Energy conservation is something that you can put into practice right now. Here are some you can get started with today.
- Turn your refridgerator down. Refridgerators account for as much as 13.7% of the total household energy use. To increase your energy savings set the fridge to 37 degrees Fahrenheit and your freezer to 3 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Use energy-efficient light bulbs. Install CFL or LED bulbs to use 25-35% less energy.
- Clean or replace air filters as recommended. The AC and heater are the biggest energy users in most homes. These appliances have to work even harder with dirty filters. Pro-tip: Write the date of installation on the filter to help you remember when it needs to be replaced.
- Run loads at offpeak hours. Run your dishwasher before you say goodnight or run your washing machine if you pop home for lunch. Running these appliances at off-peak hours is not as costly on your wallet. Run them when they are full to maximize the savings, as you’ll be saving on power as well as your wallet.
- Use smart power strips. Even when they are not being used, household electronics still draw power from outlets. Smart power strips, sold at Amazon or BestBuy shut down appliances that have gone into standby mode. This can cut down on power drain and increase power savings.
- Air-dry dishes and clothes. Instead of your dishwasher’s drying feature, consider letting them air-dry. You’ll save energy and money. Most newer washers have this in a button also. Push that button and go. If it’s a lovely sunny day, why not hang your clothes out to dry instead of using a clothes dryer?
- Bake with glass or ceramic pans. You’ll be able to set your oven to 25 degrees less than the recipe suggests, and keeping your home cooler to boot. You can buy glass or ceramic cake pans on Amazon or Wal-Mart.
- Cook using the right sized burner. Conserve energy using your stove’s smaller burners for small pots and large burners for large pots.
- Cut down on air leaks in your home. Stop paying to heat the neighborhood in winter and cool the neighborhood in summer. Check your windows and doors for cracks and gaps, and seal them with weather stripping or caulk.
- Keep your house a little hotter in the summer and a little cooler in the winter. Opt for wearing lighter clothes in the summer and a few extra layers in the winter in exchange for those few degrees’ change in temperature. A good rule of thumb is to set the thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter and 78 in the summer.