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Step 1
Check your home's furnace ducts in each room. Make sure that there is nothing obstructing the vents such as long drapes or furniture. If something is blocking the air flow, it will take much more energy to heat or cool the home to temperature.
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Step 2
Replace your incandescent light bulbs with more energy efficient fluorescent bulbs. While you may initially have to pay out more for these bulbs, they drastically reduce your energy consumption (up to 75 percent) and they last much longer than regular bulbs.
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Step 3
Consider installing timers in your bathrooms. Many people walk away from the shower leaving the exhaust fan running for hours at a time. By installing a timer, the fan and/or lights will automatically turn off. This is highly recommended if you have a heat lamp in the bathroom.
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Step 4
Unplug your charging units when you are not using them. Studies show that when a cell phone charger is plugged in to the outlet, it continues to draw electricity even if the phone is not connected to it.
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Step 5
Check your windows for drafts. Clean and recaulk around the windows when you notice the old caulk beginning to wear.
You can also check receptacles located on the home's exterior walls. If you feel a slight draft coming through the outlet, you can purchase rubber weatherproofing seals to be installed between the wall and the outlet plate to seal it more effectively. -
Step 6
Make it a habit to routinely clean under your refrigerator, plus the coils on the backside. Accumulating dust will cause the compressor to work overtime!
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Step 7
If your air conditioning or furnace is over three years old, it should be inspected at the start of the heating or cooling season for efficiency.
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Step 8
Make sure the weatherstripping around your front door, as well as all of your exterior doors, is in good shape. If not, replace it.
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Step 9
You can save nearly $300 per year if you replace your current thermostat with a digital programmable thermostat (see link below). This will enable you to stop the air conditioning from turning on while you are at work or when nobody is home.
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Step 10
Remember, for every degree you lower your temperature in winter, or raise it in the summer, you will save two to three percent in your energy costs. Just changing the way you dress and altering the temperature a little can add up to big savings!
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Step 11
Turn off the "heated dry" cycle on your dishwasher and allow them to air dry. Not only will it reduce your energy use, but in the summer it will also help to keep your home cooler.
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Step 12
Help save your electricity bill in the summer by installing ceiling fans and cutting down on your air conditioning use.
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Step 13
When it comes time to replace any of your appliances, be sure to choose a replacement that is energy efficient. You can check the efficiency of the appliances by reading the EnergyGuide label on the front of the appliance (see link below).
Comments
baconsrebellion said
on 9/4/2009 I also saw ways to build magnetic generators from a couple different companies. Apparently corporations have been suppressing this technology for years. You can check out the article at http://www.squidoo.com/free_electric_energy
cussinsailor said
on 7/7/2009 I didn't really learn anything new from this article, BUT I will add that once you've purchased Compact Fluorescent Bulbs and they go out, yes they do go out, then you will need to dispose of them in an environmentally responsible way. They contain mercury and you must recycle them at an appropriate recycling center. Yes CF Bulbs DO have drawbacks...For more information and safety guidlines, go to:
www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/...light/.../Fact_Sheet_Mercury.pdf
and...
www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling
AbbyNormal said
on 7/6/2009 great tips.
crystal6686 said
on 7/5/2009 thanks for sharing
mzilko said
on 7/5/2009 Thank you for sharing, but where's the link below?