If the temperature outside is below 78, we are cooling with outside air and fans instead of the AC.” Susan: “I’m retired, so I signed up for ComEd Hourly Pricing. I keep the Five-Minute Prices link active and make sure that I run my dishwasher, laundry, etc., at low-cost times.” (CUB note: Hourly Pricing is a special electricity pricing program that charges customers a market price that can change hourly. Susan is talking about a page Hourly Pricing participants can visit to say the latest prices. Ameren has a similar program, which the next consumer, Ron, discusses below.) Ron: “I have solar panels, Ameren’s Power Smart Pricing program (Time of Day rate), and a Volt plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. Most of the time I drive on sunshine (solar power). I use very little gasoline, hence reducing my carbon footprint. June was hot and sunny, so I produced a record amount of solar electricity (1335.8 KWH). This was 153 KWH more than I used. Solar and a plug-in hybrid EV are very energy efficient.” Kiersten: ”Keep working on replacing your lightbulbs with LEDs! There are so many homes and commercial buildings still using incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs… Solar LEDs with motion sensors are so much better!” Richard: “Make sure your air conditioner condenser is clean after all tree flowers have dropped. A dirty condenser really lowers efficiency.” Mel: “If you own your home, check your attic for plenty of insulation. Adding extra insulation keeps heating […]

The post We asked CUB supporters for their best energy efficiency tips appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

Tips for fighting high summer electric bills, and staying safe and cool

Jim Chilsen — Sat, 21 Jun 2025 11:30:00 +0000

Check out our tips to stay cool, safe and energy efficient during the hot summer: Be safe. Efficiency means staying safe and cool while reducing your energy waste. Raising your thermostat by a few degrees and using a ceiling fan can lower air conditioning costs over the summer. Just be smart about it—don’t raise the temperature to an unsafe level. Many utilities have recommended setting the thermostat at about 75-78 degrees when you’re at home and awake. At night or when you’re away, bump it up a few degrees. Changing your thermostat by 7° to 10°F (up in the summer, down in the winter) from its normal setting for 8 hours a day can save you about 10 percent a year on heating and cooling, according to the Energy Department. Again, never take any risks with your health. Efficiency is about staying safe and cool. Use fans. Fans alone aren’t adequate in a heat wave, but they can be used with an air conditioner—so you don’t have to blast the AC. Run a ceiling fan counter-clockwise, from your position looking up at it, to create a downdraft, and make sure to turn off your fan when you leave the room. (Fans cool people, not rooms.) Give your AC a break. Prevent hot air from seeping in by sealing the gaps around windows and doors. (Check out sealing/insulation tips from Energy Star.) Shut blinds or shades during the daytime hours to prevent the sun from cooking your home and your air conditioner from working harder to cool it. At cooler times of the day (night and morning) or on milder, less humid days, open up windows and use screens to let refreshing air come in. Clean or replace your air conditioning unit filters about once every 1-2 months during the cooling season to make sure your AC is running efficiently. If you have central air, schedule your yearly check up with the HVAC technician. (Here’s an AC maintenance guide from the Department of Energy.) Make sure your AC is sized properly for the space to be cooled. Contrary to popular belief, a larger unit will not cool a room better. A properly-sized AC unit will be more efficient, and it will keep the space at a constant temperature and a comfortable humidity level. Shut it down. Even when electronic devices are powered off, many are still using electricity if they are plugged in. This is called vampire power or phantom load, which can account for 25 percent of a product’s electric usage on average. Turn off and unplug extra appliances that produce more heat and make your home hotter (TV, computers, laptops, lights), and make sure to unplug your phone charger. Leaving your smartphone plugged in to a charger overnight not only wastes electricity, but it also strains the batteries over time. Turn off lights in empty rooms. Use a smart power strip. For computers and entertainment systems a smart power strip can be helpful. These strips help you cut down energy costs associated with products that go into standby mode. Avoid hot tasks. Delay heat-producing tasks, such as dishwashing, baking, or […]

The post Tips for fighting high summer electric bills, and staying safe and cool appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

