Posts Tagged Kill A Watt

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?

• 5 Ways to Grow Your Shrinking Nest Egg mary_thompson Your 401k is looking more like a 201k.  A pension is a relic from your parents' time.  Pretty soon, you may not even have a job to complain about.  Maybe your dreams of early retirement will have to remain only dreams.  SmartMoney recently had an article listing 5......
• Corporate Barbarian Links: Graduation Party Edition bionicteaching We threw a graduation party for my son, two weeks prior to his real graduation.  We did it early because we wanted our relatives to attend, and didn't want to interfere with everyone's summer vacation plans.  It was great to see family and friends that I usually only......
• Save Big Bucks by Brown-Bagging It AMagill I started brown bagging my lunch several years ago, and can reveal that I've saved almost $5,000! My calculations follow. We employ a 9/80 work week, which means that we work nine days out of ten over a two week period. We get every other Friday off. Taking......

• Energy Efficient Micro Appliances. There are a number of reasons why someone would want a smaller appliances or even dual usage for one purchased item.  Smaller living space, reduced number of steps needed to get things done, or simply to save money - multifunctional appliances definitely have their benefits.  These nifty duos have seen a......
• How to Fix an Energy-Inefficient House [/caption]With winter here - as well as the heating bills - it's important to understand how a home uses its energy. In particular, it helps to understand how your home uses its energy. Essentially, there are two different ways: efficiently and inefficiently. If your home isn't up to snuff in......
• 20 Tips to Cut Down On Electricity in Your Home And Save Some Money If you are like most families, you are concerned with how to reduce your electricity expenses. Here are 20 sure fire ways to lower your electricity bill: 1. Hang your clothes up to dry, either indoors or out. 2. Cool your home with fans and open windows in the summer.......