Kathy's Energy Saving Tips
Heating
To cut energy bills and help save the environment, install a ceiling fan. In the winter, a ceiling fan can save up to 10% in heating costs by circulating warm air from the ceiling to the floor where you can enjoy it. In the summer, ceiling fans can make you feel cooler while reducing cooling costs as much as 40%.
Water
To cut energy bills and help save the environment, install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators. Cut your hot water consumption in half by installing low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators. Taking showers rather than baths also saves water. A 5-minute low-flow shower uses only 10-15 gallons of hot water, compared to 15-25 gallons for a bath.
Appliances
To cut energy bills and help save the environment, invest in Energy-Star appliances. You can save up to 50% on energy bills by replacing your old appliances with newer, energy-efficient models.
Weatherproofing
To cut energy bills and help save the environment, weatherproof your home. Cut energy consumption dramatically by weatherproofing windows, doors and thresholds. Most weatherproofing projects will pay for themselves in a few years by reducing the cost of heating and cooling your home.
By Kathy
Keeping the Heat Bill Low
I've been enjoying your polls. My energy bill is about the same as last year and I've made a few adjustments to keep it that way despite rising rates. I hung a lightweight neutral toned comforter in the hallway between the living areas and the bedrooms. Now I can keep the bedrooms quite cool and the living areas comfortable without a terrible draft down the hallway.
I have electric heat so using my oven affects my heating bill as well. Now I make my oven multi-task. I never bake only a single item. I used to put in a frozen pizza and that was all. But no more. I have a second TV and a stereo system in a bedroom that I enjoy but don't use a lot. Modern systems use power even while turned off so I've now got them plugged into a power strip that I can completely turn off the power when I'm not using them.
All small things, but they seem to be helping. I'd like to hear more ideas from all the clever people out there. This is a great site!
Wendee from Tillamook, OR
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To save energy, when your dishes are done, open the door of the dishwasher and let the dishes air dry. It takes about 15 minutes because they're already warm. :)
By aeromama
Lower the thermostat in your home by 2 degrees or more during the winter months. Also, be sure to change your furnace filter monthly during the heating season. If you have central air conditioning change the filter in the summer, too. Remember to keep obstructions away from the hot and cold air registers.
Lower the water temperature on your water heater. A small thing to do to create some real savings.
Replace conventional light bulbs with high efficient fluorescent light bulbs. They last much longer and cost much less to use!
If you have any secondary refrigerators or freezers, unplug them when they are not fully in use.
Wash and dry full loads of laundry. Use cold water in most loads. Hang clothes out to dry when possible.
To maintain the life of your dryer, there is one simple thing you can do all the time and that it to simply make sure that the lint trap is cleaned after every load. Also, it is cheaper to use that way because it does not have to work as hard to dry each consecutive load.
One of the simplest things to do is just to train everyone in the household to turn out lights when they leave a room. This can be a real savings on your monthly electric bill!
To help save water, install low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators. Also, take a 5 minute shower rather than a bath. A 5 minute shower uses half as much hot water as a bath.
Another way to help save on your water bill is to be sure and repair leaky faucets and water lines. A leaky faucet can waste gallons of water in a short period of time.
By Robin
How about hand washing and air drying your dishes? In this house we don't have a dishwasher. I AM the dishwasher. I handwash in moderately hot soapy water and rinse in very hot water and place in a dish drainer to air dry. There are only two of us, so I pre-rinse the breakfast and lunch dishes, and wash all dishes after dinner in the evening.
Do not use more lights in a room than needed. Turn lights and other appliances off when you leave a room.
By Robin
Home Heating Tips PILGRIM OIL CO-OP
Heating is the single biggest energy use in homes. A well maintained heating system will hold down fuel costs and provide reliable comfort.
Thermostats should be located on an inside wall or where they will not be subject to draft or heat.
Use door snakes to reduce drafts.
Block off your open fireplace when not in use.
Capture as much sunlight as possible.
Close curtains before dark to keep heat in.
Use and extra blanket if a bit cold.
The many small openings in a home can add up to big heat losses. Caulking and weather stripping cracks in walls and floors, windows and doors will save fuel and money.
Use ceiling fans to distribute the heat throughout your home.
Proper insulation in walls, ceilings and floors also significantly reduces the loss of heat to the outdoors. Insulation will pay for itself in fuel cost savings and home comfort.
Storm windows and doors are big energy and money savers. They can reduce heating costs by as much as !5% by preventing warm air from escaping to the outside. Double glazed and thermopane windows can minimize heat escape.
Water Heating Tips
Fix dripping faucets and start saving money today.
Adjust the thermostat on your hot water heater so the water at the tap is no more than 50 degrees C.
Use cold water when filling the kettle and only heat the amount you need.
Take showers instead of baths and save 5%.
Wrap your hot water heater with an insulation wrapper and save 5% or $58 per year.
Fit water saving shower heads and save $48 per year on average.
How about these:
using a small toaster oven instead of your 'big' oven for smaller cooking jobs.
Closing/blocking vents in little used rooms (spare bedrooms, formal dining rooms that are rarely used.)
Do not forget to add plastic to windows..this is a lot of savings if you do not have newer windows..if you are replacing a stove or furance make sure you have electric pilots..no pilots lights wasting money this was the first thing I noticed when I first got my new furnace...the pilot light was adding to my gas bill..window blanket are nice also, I used them this year..I had forgot about them..so I had to make a version of my own since . I now am looking into solor drapes. They also have a simple solar window panel that generates heat..since these things if taking care of will give me lots of years of use..I feel are worth investing in. I sure I will always need to heat my home? Do not forget when you are not home turn down the heat, no need to heat the house while you are not at home. and yes it seem like such a small saving..but it does add up depending on your house size.
I have heard from more than one source that cell phone chargers draw power even when not being actively used. Might or might not be true.
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To keep the house cooler in the summer I cook outside on the back patio as much as possible (this also cuts down on the odor from frying or sauteeing that lingers in the kitchen).
We have an LP gas bbq grill, 2 electric frying pans (one is semi-broken and on the way out) and an electric soup kettle. I also use the steamer outdoors as it steams up the kitchen (this thing has 4 vents in the cover).
Haven't had much luck with toaster ovens - when the present one breaks, I am going to get one with 1500 watts or more.
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Would have never known that an unused appliance (like TV/stereo) consumes electricity without your post. Thanks for the tip.
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