How to: Determine the right size of your room air conditioner

Jim Chilsen — Sat, 29 Jun 2024 10:57:24 +0000

Choosing the right size room air conditioner can significantly impact its performance and efficiency. Contrary to popular belief, a larger unit doesn’t always mean better cooling. It’s crucial to ensure that the air conditioner size matches the room’s dimensions and uses. Here’s how to determine the optimal size for your air conditioner: 1. Measure the Room’s Square Footage: Measure in feet, converting inches to fractions of a foot (e.g., 3 inches = 0.25 feet). Use these formulas for different room shapes: Square/Rectangular Rooms: Length × Width Triangular Rooms: (Length × Width) / 2 Irregular Rooms: Divide the room into squares, rectangles or triangles and use the above formulas. 2. Select the Correct Cooling Capacity: Match the room’s square footage to the corresponding cooling capacity in BTUs (British Thermal Units). See table below. 3. Make Necessary Adjustments: For shaded rooms, reduce capacity (the size of the AC, in BTUs) by 10 percent. For sunlit rooms, increase capacity by 10 percent. Add 600 BTUs per person for rooms typically occupied by more than two people. Increase capacity by 4,000 BTUs for kitchen installations. 4. Consider the Placement: Ensure the unit is installed in a location that allows unrestricted airflow. For example, don’t let a large houseplant or piece of furniture obstruct the air conditioner. Other factors affecting AC size may include ceiling height, the condition of the ductwork, nearby heat-generating appliances, home facade, insulation, occupancy, sun exposure, and windows. For example, higher ceilings or leaky ducts may require a larger/more powerful AC. The same goes for a home that faces South (more sun exposure), or has insufficient insulation. If you are unsure about your AC needs, it may be best to seek a professional opinion to determine the correct size. By selecting the right size and placing your air conditioner correctly, you’ll maximize comfort and energy efficiency, which in turn can save money on your electricity bills. Commonly asked questions and answers: Why does the size of the AC unit matter? An AC unit that is too small will struggle to cool the room, while an oversized unit will cool the room too quickly without properly dehumidifying it, leaving the space feeling clammy. What is a “BTU” and why is it important? BTU stands for British Thermal Unit, which measures the cooling capacity of an air conditioner. The higher the BTU, the greater the cooling power. Choosing the right BTU ensures efficient cooling and dehumidification. Can I use a single AC unit to cool multiple rooms? It’s not recommended. Window AC units are designed to cool single rooms. If you need to cool multiple rooms, consider separate units. What additional features should I look for in a window AC unit? Consider features like programmable thermostats, energy-saving modes, remote controls, and washable filters. These can enhance comfort and efficiency. Other helpful sources: Consumer Reports: How to Properly Size a Window Air Conditioner This Old House: What Size Air Conditioner Do I Need? (2024 Guide) Energy.Gov: Room Air Conditioners

The post How to: Determine the right size of your room air conditioner appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

