Energy-Saving – Small Efforts for Earnings and Environment
You should believe that energy saving is money saving. The government’s expenditure strategy against paying energy bills through the Daylight Saving Time is proof enough. You can also see for yourself. Start with great ways to save on your energy bill. Use electricity less and you earn more from the supposedly high-rise energy bill. In fact you can apply this energy saving – dollar saving to almost all other daily applications.
Starting around the house, you can easily save on energy by observing only a few changes in some of your activities and conventions. Number one is to lower your thermostat by only 2° which is equivalent to a 24 kilowatt hours to your monthly bill. Lowering your home temperature during winter by only 2° won’t be much if your goal is to feel more comfortable and not tropical hot in US and on a December, otherwise you ought to know that you’re wasting precious energy (and money). Also, wait for the heat – it’s perfectly natural that buildings take time to heat or cool down. Don’t adjust the thermostat every so often as this cause even more energy expenditure. The same energy saving tips goes for your water heating system. Men can go as low as 120° and still get the hot shower they want. Remember that for every 10° that you lower your hot water tank, you’ll be energy saving to up to 25 kilowatt hours per month. You might also want to start investing on your energy saving habits early on and without much physical efforts.
Build or upgrade your attic into an R-21 or R-30 resistance insulation and use caulking for cracks and weather stripping around your windows to trap-in heat during cold season hence saving more energy. For everyday practical energy saving, you can cut your monthly bill by switching to fluorescent bulbs as it is estimated that 10% of your average energy bill comes from lighting. Also, go for energy-saving appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, washers, dehumidifiers, and air conditioning units.
And still, turning off the lights really works every time you leave a room for at least 15 minutes. Indeed why not turn off any energy-consuming appliances when not in use, your computer most especially. You can even opt to use them during off-peak hours. Use the dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer at night to save more energy. More so you can turn off your flat iron, curlers, and electric stove just a few minutes before you’re finished using it. Finally, mind also your dirty gas stove and leaky faucet.
It is unfortunate that a lot of people think that they could do very little with some small energy saving efforts. On the other hand, we all should look at energy saving as a drop-by-drop filling of a pail – every drop counts, with time the tiny droplets would turn into a gallon. A little higher energy consumption means an increased dent in your pockets, and then, a less healthier environment.