How to Conserve Power

Energy conservation is no longer solely the concern of hippie environmentalists. With energy prices on the rise and natural resources dwindling, it's become more important than ever to conserve power.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Insulation
• Energy-efficient windows
• Energy-efficient office equipment
• Motion detector or timer for lights

Conserve Power at Home

1. Adjust your refrigerator's thermostat to save power. Conservation experts suggest that the ideal refrigerator temperature is between 38 and 42 degrees F. Set an attached freezer's thermostat no lower than 0 degrees F.
2. Reduce the energy consumption of your heating and air conditioning unit. Set the thermostat to 78 degrees F during summer months and 68 degrees F during winter. Heating and air conditioning systems are among the costliest uses of electricity in the average household.
3. Insulate your home to prevent the loss of valuable heat and air. Fill empty spaces in walls, floors and attics with fiberglass or cellulose fiber insulation. Take steps to prevent drafts and air leaks around windows and within your home's internal air duct system.
4. Replace poorly insulated windows with new, energy-efficient ones. Windows displaying the government's Energy Star logo use doubled panes of glass, special UV coatings and durable construction materials to better insulate your home. To get the best insulation results, hire a pro to help install new windows.

Conserve Power at the Office

5. Organize an office carpool. An unnecessary amount of gas and oil is wasted every time an employee commutes to work alone, and you can conserve our planet's precious natural resources simply by sharing rides with your fellow employees.
6. Configure office computers to enter hibernation mode when not in use. While most electronic equipment should be turned off to conserve power, computers waste more energy by rebooting than they do in standby mode.
7. Unplug office equipment when not in use to prevent unintentional power drains. Invest in new energy-efficient office equipment like fax machines, printers and copiers. Look for equipment approved by the government's Energy Star program.
8. Turn off lights in rooms that aren't in constant use. Bathrooms, copy rooms and office kitchens are only occupied sporadically throughout the day. Consider installing motion detectors or timers to turn the lights off when rooms aren't in use.

Tips & Warnings

• By making home improvements to conserve power, you'll stand to save a lot of money. Not only will you reduce expenses on your energy bills, but you may also qualify for special tax incentives from the government.