Ten Ways To Save Energy And Money
Keep cool and rack up the savings. The best ways to save energy dollars are the ones that take no money and require little or no effort. Here are ten simple things you can do to start saving money and the planet.
1. Wash clothes in cold water. About 90% of laundry energy use is spent heating the water for the load. You can save substantially by washing and rinsing at cooler temperatures. Warm water helps the suds to get at the dirt, but cold-water detergents will also work effectively.
2. Clotheslines really work. Spare the energy a dryer would use and get more useful life out of your clothes. – dryer lint is nothing but your wardrobe wearing out.
3. Put your PC to sleep. Turn off your computer and monitor or keep them in sleep mode rather than leaving them on around the clock.
4. Turn up the thermostat in the summer. For every degree you raise the thermostat setting, you can expect to cut your cooling costs by at least 3%.
5. Lower the shades and raise the windows. Not at the same time, of course, but your windows and shades are great tools to help moderate temperatures in your home. At night, if the forecast calls for cooler temperatures, give the AC a rest. Open windows and use window fans.
6. Your air conditioner will run more efficiently if you clean or replace its’ filter every other week during heaviest use. Keep leaves and other debris away from the central air’s exterior condenser, and keep the condenser coils clean.
7. Set the hot water heater at 120° F (or the “low” setting), which is hot enough for most needs. To help conserve the water’s heat on its way to the faucets, insulate the plumbing with pipe sleeves.
8. Try do-it-yourself low-E windows. Consider applying a self-adhesive film on the glass. It’s a lot cheaper than replacing windows and better-quality films are quite durable.
9. Use a programmable thermostat. Roughly half of the typical home’s energy bill goes for heating and cooling. The easiest way to save is to use programmable thermostats.
10. Switch to compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). A single bulb can save from $25 to $45 over its life. Manufacturers claim that CFLs last between 5 and 13 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs.
Even if you do nothing more than these 10 things, you will have made a difference in your budget and a difference in the world.
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