Spring into savings with CUB’s energy efficiency tips

Elizabeth — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 16:33:55 +0000

It’s time to get your home ready for warmer weather. Remember: Energy efficiency is just as important during the spring and summer as it is during the winter so make sure to include these home maintenance tasks on your spring cleaning checklist: Air conditioning maintenance. Clean or replace your air conditioning unit filters every one to two months to ensure proper and efficient performance. Also, have an HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) specialist inspect your air conditioner at least yearly. A properly maintained AC system can help you save hundreds a year. Check your windows and doors. After the cold, wet winter, there may be damage to your windows and doors that could cause cool air to escape, taking your hard-earned money with it. Check for any leaks or cracks and seal them with weatherstripping or caulk, which you can buy for a modest price from the hardware store. Take out storm windows and doors. Remove your storm windows and replace your glass front doors with screen doors so you can allow natural breezes to circulate in your home on milder days. Think about investing in fans. By investing in and strategically using floor and ceiling fans, along with other sources of ventilation, you can get away with setting your thermostat one to two degrees higher and save money on your power bills. Switch the direction of your ceiling fans. If you follow our tips and have a ceiling fan, you should be running it clockwise (from your position, looking up at it) through the colder months When the weather gets warm, it’s time to run your ceiling fans counterclockwise (CUB instructions on how to do that) to push cool air down. Circulating cool air will reduce the need for your air conditioner to work as hard, saving energy and money. Don’t forget to turn off the fan when you leave the room–fans cool people, not rooms. (Bonus tip: If you haven’t used your ceiling fans since last summer, be sure to wipe down the blades to remove any dust that has accumulated.) Upgrade your thermostat. If you want more control of your energy bills this summer, consider replacing your old thermostat with a programmable one or a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats use sensors that continuously monitor temperature, humidity, and other variables throughout your house. According to Energystar.gov, on average, smart thermostats save customers 8% on heating and cooling bills yearly. Get a free assessment. Many utilities offer home energy assessments at no cost to the customer. During these assessments, an expert will go over any energy efficiency opportunities in your home and may even provide you with free products to get you going in the right direction. Inquire with your electric company about such services. Here’s info about ComEd’s program, which offers extra benefits for lower-income customers, and Ameren’s program, which is only for income-qualified customers. Dust off the grill: Grills keep heat out of the kitchen, meaning air conditioners don’t have to work harder to cool it off. There are a lot of tips on healthy and environmentally sound ways to grill, here are some from The […]

The post Spring into savings with CUB’s energy efficiency tips appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

Saving energy and money at home– the renter’s edition

Elizabeth — Mon, 22 May 2023 16:11:32 +0000

By: Kate Shonk Sustainable Communities Liason The summer cooling season is upon us, and at CUB we’re here to help all Illinoisans save energy and money. For consumers who rent their homes, it can be hard to have control over their building’s efficiency measures–but you still have options. Even if you don’t pay an electric bill, it’s a good idea not to waste energy, for the sake of the power grid and the planet. To start, a simple way to weatherize a rental could involve air-sealing any drafts around windows or doors. This includes using weatherstripping, caulk, or plastic over windows. Once the home is better sealed, it’s easier to keep the air inside and use less energy to cool a residence. The next step is changing your usage habits. In a hot summer, there are ways to reduce a spike in usage from air conditioning: Use fans and open windows before reverting to air conditioning. Make sure any ceiling fans are flipped to summer mode (run counterclockwise), to create a downdraft. Watch CUB’s video. If you do need to use your AC, be conscious about the temperature setting. Always defer to your own health and comfort, but aim to keep your AC set at about 74 degrees. Turn off your AC or any fans before leaving your apartment. Make sure the AC unit is properly sized for the room. Visit this EnergyStar webpage to learn how to size your AC. Regularly clean the filter on your AC unit. Additionally, while air conditioning will account for a large majority of your summer electric bill, you can still save energy by unplugging unused devices and appliances. Vampire power – or power wasted from appliances and devices left plugged in – can account for around 23 percent of a home’s power consumption. Similarly, lighting accounts for around 15 percent of consumption. Be sure to turn off any lights not in use, and switch out any old light bulbs for LED bulbs. In addition to DIY weatherization and efficiency, utility companies do offer programs geared toward renters. An important program to check out is the Multi-Family Home Energy Assessment offered by ComEd, Nicor, Peoples Gas, Northshore Gas, and Ameren. Through this free offering, an energy advisor can do a comprehensive walkthrough of your unit to see where you can be more energy efficient. Along with the walkthrough, the program includes free energy-efficient products, such as LED light bulbs, programmable thermostats, efficient showerheads, advanced power strips, and more. Important note for renters: You must receive consent from your landlord or property manager before participating. At the bottom of this article, we’ve included a sample email or call script to receive permission from your landlord to participate. For a more comprehensive overview of energy efficiency and demand response programs, community solar, and all things utility-related for renters, order a free copy of CUB’s Renter’s Utility Guide! Sample Letter: Subject line: Request for Home Energy Assessment Approval Greetings, I hope this message finds you well! I’m a resident of (address), and I’m writing to receive your approval to participate in the Home Energy Savings program offered […]

