Conservation Program
The least costly way to save energy is through conservation. Willmar Municipal Utilities offers a variety of Residential and Business low cost/no cost energy saving tips to help everyone conserve energy.
Click on the headings below to show/hide information.
Load Share Program
Residential Saving Tips
Appliances and Lighting
- When purchasing appliances, look for the ENERGY STAR® label*
- Keep your refrigerator between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit and freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit
- Wash full loads; clothes washers and dishwashers are most efficient when operated with full loads
- Wash clothes in cold water
- Unplug rarely used appliances such as a TV located in the spare bedroom
- Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs)*
- Use motion sensors, time clocks, or photo cells to control security lighting
Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation
- Install programmable thermostat*
- Limit heating to 68 degrees and cooling to 78 degrees
- Reduce heating temperature at night and during unoccupied hours
- Increase cooling temperature or shut off during unoccupied hours
- Sign up for your utility’s load management program
- Change or clean filter regularly
- Seal leaky ducts with silicone caulk or foil tape
- Keep fin-coils or registers free of dust and remove obstructions
- Open shades during heating season and close during cooling season
- Clean and tune air conditioner, furnace, and/or boiler
Seal Attic Bypasses
-Attic bypasses are pathways where indoor air moves into the attic.
- Close fireplace damper tightly
- Insulate, weatherstrip, and caulk the attic hatch
- Install chimney collar and apply high temperature sealant
- Apply foam sealant to pipe and wire penetrations
- Block unsealed ceiling soffit, floor joist, and wall cavities with rigid insulation
- Install air-tight recess light fixtures
- Install gaskets behind switch and wall plates
Water
- Reduce water temperature below 120 degrees
- Repair leaky faucets
- Install low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators
- Install pipe insulation
- Flush water heater
- Clean and tune burner assembly on water heater
Weatherize Foundation
- Caulk foundation cracks, penetrations, and sill plate
- Insulate rim joist
Weatherize Windows and Doors
- Install or repair weatherstripping and doorsweeps
- Repair latches and locks; block window pulley holes
- Seal air leaks and drafts around windows, doors, wiring holes, recessed lights, plumbing vents, attic hatch, etc.
- Install plastic window kits
Business Saving Tips
Appliances and Lighting
Buy energy efficient office appliances and equipment. Refrigerators, dehumidifiers, copiers, computers, monitors, etc. are available in energy efficient models. Visit the ENERGY STAR® web site at www.energystar.gov for more information.*
- Keep your refrigerator between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit and freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit
- Replace fluorescent lights with LEDs
- Replace older T-12 fluorescent lamps and ballasts with more efficient T-8 models or LEDs*
- Use motion sensors, time clocks, or photo cells to control security lighting*
- Retrofit exit signs to energy-saving light emitting diode (LED) signs*
- Unplug rarely used appliances and turn off unnecessary lights
Commercial Food Service
- Buy ENERGY STAR® rated or other energy efficient food service equipment*
- Install Door Miser® anti-sweat control systems on refrigerated glass display cases*
- Install VendingMiser® systems on vending machines*
Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation
- Install a programmable thermostat
- Limit heating to 68 degrees and cooling to 78 degrees
- Reduce heating temperature at night and during unoccupied hours
- Increase cooling temperature or shut off during unoccupied hours
- Sign up for your utility’s load management program
- Keep regular maintenance on HVAC equipment including cleaning and replacing air filters, cleaning condenser coils, and evaluating service needs in advance.
- Seal leaky ducts with silicone caulk or foil tape
- Keep fin-coils or registers free of dust and remove obstructions
- Open shades during heating season and close during cooling season
- Clean and tune air conditioner, furnace, and/or boilerWeatherize Windows and Doors
Weather Stripping
- Install or repair weatherstripping and doorsweeps
- Repair latches and locks; block window pulley holes
- Seal air leaks and drafts around windows, doors, wiring holes, recessed lights, plumbing vents, attic hatch, etc.
- Install plastic window kits
- Apply caulking
Free Residential Fluorescent Lamp Recycling
WMU residential customers can recycle their fluorescent lamps and light bulbs for free! Bring them to the Kandiyohi County Household Hazardous Waste office at 1400 22nd St SW in Willmar with a copy of your WMU billing statement (or pull it up on your SmartHub app) for free recycling. Please limit bulbs to 10 per visit.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Willmar has two electric charging stations for your electric vehicle! One is at Mills Nissan dealership on S Hwy 71 and the other is at Goodwill on the east side of the building (by the main entrance).
Check out http://www.mncharging.org/ to see where else you can charge on the go in Minnesota!
Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs)
Visit the CERTs page for information about resources for clean energy projects.
Minnesota RETAP
The Minnesota Retiree Environmental Technical Assistance Program (RETAP) employs skilled, retired professionals to provide facility assessments and community sustainability assistance to small businesses, institutions, and communities in Minnesota.