Energy conservation
It is easy to look to others to come up with ideas and ways to conserve and create energy for us.
Most of us are guilty of wasting lots of energy. Think of all the times we have left unused lghts on, left the tv on while not being watched or even left the refrigerator door open while pouring something to drink.
We keep looking to new ideas and using up our natural resources when the answer is right under our nose. Use less power!
Power saving ideas
- Set the thermostat as low as comfortably possible in the winter. The less difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall heating bill will be.
- Keep the fireplace damper closed when the fireplace is not in use. Closing the damper prevents up to 8% of furnace-heated air from going up the chimney.
- Reduce hot water use by installing low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators. Older showerheads deliver four to five gallons of water per minute. A new, two-and-a-half-gallon-per-minute showerhead will reduce your water consumption by one-third to one-half. A top-quality, low-flow showerhead will cost $10 to $20 and will quickly pay for itself in energy saved.
- Test for air leaks by holding a lit incense stick next to windows, doors, electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches and other locations where there is a possible air path to the outside. If the smoke stream travels horizontally, you have located an air leak that may need caulking, sealing or weather stripping.
- Clean furnace filters monthly. Dirty filters restrict airflow and increase energy use. Keep the furnace clean, lubricated and properly adjusted to save up to 5% of heating costs.
- Use an automatic timer to help you avoid leaving the holiday lights on all night or during the daylight hours. Make sure that the timer is rated to handle the total wattage of the lights.
- Replace large, traditional decorative holiday lights with new miniature lights , which use about 70% less energy and last much longer than the larger bulbs. If you prefer the brilliance of the larger lights, switch to 5-Watt bulbs, which use about 30% less energy than 7- to 10-Watt bulbs.
Checkout the Energy conservation sites below!
www.energyquest.ca.gov/saving_energy/
Energy Hog
Michael Bluejay - Saving Electricity