Energy Efficient Claremore was created as a resource to provide residents with tips and conservation methods to aid in conserving energy and lowering costs this summer.
Below are a few easy measures to help practice simple energy conservation and reduce electric bills over the summer months:
Install window coverings to prevent heat gain through your windows during the day.
Set your thermostat at a temperature you find comfortable. The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling cost.
Pre-cool your home at 72 degrees overnight and in the morning.
Keep your house warmer than normal when you are away, and lower the thermostat setting when you return home.
Avoid setting your thermostat at a cooler setting than normal when you first turn on your air conditioner.
Turn off ceiling fans when you leave the room. Fans cool people, not rooms, by creating a wind chill effect.
When you shower or take a bath, use the bathroom fan to remove heat and humidity from your home.
Make sure bathroom and kitchen fans are vented to the outside.
Schedule regular maintenance for your cooling equipment.
Avoid placing lamps or TV sets near your room air-conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
Avoid using major appliances during the hottest parts of the day.
Vacuum your air intake vents regularly to remove any dust buildup.
Ensure that furniture and other objects are not blocking the airflow through your registers.
Seal cracks and openings to prevent warm air from leaking into your home.
Add caulk or weatherstripping to seal air leaks around doors and windows.
For more helpful information on how to efficiently cool your home this summer and other energy conservation tips, visit our partners at GRDA.
Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
What is LIHEAP?
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally funded program that provides financial assistance to low-income Oklahoma households each year to help meet the cost of home energy.
Water Conservation
Below are a few helpful tips to help you and your family conserver water this summer, lowering utility costs and aiding in protecting valuable environmental resources.
The average faucet releases 2 gallons of water per minute. Just turning off the tap when brushing your teeth can save up to 8 gallons of water every day.
A small leak can waste hundreds of gallons of water each day, and a running toilet can easily waste 200 gallons of water each day. At one drip per second, a faucet can leak 3,000 gallons of water in a year.
Use your water meter to check for hidden water leaks. Read the house water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.
Every time you flush a small bit of trash, five to seven gallons of water is wasted.
Urban lawn watering is the single largest water demand on most municipal supplies. However, there are many ways to conserve water on the home landscape.
Make sure the irrigation system is operating properly.
Replace broken or missing sprinkler heads.
Make sure the spray heads turn properly.
Adjust heads so that water does not reach streets and driveways.
Group plants with similar water needs together.
Control weeds that compete with vegetables for water.
Set a kitchen timer when watering your lawn or garden, to keep track of the time.
Water between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. to avoid evaporation losses from hot and windy weather conditions.
Collect the water you use for rinsing fruits and vegetables and reuse it to water houseplants and/or shrubs.
Have a family discussion on ways you can work together to reduce water consumption.
Use a broom instead of a hose to sweep your driveway and you can save between 50 and 80 gallons of water.
Direct downspouts or gutters toward shrubs or trees.
Conservation and Environmental Resources
The City of Claremore asks its business and industry partners to join its efforts in preventing stormwater pollution and stay in compliance with laws and local ordinances. To aid in this effort the City has created a Conservation Resources Poral with helpful information for commercial hazardous waste disposal.
These resources include the State issued construction and industry permits for businesses regarding stormwater compliance.
To support these efforts, the City of Claremore also performs business inspections and educates the public on methods to prevent pollution. The Conversation Resource Portal contains examples of inspection forms and best management practice examples used by organizations to prevent pollution for entering the stormwater and sanitary sewer system. We encourage all local businesses to utilized the inspection example sheets to perform regular self-evaluations.
Landscape Information
Recycling and properly disposing of chemicals are not the only ways you can help protect our environment and water supply. Responsible land and lawn care are also important practices to reduce impact on our water quality.
Below are a few easy steps you can implement today.
Eliminate or reduce the use of chemicals on your land.
Put leaves, grass and sticks in a compost pile. As a reminder, it is against local ordinance to blow leaves and grass into the street or storm drain.
Create a rain garden or pollinator garden.
Use native plants and grasses in landscaping to reduce the need for maintenance and water.
Check out the Conservation Resource Portal for more helpful tips.