The post Saving energy and money at home– the renter’s edition appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

Getting ready for Spring? Tips on keeping your utility bills low

Hannah — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 20:56:53 +0000

As you do some spring cleaning, remember that a few easy swaps can help you maximize your energy efficiency. These tips are easy and effective at preventing higher-than-average utility bills, while also being good for the planet. Here are some of CUB’s top tips for keeping your power bill to a minimum as we head into Spring: 1. Unplug unnecessary devices. Your coffee pot with an LED clock, your phone charger, a DVD player—even though these items may not look it, they are constantly drawing power. The wattage they use individually may not amount to much. But when combined, these dormant devices can account for as much as 10 percent of household energy use. So turn off and unplug devices you aren’t using. That includes TVs, radios, and gaming consoles. And when you are finished charging a device, be sure to unplug the charger. 2. Take advantage of your windows. Don’t waste electricity on desk lamps or overhead lights when you could just open the curtains. Choose the brightest room in your apartment or house to work. Plus, sunlight is good for your health, and we could all use a bit more exposure as we emerge from the winter months. If you do use lights, make sure they’re LEDs. Most LED bulbs have a lifespan of 20,000 to 50,000 hours and are 80 percent more efficient than other bulbs. The Washington Post reported that a typical home switching from incandescent to LED bulbs could save $600 a year. 3. Use your technology’s built-in energy savings features. When you’re not using a device, shut it off. But if you need your phone or computer, take advantage of energy-saving features often built into your device. Some devices have sleep mode, low-battery mode, or idle mode that can reduce energy consumption. Energy Star says activating these power management controls on your computer can save you between $10 and $100 on energy costs per year. You should also deactivate controls that eat up your battery, like GPS and Bluetooth. Close unnecessary apps and dim your screen. 4. Be smart about your thermostat. An Energy Star study found that people who micromanage their thermostats use more energy than those who leave them alone. Constantly changing the set temperature on your thermostat causes your heating unit to run inefficiently. (That’s why smart thermostats are so handy!) When half of the energy used in your home already goes to heating and cooling, you’ll want to avoid adding to that cost as much as possible. Instead of bumping your thermostat up a few notches, throw on a few extra layers or grab a blanket. Also, if you take our advice and open the curtains, sunlight can help naturally heat your home without messing with the thermostat. 5. Check out your water heater. Lower the temperature on your water heater to the warm setting (120 degrees). For every 10 degree reduction in temperature, you can save up to 5% on your water heating costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. When water heating accounts for around 12% of a family’s utility bill, that can make a big difference. 6. […]

The post Getting ready for Spring? Tips on keeping your utility bills low appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

