"You must be the change you want to see in the world." -- Mahatma Gandhi

Free Energy Saving Tips

The following tips, incrementally, can reduce your energy consumption by 15%, and the good news is that it doesn’t cost a penny to implement them!

Lights:

Turn lights off when you leave the room.

Refrigerators:

Turn off your second fridge when you don’t need it.
Set the refrigerator thermostat to 37-40 0F and the freezer at 0-5 °F.
Make sure the refrigerator door seals are clean and tight.
Clean the condenser coils at the back or bottom of the refrigerator.

Washer and Dryer:

Wash in warm or cold water, instead of hot, and rinse in cold water.
Always wash a full load.
Hang your clothes on a clothes line!
Use the moisture-sensor setting on your dryer.
Clean the lint trap before every load.
Dry heavier items such as towels separate from lighter items.

Dishwasher:

Only run the dishwasher when it’s full.
Scrape and load dishes; no pre-rinsing is necessary.
Use the energy saver option for washing the dishes.
Use the air-dry option to dry your dishes.

Water Heater:

Turn the heater down to 120 0F.

Reducing Water Usage:

Take 5-minute showers.
Take fewer baths.
Don’t let the water run while you brush your teeth.
Place a couple of bricks or a plastic container full of water in the tank of the toilet (older models ONLY) to reduce the amount of water used with each flush.
Check the toilet tank for leaks.
Replace the water cooler and get a faucet filter.

Phantom Loads:

Unplug equipment that is not being used.
Install a power strip and turn the switch off.

Computers:

Plug your computers, monitors, printers, and all the peripherals into one power strip if you can.
Turn them off AND switch off the power strip when it’s not it use.
Ditch the screen saver, and enable the sleep mode where the computer goes dark after the specified period of inactivity.
Donate or recycle your old computer equipment.

Heating and Cooling System (HVAC):

Clean the floor vents or radiators when vacuuming.

Room AC:

Check the seal between your unit and the window frame, add weather-stripping or caulk if necessary.
Check the drain, and unclog it if necessary.
Clean the filters frequently.
Remove the unit in the winter if possible; otherwise cover it and seal it well.

Reducing the HVAC usage:

Open windows and use ceiling fans, especially at night.
Minimize stove and oven use in the summertime.
Use curtains or insulated window shades on windows on the east, south or west sides of the house.
Close the dampers to the fireplaces.

Reducing paper:

Use the fax function on the computer to send and receive faxes.
Print on both sides of the paper.
Get your bills sent electronically.
Reduce Junk Mail

Misc:

Use a pressure cooker.
Use the microwave to defrost food instead of using hot water.
Use the microwave more and the stove/oven less in the summertime.