Simple

 Simple ways to save some energy and money without a lot of work.  It surprised me when I worked out where I used the most energy. 

Automobiles

• Change or clean air filter
• Check your tire pressure

Heating and Cooling

• Collect water from air conditioning drip line.  Some days I can collect a gallon in a day.  It's freshwater so is good to water planters or add to pool.
• Change or clean air filter.  Blower fan is designed to run at a certain speed.  Dirty filters make its electric motor work harder.
• When replacing get variable or two speed systems.  Rather than on and off, these systems just slow down. Moving fluids takes squared the energy to move twice as fast so this saves more energy than you would think.  $100 a month for me.

Cooking

• In Summer, grill if you can.  This keeps the residual heat outside.
• Keep grill in sun which will get it well over 100 degrees to start

Hot Water

• In addition to turning down the temp a bit, I closed the valve a bit.  Also, if you have an electric water heater, have the second stage cooler than the first.  This makes people think they are running out and wrap up the showers.

Laundry

• Wash in cold water.
• In humid climates, a washer with higher spin can save a lot of drying time.

Refrigeration

• Clean the heat exchange elements on your refrigerators once a year.  The fan and coils pick up dust.  I noticed my old one was running 24 hours a day and cleaned it and it actually turned off. 

Lighting and Entertainment

• APC and others make some great power strips that turn off the other power ports when a master goes off.  I use this on a few things.  On my computer, when I turn my light off, all the accessory power bricks go off.  It's more than it seems.
• In warm climates, an ultra efficient power supply is a double gain.  For all the energy in your home you have to waste as heat, you have to pump it out with air conditioning or fans.

Tweet

Share on Tumblr

Pin It