We all would like to save energy for the simple reason that it’s better for the environment to do so.  Saving energy, as well as money are important and can work together for the benefit of your household and the environment.   Here are a few tips for how to do it with little effort and expense. 

LIMIT WATER USE

Considering how precious a resource fresh clean water is, a dripping faucet can waste several gallons of water in a 24 hour period of time.  The fix is usually a cheap gasket and a few minutes of labor and well worth the effort.  Until repaired, catch the drips in a bucket and use for watering plants or filling a pet’s water bowl.

When doing laundry, wait until you have a full load to run the washing machine.  One full load of laundry uses less water than two or three partial loads, even when water levels are adjustable.  Hang laundry to dry as much as possible and use the dryer on the air fluff setting to soften or fluff up the laundry.

LIGHTING

Consider the lighting in your home.  Some bulbs burn very hot using more electricity and adding heat to your house.  While a little extra heat in winter may not be a bad thing, too much extra heat in summertime, can cause discomfort.  When possible, use high energy bulbs that burn cool or choose LED lighting which can be very pleasing, last for years and uses very little electricity.  You’ll save energy as well as time continually replacing bulbs.

HEATING & COOLING

When heating and cooling the home, we know to set the thermostat as high as possible in summer and as low as possible in winter.  Break out the ice packs in summer and sweaters in the winter for comfort without waste of electricity.

Adjust ceiling fans.  For summer, you want a counter clockwise rotation for the wind chill effect.  In winter, you want a low clockwise setting to push naturally rising warm air toward back toward the floor.

COOKING

In warm or hot months, keep stovetop and oven cooking to a minimum.  Nothing heats up a kitchen quicker than a hot oven.  Plan quick fix meals and meals that require less oven time or no oven time at all, or use a crock pot.  Do your roasting and baking as much as possible in the winter months as a hot oven then will only help the comfort level of your home.

APPLIANCES

Do a safety check on all your appliances.  Check for frayed wiring, outlet safety, dust buildup and repair any problems.  Cleaning the backs of refrigerators or the exhaust of a dryer helps those appliances run efficiently and should be done annually.  Turn off appliances that aren’t in use such as desktop computers, TVs and video game systems.  Appliances that are on but not necessarily in use still pull electricity and add unnecessary cost to your electric bill.

We all want a safe and clean earth with an ample supply of resources.  The tips mentioned will save money and energy making it a good situation for both your household and the environment.

About the Author:Rick Clark is the owner of Electricians Today and an expert in his industry. He is continuously helping households and businesses develop plans for a reduction in energy consumption and improving energy efficiency.