Saving energy doesn’t have to be complicated. With just a few simple changes, you can make your home more efficient and lower your monthly bills. The Village has gathered practical tips, local resources, and easy ways for you to use less energy and water — without sacrificing comfort. Every small step adds up to savings for you and a more sustainable future for our community.
Focus on Energy
Focus on Energy provides a multitude of resources to help manage your home or business, offers rebates on upgrades and products, and provides helpful information on becoming more efficient. You can follow their Home Maintenance and Energy Guide to start on your path to a more efficient home!
The Village of Argyle is proud to partner with Focus on Energy, a statewide program that helps homeowners, renters, and businesses improve energy efficiency and save money. More information about the program is available here.
Focus on Energy not only provides savings, they also provide FREE energy and water saving products every year for residents! You can check out the Focus on Energy Marketplace to order your free energy saving products like LED lightbulbs, pipe insulation, weatherstripping, low-flow showerheads, and more! Each household can claim one free pack per year!
Financial Assistance Programs
DEHCR
The Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Division of Energy Services Energy, Housing and Community Resources provides services to qualified residential households with energy assistance and weatherization needs. You can apply for energy assistance on their website or by calling 1-866-HEATWIS (1-866-432-8947).
The income guidelines for Energy Assistance are updated every year, and you can re-apply at any time if your situation changes.
Through their Home Energy Assistance Program, they provide support for home heating assistance, electric assistance for non-heating energy, crisis assistance for energy emergencies, furnace assistance for repair or replacement of non-operating heating equipment, and weatherization assistance.
SWCAP
Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program’s Weatherization Assistance services help homeowners, landlords, and renters to reduce home heating bills, save energy, and make your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
Energy and Water Saving Tips
Looking to cut down on your electric bill? Here are some tips to help you cut down on your electric usage without reducing your comfort!
- In addition to using 90% less energy, EnergyStar LEDs can last up to 10 times longer than standard bulbs. You can save around $6 per lightbulb per year.
- You can use daylight to light and help warm your house. Open curtains during the day to let light in, and close them in the afternoon to help insulate.
- Use power-management settings on computer and monitors to use 70% less electricity when you step away from the computer.
- Many electronics draw a small amount of power even when switched off, known as a phantom load. Plug these appliances into one power strip and turn it off when not in use. Examples: TVs, kitchen appliances, chargers
- Hot water accounts for 90% of your washer’s energy. Use cold water when possible, wash in full loads, and adjust the water level on smaller loads. Hang clothes to dry to save on drying.
- Running only when full and selecting the no-heat option can save up to 20%. You can save more by not pre-rinsing dishes, which uses around 20 gallons of water.
- Cooking dishes in a microwave, slow cooker, air fryer, or toaster oven uses as much as 75% less energy than a conventional oven.
- Setting your thermostat to a comfortable temperature and programming it to lower 8 degrees while you are away from home and overnight can save up to $180 annually.
- Sealing leaks with weatherstripping to reduce drafts and help insulate. You can use vinyl, metal, felt, foam, and even use gaskets on electric outlets and peelable caulk on windows.
- For most homeowners, storage-type water heaters set above 120F are using more energy without providing benefits. Setting to 120F can save $36-61 a year.
- Switching to a low-flow showerhead can save 15,000 gallons of water a year, but it can also lower your water heater electric usage saving $145-150 a year in water heating costs.
- Switch out your old holiday lights with LED light strings. They may cost more initially, but will use a fraction of the energy and will last up to 20 years!
Looking to lower your water usage? Here are some tips to help you cut down your water bill without reducing your comfort!
- You can save 5-10 gallons of water for every shower you take instead of opting for a bath that is filled half-way.
- Turn off the tap when shaving or brushing teeth – running the water for 2 minutes uses around 4 gallons of water.
- Keep a pitcher of cold water in the fridge to avoid running the water until it gets cold to drink.
- Energy-Star appliances use around 3-4 gallons of water vs washing by hand, which can use up to 27 gallons of water! Make sure your dishwasher is fully loaded each time!
- Leaks account for up to 10,000 gallons of water usage per year! Find out how to check for leaks of all kinds with the EPA: Fix a Leak Week
- Installing high-efficiency faucet aerators and shower heads can save gallons each use. You can get free products every year to help, see below: Focus on Energy
- Use a broom and dustpan to clean driveways and sidewalks instead of hosing them down. Fill a bucket to use to clean outside instead of spraying with the hose.
- Older toilets can use around 3.5 gallons per flush, whereas high-efficiency toilets use around 1.28 gallons per flush or less! The average family can save $170 a year!
- Water your plants in the morning or afternoon to avoid any water evaporating during the hottest parts of the day.
- Wash full loads of laundry with the correct cycle for soil and select the appropriate water level to the load size. Wash on cold to help with energy costs.
