by
Mama Fox 
With the economic crunch these days, everyone is out looking for ways to save money. Let's do better, saving the Earth at the same time. Saving energy (and therefore money) is pretty simple. Every little thing we do adds up, small steps to a big effect ya know.
I'm not telling you to to do ALL of these starting right now (unless you want to then GO YOU!). Just pick one. Maybe add another in a couple of months. Just do something. Take what you want and take pride in helping out the Earth while you get to keep a little bit of money in your pocket.
- Turn off the "heat dry" cycle on your dishwasher. Huge waste of electricity. If you run your dishwasher at night, the dishes will be dry and ready to be put away in the morning.
- Slay those energy vampires. Plug in computers and TVs into power strips and flip that switch when not in use or before you go to bed. Anything with an LED light will keep pulling power, even when off. Same goes for "wall warts" like phone charges. Unplug anything that doesn't need to be plugged in.
- Don't leave the TV on for background noise. If you aren't watching it, turn it off. Turn on a radio instead, less electricity.
- If you haven't already, GET THOSE CFL BLUBS! Yes they are a bit expensive but even if you just switch out your most used lights, it's a start.
- The obvious: Turn off any lights you don't need. Recruit the kids for "light switch duty".
- Line dry your clothes.
- Turn the AC up/ Heater down and use fans. During the summer your ceiling fan should turn counter clockwise to push air down, creating that breeze that cools you down. In the winter, flip that tiny switch and the fan goes clockwise pulling the cooler air up and forcing the warm air, which naturally rises to the ceiling, back down.
- Even better, buy a programmable thermostat. They are fairly inexpensive and easy to install.
- Use thick curtains during the winter. They are great insulators and will keep the chill from creeping through glass windows.
- Get a toaster oven. For small things, instead of heating up a big oven use the toaster oven and cut the energy used way down. I often use my toaster oven for cooking small servings for the boys.
- Hey, what about turning EVERYTHING off and going outside. Take a nice walk, take the kids to the park, go visit family and friends, go see a movie.
Do you have any tips for saving energy?
Comments (7)
those CFL bulbs are a hazmat issue and shouldn't be thrown in the regular trash, i've heard. they contain mercury, and need to be brought to some kind of facility to dispose of. is that true?
@spicycajun - I think this is right.. "all fluorescent lamps and light bulbs are not allowed to be thrown out
in regular trash, but they must be treated as hazardous waste. This
might mean driving to your nearest hazardous waste collection center.
Avoid breaking them, as this will release mercury into the area. If
you throw them out with household trash, trash handlers may not be able
to detect it. When they incinerate them, it will only contaminate more
areas."
@simpLyxme@xanga - Sketch! So they aren't quite so fantastic as promoted to be...?
@simpLyxme@xanga - @Lizbeth8207@xanga - @spicycajun - Yes
they do contain a small amount of mercury. They should be handled with care, the same with all light bulbs, and disposed of properly. If one breaks there's a greater risk you will cut yourself on the glass rather then mercury exposure. There are many studies, most available online, that have been done to ensure the safety of CFLs. I feel the many environmental benefits of using them far outweighs the minuscule risk that is attached to them.
However, if you are still uncomfortable there are also LED light bulbs out there. They have the same environmental benefits of CFLs.
Also, if you didn't know, incandescent bulbs will be banned by Congress in 2012. Source.
LOL, I'm going to give some of these things a try :)
thx for your sharing=]
Man - I was hoping for tips on how to save my personal energy! LOL
You know - like how to not clean after your toddler 1000 +1 times!