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Home TipsReplace frequently used light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Compact Fluorescents use 75 percent less energy to produce the same amount of light, and last up to 10 times longer Keep The Fridge Door Closed Do not stand in front of an open refrigerator while deciding what you want to eat. Every time you open a refrigerator door the compressor has to run for about 10 minutes to keep the inside cold. Air Dry Your Clothes Line-dry your clothes in the spring and summer instead of using the dryer. Put on a Sweater Instead of turning up the heat in your home, wear more clothes. Filter Your Water Filter your tap water instead of buying bottled water. This will save you money and reduce container waste. Water Your Lawn At Night This helps limit evaporation. Buy Rechargeable Batteries This will save money and waste. Plant a Tree Trees suck up carbon dioxide and make clean air for us to breath. Save electricity: turn off the dishwasher after the wash cycle, open the door slightly, and let the dishes airdry. Do laundry in cold water Take a tepid shower to save on hot water (besides, it's good for your skin) Set your thermostat a bit higher in the summer so your air conditioning doesn't kick on as often A nearly empty freezer will cool more efficiently if you fill jugs or containers with water and fill the freezer to capacity. (I think I have fish fillets from two summers ago helping me out. I don't want to think about a power failure.) Dusting the coils under your refrigerator will allow the condenser to run more efficiently. The same with changing the air filter on your furnace, consider a washable re-usable filter. Programmable thermostats allow you to keep your home cooler or warmer while you are gone. Why warm an empty house? Know your air flow, just because you don't use a room you may not want to shut the vent off to that room because you are causing your unit to work harder to push the air further without the benefit of air return. Even if you clean the lint filter every time you use your dryer. if you use softening sheets your filter can clog without appearing to be. Give your filter the water hold test occasionally. If it holds water scrub it with soap and water until it runs freely through the filter. You'll save your dryer and energy by it not having to work so hard to dry your clothes. Have electrical plugs or light switches on a wall to the outside of your home? If your insulation is less than perfect you can buy inserts cheaply that fit behind the plates and will seal them tightly and not allow cold or heat to travel in that way. How old is your water heater? Built up sediment at the bottom of your heater will cause your unit to work harder to heat the water. Consider flushing the heater to maintain the best efficiency. Lower the temperature of the water until someone screams UNCLE during a shower. Shut off all lights at night or in rooms not in use. For safety you can install a motion detector if need be. If you have a newer computer power down when not using it. Older computers did last longer when not turned on and off a lot. (If this is an urban legend tell me, my puter runs 24/7 except for when it doesn't. LOL) If the sounds of the wind are making howling sounds inside your home consider adhesive backed foam strips to go around the openings and sides of your windows and doors. If you hear it, you're heating it. Cheap rubber sweeps can be applied to the bottom of your doors to stop unwanted drafts as well. OR, get kinky and fill the leg of a pair of panty hose with rice to put down in front of a leaky door to stop leaks. Switch from disposable to reusable products: food and beverage containers, cups, plates, writing pens, razors, diapers, towels, shopping bags, etc. As much as possible, create a tree-free home: Lower your summer air-conditioning bill by planting trees and bushes along the west side of your house. Paint your home a light color if you live in a warm climate and a dark color if you live in a cold climate. Always run full loads of laundry and dishes. Choose the short cycle at low water levels whenever possible. Change outside light fixtures so that light does not shine up into the sky. Buy a reusable coffee filter. Buy reusable containers for storing food. Purchase rechargeable household batteries and a solar battery recharger. If painting your home, purchase water-based paint rather than oil-based paint. Donate your excess paint. Turning your thermostat down by 1% can save as much as 10% on fuel bills. Avoid pump toothpaste - it is overpackaged and includes excess plastic. Use old toothbrushes and other brushes to clean bathroom tile, shoes, etc. Holiday Decorating |
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