As co-op consumer-members spend more time at home, they may see a surge in home energy use. Try these tips to help control your energy bill:

1Program your thermostat to maximize energy savings.
Setting your thermostat one degree lower when heating or one degree higher when cooling can reduce energy use by up to 5 percent.

2Do full loads of laundry and wash with cold water.
Using warm water instead of hot can cut a load’s energy use in half and using cold water will save even more.

3Air dry dishes.
This step can cut your dishwasher’s energy use by up to 50 percent.

4Substitute LEDs for conventional light bulbs.
Lighting can amount to up to 12 percent of monthly energy use. LED bulbs can cut lighting costs by 75 percent.

5Unplug appliances and electronics when not in use.
Small appliances and electronics use energy even when not in use. When powered on, game consoles, televisions and similar electronics are responsible for up to 12 percent of energy use.