Plug in and save

Save money with energy saving devices. Save wear & tear on your vehicle's engine. Save Interior Alaska's air quality that becomes polluted by cold vehicle exhaust. GVEA and the Fairbanks North Star Borough recommend plugging in at 20° above zero.

Vehicle plug-in $$ saving devices

TIMER - turns the electricity to your vehicle on and off at the times you choose.

SWITCHED OUTLET - wired to your headbolt outlet, it's a light switch inside your home that allows you to control the electricity to your vehicle without going outside.

Calculate the cost to plug in

Typical engine preheating wattages

Midsize vehicle........600-1000 watts
Large car or truck...1000-1500 watts

Use this formula to compute the cost to plug in your vehicle:
(Total watts / 1000) X hours used X 17¢ = Cost

Based on 600 to 1500 watts, the cost range per hour to plug in is 10¢ to 26¢. That's $24 - $62 a month if you plug in overnight.

A well-maintained vehicle only needs 2-3 hours of heating to start; 4-5 hours for diesels. Depending on your vehicle and heater type, that can be a significant savings - ranging from $16 to $36 a month.

Use one of the money saving devices listed on the reverse side to make plugging in more economical. For more info, contact our Energy Efficiency Specialist at 452-1151.

Additional Energy Savings Tips

Tip #1:

Schedule your Home$ense electrical energy efficiency audit. Receive valuable education and energy saving devices. Visit our Home$ense web page to learn more and to sign up for your audit.

Tip #2

Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps. With CFL's using only one quarter of the energy and lasting 10 times longer, you can anticipate saving $100 for each 100-watt incandescent bulb you replace.

Tip #3

Place foam insulators behind exterior wall outlets and switch plates to reduce drafts from outside. Pick up free insulators at any GVEA office.

Tip #4

Invest in a timer if you plug in vehicles. Instead of leaving your vehicle plugged in overnight, set the timer to preheat your vehicle just 2-3 hours before you plan to drive. Depending on the size of your vehicle, a timer could save you $10 - $20 per month. That's a significant savings over our long winters.

tip #5

Unplug appliances when you're traveling. Appliances you leave plugged in don't take a break just because you're gone.

Any appliance or device with an internal clock continues to use power continuously. Better yet, consider unplugging phantom appliances, if you can.

Tip #6

Replace aging appliances. New models are being built to be much more energy efficient. Look for the ENERGY STAR label. Since these appliances use less energy, they help you reduce your electrical usage.