Posts Tagged energy saving

Consumer Reports recently listed 4 strategies to lower your energy bill by $1,500.  You can read the original article by following this link: Cut Your Energy Bills.

Heating & Cooling - $550 savings

• Eliminate leaks
• Check insulation levels
• Correct ductwork
• Lock double-hung windows to prevent air from escaping
• Open curtains on south-facing windows during the day
• Install a programmable thermostat

We’ve followed the above suggestions.  We also close the blinds during the summer to cut down on air conditioner use.  One of my friends installed a whole-house fan to eliminate his AC use.

Water Consumption - $400 savings

• Stop drips
• Lower the water heater temperature to 120°
• Insulate hot water pipes
• Insulate your water heater
• Don’t pre-rinse dishes
• Install aerators to faucets

You can add “take shorter showers” to save water.  Also, when you run the tub faucet to warm the water, save the cold water for flushing or watering plants instead of letting it run down the drain.

Recycling - $250 savings

• Use RecycleBank on a pay-as-you-go basis
• Return your deposit bottles
• Donate unwanted items for a tax break
• Start a compost bin
• Buy reusable grocery bags

You can usually get credit for your recycled printer ink cartridges.  Staples was offering $3 back per ink cartridge when you buy a new cartridge.

Electricity Use - $300 savings

• Use power strips to shut off “vampire” appliances
• Set your computer to hibernate
• Turn off lights when leaving a room
• Change to CFL bulbs
• Replace old appliances with more energy-efficient models

You could also dine by candlelight if you’re the romantic type.  We have our lights set on timers to reduce energy consumption.  You could use this to see how much juice your appliances are using:

Kill-A-Watt Electricity Usage Monitor

What steps have you taken to cut your energy bill?

• Are Your Savings on Track for Retirement? Photo by aussiegall A Business Week article by Amy Feldman helps you evaluate your retirement savings.  You can read the original article by clicking here: Sizing Up Your Nest Egg The article offers data points for your retirement savings, in order for you to gauge if you're on the......
• Pay Off Debt or Save Money? Photo by db*photography A recent Yahoo! Finance article weighed the benefits of paying off debt versus putting your money into savings.  You can read the original article by clicking on the following link: Should You Pay Debt Before Saving? Clearly, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question.  The......
• A Game of Inches Photo by Mulad "Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen pounds and six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery." - Mr. Micawber, from David Copperfield There is a narrow margin between victory and defeat; between joy and misery; between savings......

• 6 Ways to Keep Your Basement Dry A leaky basement is a nightmare. Mold and mildew build up and can be hazardous to your health. In addition, many of us store things in the basement and we don't want to risk having them ruined. There are a few techniques that you can use to make sure that......
• 10 Tips to Save Money Around the Home Today's guest post if from is from Thrifty Homeowner. The blog documents the journey of a novice do-it-yourselfer who is always on the lookout for ways to save and to increase his home's efficiency. As the self-proclaimed Thrifty Homeowner, I'm always on the lookout for ways to save money when......
• 35 Low-Cost Ways To Green Your Lifestyle. And away we go! 1. Line dry your clothes. Dryers don't even come with an "Energy Star" rating - that's how bad they are in terms of energy consumption. Line or rack drying your clothes saves a ton of energy and thus CO2 from going into the environment. Cost: $20......