Preparing for an Expensive Summer: Your Energy Efficiency Shopping List

Elizabeth — Wed, 18 May 2022 18:35:29 +0000

In 2021, homes across the country used about 235 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity to cool their homes–that’s about 16 percent of total residential energy consumption. So as we prepare for an expensive summer, it pays to improve your home’s efficiency. CUB put together a home-improvement shopping list for better energy efficiency on any budget. The prices listed below are estimates based on a CUB review of energy efficiency items on home improvement store websites. (Also, ComEd customers, check out the utility’s Marketplace.) Remember, when shopping for products, look for the Energy Star label, signifying high efficiency. For Lower Budgets: Under $25 At Home Energy Assessment (Free)- Before heading to the store, find out if you can get some of these items for free. Call your electric utility to ask about a free home energy assessment. During an assessment, an energy advisor will walk through your home to suggest improvements and install money-saving products, such as LEDs and efficient showerheads. Learn more about: ComEd’s Home Energy Assessment program Ameren’s program (This free service is for customers who meet income requirements.) LED Light Bulbs ($7) – switch out your incandescent light bulbs for LEDs, which last 10-25 times longer and can save you $30-80 over their lifetime. They add light without putting out heat like traditional bulbs, so you won’t need to worry about the lights working against your AC. In Illinois, you can get discounted bulbs, thanks to energy efficiency programs that CUB supported. Weatherstripping ($10) – Help seal small cracks around windows and doors with weather stripping. (Tips here.) Expanding Spray Foam ($5) is a great alternative for hidden areas, such as the garage, basement and attic. Faucet Aerator ($5) – This doesn’t deal with electricity but it’s still a money-saver. Use an aerator to add air and water pressure to your faucets without increasing the amount of water put out. A win-win – conserving water without sacrificing comfort. For Moderate Budgets: Over $25 Blinds or curtains ($25+) – Adding blinds, curtains, and drapery can help block out sunlight, which can reduce heat gains by 33%. Close your curtains or blinds while away from home to help keep your house cooler. Smart Power Strip ($30+) – Smart power strips are a great way to cut out vampire energy drains in your home by turning off power where it isn’t needed. One such smart power strip from Energizer offers an app to create custom schedules based on your daily routine and is voice control compatible with Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. Air Filters ($30) – If you have Central Air, change and clean your filters about every 90 days (or about every 30-60 days for pet owners) to help your HVAC system work more efficiently. If you have a room air conditioner, it’s recommended that you dust and wash the filter every month to keep it in top shape. Low-Flow Shower Head ($25+) – Much like a faucet aerator, a low-flow showerhead works to improve flow in a showerhead with air to conserve more water. Check for the WaterSense label when purchasing and use the EPA’s online search tool for more […]

The post Preparing for an Expensive Summer: Your Energy Efficiency Shopping List appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

First person: Home energy assessment simple, easy, helpful for CUB lawyer

Sophia — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 18:43:56 +0000

By Eric DeBellis CUB Regulatory Counsel As a lawyer at CUB and a new homeowner, I figured I ought to practice what I preach, so I signed up for a home energy audit through my utility this winter. My experience was simple, easy, and helpful. An energy efficiency technician from Franklin Energy called me 45 minutes before arriving to confirm his ETA. Upon arrival, he handed me a box of weather-stripping for the door, a shower timer (my wife would attest I needed that!), and information on rebates for various efficiency products and services. He and his associate toured each room of the house and noted what equipment he’d need from his truck. He returned a few minutes later and methodically went down his to-do list, which included: Install pipe insulation on the water heater pipes. Check. Replace every non-LED/CFL or burned out bulb. Check. Check the bathroom for shower aerator. Check. (We have one, otherwise he would have installed that free of charge as well.) Check windows and appliances to make sure they are up-to-date and efficient. Check. As a professional energy policy wonk who’s spent the last month playing handyman in our new house, I had a lot of questions regarding insulation and the various projects I have been undertaking to reduce drafts. One tip he provided that I am embarrassed to admit I never knew: In the winter, you can run the fan clockwise so it pulls cold air up, pushing warm air down. I was today years old when I learned that! (And I just found out that CUB even produced a video on this very topic.) The technicians were friendly and professional, and the whole audit only took about an hour. Afterwards, I received the report via email. I highly recommend the home energy assessment. For more information, about this and other programs, visit CUB’s Clean Energy page, and read this WatchBlog article.

The post First person: Home energy assessment simple, easy, helpful for CUB lawyer appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

Save on your summer bills with these thermostat tips

Hannah — Thu, 27 May 2021 15:29:34 +0000

The return of summer heat prompts most homeowners to turn down their thermostat. But before you crank the AC, learning to set your thermostat effectively can be a game changer for you and your utility bills. In the summer, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78°F when you’re at home. At night or when you’re away, bump it up a few degrees. Turning up your thermostat by 7° to 10°F from its normal setting for 8 hours a day can save you about 10 percent a year on heating and cooling, according to the Energy Department. It’s certainly tempting on a hot day, but setting your thermostat to a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner will not cool your home faster. In fact, the excessive cooling could result in a bigger bill. Instead, you can manage your home’s temperature more effectively with a programmable or smart thermostat. With the ability to schedule temperature adjustments, you can avoid the discomfort of returning to a warm home and having to wait for the AC to kick in. Schedule your thermostat to return to a more comfortable temperature just before you wake up or return home. You can learn more about smart thermostats by reading CUB’s fact sheet. ComEd and Ameren customers can enjoy a rebate of $100 on a smart thermostat. Also, consider these tips for staying cool in the summer: Use ceiling fans. In the summer, run the fan counterclockwise. Make sure to turn the fan off when you leave the room. Swap your long pants and shirt for short sleeves and shorts. Drink a cool beverage. In fact, try to drink about four to eight glasses of fluids a day. Remember, drinking too much alcohol promotes dehydration. Avoid heat-producing tasks — baking or laundry, for example — until the night or early morning, when it’s cooler. Making meals in the microwave or grilling out prevents the kitchen and the rest of your house from heating up. Turn off and unplug appliances that can heat up your home (TV, computers, laptops, lights). For more tips, read our WatchBlog and order free copies of CUB’s newly updated Guide to Home Savings and Guide to Going Green.

