Free ways to save energy and money
- Image by litlnemo via Flickr
- Turn off everything not in use: lights, TVs, computers, etc.
- Check the furnace or air conditioner (AC) filter each month, and clean or replace it as needed. Dirty filters block air flow through your heating and cooling systems, increasing your energy bill and shortening the equipment’s life.
- During hot months, keep window coverings closed on the south, east, and west windows. In winter, let the sun in.
- Glass fireplace doors help stop heat from being lost up the chimney. Also, close the fireplace damper when not in use.
- Activate “sleep” features on computers and office equipment that power down when not in use for a while. Turn off equipment during longer periods of non-use to cut energy costs and improve longevity.
- When cooking, keep the lids on pots. Better yet, use a microwave oven instead.
- Dress appropriately for the weather, and set your thermostat to the lowest possible comfortable setting. On winter nights, put an extra blanket on the bed and turn down your thermostat more.
- In summer, use fans whenever possible instead of AC, and ventilate at night this way when practical. Using fans to supplement AC allows you to raise the thermostat temperature, using less energy. Fans cost less to use than AC.
- About 15 percent of an average home energy bill goes to heating water. To save hot water, take five-minute showers instead of baths. Do only full loads when using the clothes washer or dishwasher.
- Switch to cold water washing of laundry in top loading in top-loading, energy-inefficient washing machines to save energy and up to $63 a year—detergents formulated for cold water get clothes just as clean.
- Lower the temperature on your water heater. It should be set at “warm,” so that a thermometer held under running water reads no more than 130 degrees.
- Only heat or cool the rooms you need—close vents and doors of unused rooms.
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Green Living Tips
Buy rechargeable batteries
Even though it will take a good investment to buy these you will find yourself gaining it back in no time.
Even though it will take a good investment to buy these you will find yourself gaining it back in no time.
Green Living Tips
Give things away
Take things that you are not going to wear or use and give it to a charity or someone who will use it.
Take things that you are not going to wear or use and give it to a charity or someone who will use it.
