Even when you’re away from home or on vacation, your home still uses electricity. If you are leaving for more than a few days, here are some things you can do to keep your energy use down:

• Lower your thermostat to between 50 and 60°F. If you turn it lower than 50°F you run the risk of frozen pipes in cold weather.
• Turn off your water heater if you’ll be away for more than three days. Turn an electric water heater off at the circuit-breaker panel, or set a gas heater to "pilot" or "low." You’ll need a few hours to heat the tank when you return.
• Unplug your waterbed heater, or lower the thermostat to 70°F when away from home for seven days or more.
• Unplug electrical equipment such as TVs, DVD players and computers because they can draw power even when not in use. When plugged in, these appliances should be hooked up to surge protectors.