The post Save on your summer bills with these thermostat tips appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

Utility Diaries: A Month of Bills in Urbana, Illinois

Hannah — Tue, 11 May 2021 13:55:47 +0000

In Utility Diaries, we look at what different households across Illinois pay in a month for utility expenses. Today’s household consists of two people in a rented house in Urbana. Housing Background Location: Urbana, IL Household Size: 2 people Housing Type: House Rent or Own: Rent Square Footage: 1,215 Year Built: 1954 Energy Usage Heating: Gas forced-air furnace Cooling: Central air Average Monthly Gas Usage: 65 therms Highest Gas Month: February, 194 therms Average Monthly Electric Usage: 361 kilowatt-hours Highest Electric Month: August, 591 kilowatt-hours Water Usage Average Monthly Water Usage: 4,000 gallons Highest Water Month: July, 4,500 gallons Telecom Plans Internet Speed: 200 Mbps Cellphone Plan: Unlimited calls, text, and data (1 line) Utility Companies and Charges Last Month: Gas: Ameren Illinois, $61.81 Electric: Ameren Illinois, $34.35 Water: Illinois American, $52.44 Sewer: Urbana & Champaign Sanitary District (paid by landlord) Internet: Xfinity by Comcast, $50 Cell Phone: Verizon, $42 Garbage: Mel’s Disposal, $18 Recycling: U-CYCLE (free for Urbana residents) Last Month’s Total: $216.60 Do you have an alternative electric or gas supplier? We do not. The City of Urbana has a municipal aggregation contract for residential electricity supply with Homefield Energy that expires in January 2023, but we opted out of the program. Instead, we are signed up for Ameren’s Power Smart Pricing program, where we pay the real-time hourly rate for electricity. Even counting the monthly program fee of $2.25, over the last 12 months, we have saved $9.74. Have you participated in any programs to save on your bills? In addition to Ameren’s Power Smart Pricing program, we are enrolled in Ameren’s Peak Time Rewards program. Every summer, we are notified on days where Ameren expects high electricity use, and if we lower our usage that day, we get automatic credits on our bill. While we do not qualify for Ameren’s Income Qualified energy efficiency program, we were able to get a “free”* smart thermostat from Ameren, as well as discounted LED lightbulbs. *We didn’t pay anything for the thermostat, but like all Ameren customers, we pay into the energy efficiency programs through a tax on our monthly bill. What do you do to save energy and water at home? We use LEDs and faucet aerators on the bathroom and kitchen sinks. We also unplug nonessential appliances (not the fridge) when we’re not using them and wash clothes on the cold setting. In the winter, we keep the temperature around 66 degrees, and in the summer, 78 degrees. We’ve thought about putting a plastic bottle with rocks in it in the toilet water tank to retrofit our toilets into low-flow toilets but haven’t done that yet. Because we rent, we aren’t in control of the efficiency of our furnace, AC and refrigerator/freezer. Our home is older, very drafty and could use better insulation, but that’s out of our control. We have patched up some cracks in the baseboards with caulk as DIY air sealing. What are the details of your telecom plans? If you have internet service, do you own your modem and router? If you have cellphone service, do you own your phone? We are on […]

The post Utility Diaries: A Month of Bills in Urbana, Illinois appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.