Tips for Saving Energy and Money Around the Home

Wasting electricity is more than just an increase in your utility bill, it has an adverse impact on the environment as well.  Power plants contribute to nearly 40% of pollution we all suffer with, so if everyone did their part to not waste electricity, we could enjoy less pollution.  Here are some tips to help stop waste and save some green.

• Turn off lights when you leave a room (hopefully they are energy efficient bulbs). That goes for ceiling fans as well. Ceiling fans do NOT cool the air, the breeze helps people feel cooler. Consider a dimmer switch if that is appropriate.
• Stop Feeding Energy Vampires. There are many appliances on standby that do not get frequent use, yet they are sipping on your electricity. Do you have home theater/stereo/DVD equipment that you use only when you are watching a movie? Plug the equipment into a power strip with an easy on/off switch and keep them off until you are ready to use them. Do you have a CD/Radio player, a microwave, that you seldom use? Consider cutting their power until you want to use them too. Computers and printers also use a lot of electricity in standby mode, consider powering them off when not in use. TV’s can be a big energy draw, if you only watch in the evenings, that is some 20 hours it can be off. Just make it easy to turn the power off via a surge protecting power strip.
• Keep your refrigerator/freezer full. Storing water or freezer packs can help fill up space. Keep it organized with containers clearly labeled so the time with the door open is minimized. Allow hot foods to cool before placing them in the refrigerator. If your refrigerator is older than 2009, you may want to replace it with a newer energy efficient model and recycle the former. Do not use it as a second refrigerator but get one that is big enough for your needs.
• Be strategic when cooking. If using the oven, no peeking until it is time to check for doneness. Try to utilize the space by filling it, e.g. if you are baking zucchini bread, then also cook some potatoes, and bake in a cooler time of day. In the summer, try to utilize an Instant Pot for healthy quick cooking and reheating.
• Run the dishwasher when it is full, and consider hand or air drying the dishes. Scrape, but do not pre-rinse the dishes. Use the “eco” setting.
• Use a programmable thermostat. Keep your air filters clean. Adjusting the temperature by 2 degrees can save 2000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year!
• Passive solar hot water tanks can provide a long-lasting hot water supply. Wrap your hot water heater in an insulating blanket. Consider washing clothes in cold water. and using a low flow showerhead for your quick (not lingering) showers.

By conserving electricity at home you can lower your energy bill and contribute to a cleaner environment. You can also extend the life of your appliances for theygenerate heat running in standby mode which is hard on electronics.

 

Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.  Luke 24:6-7

Read More:
Green Home Remodeling
Earth Day 2021: More People Are Growing Locally!
Carrot Cake Granola

Tagged cost saving, Healthy Home Living, home improvement, Home Renovation Remodeling Tips