Post your energy saving tips here

[hatredisnotavalue]

I feel like I can't talk the talk, if I ain't walking the walk anymore. Things are changing big time in our household with this global warming thing.

Things I am doing:
I am putting a clothesline up this week outside. Come winter, I am moving the clothesline to the cellar. I am going to try to run the dryer as little as possible.

I bought 40 watt bulbs today.

I am turning off the coffee maker as soon as the coffee is brewed and storing it in a Thermos.

I am going to use the oven as little as possible.

We heat with wood and oil. I am going to try to limit the use of furnace this year. Hot water is off the furnace, we don't have a hot water heater, but I am going to limit showers to 5 minutes a day.

I am going to drive our crappy Cavalier as much as possible even though the blazer has the CD player. And I promise to keep the vehicles tuned up.

Anyone else have any good suggestions for cutting down on energy use?

[Deja Q]

1. Exercise and rebuild metabolism.

Cuts down on the need for A/C. While my legs and heart are in bad shape, if I take the next few weeks with great care, I may be able to still survive and prosper. But I've read up on certain, pertinent conditions, and I have to be very careful right now.

[tjwmason]

2. 40 watt bulbs?

On 11 watts here - low-energy ones, same lighting effect as 60 watt old-style bulb.

[hatredisnotavalue]

4. WOW great tip

I have been apprehensive about buying the lower watt bulbs, but you speak from experience. Thanks!

[tjwmason]

5. You have to use them a bit differently.

Constantly switching on and off does apparently use more power, and they take a while to get up to full luminosity.

Also actually switch televisions &c. off, rather than just on stand-by with the remote. I'm always forgetting to, but that's something that energy efficiency folk are pushing quite a bit over here.

[LeftyMom]

3. Wash more things on cold

and try to downgrade the hot wash things to warm. When you have to throw stuff in the dryer it makes more sense to run the spin cycle twice and get more water out than to dry things longer. In the winter there's an attatchement you can use to capture the lint and warm your house with the dryer exhaust rather than wasting heat, too.

Coast to lights and don't stomp on it when the light turns green.

Switch to compact flourescent bulbs in any fixture where they'll fit.

It uses less energy and water to run the dishwasher than to hand wash, but you have to make sure you aren't using the heated dry function. Just open the door and let the dishes air dry or dry them with a towel as you put them away.

BTW, a cheap CD player in the smaller car would pay for itself fast if you drive that car more often because of it.

[hatredisnotavalue]

6. Actually, I do wash on cold and use the shorter cycle

But I have been leery about giving up the dishwasher. I actually was buying paper plates and cups because I was concerned about the energy use, but I have two kids and we seem to go thru a lot of them in a day. I think I will go back to the dishwasher and not dry the dishes.

As far as the car, I guess I could listen to NPR or hum rather than use the Blazer. :)

[xmas74]

7. Hay bales.

Place one layer of hay bales around the foundation of your home right before it gets cold outside. It will keep in the heat better. Good plastic on your windows will also help. Also taking old clothes that can no longer be worn to make door snakes is a great idea. If you can do a simple stitch you can make a snake.

[caty]

8. I replaced all my light bulbs with energy saving bulbs.

I turn my computer off every night.

I have an energy saving screen saver that shuts my monitor off after 20 minutes.

I turn off lights in rooms that are not being used.

I keep the heat turned down in the winter and wear warmer clothes.

I set the thermostat on our hot water heater a little lower.

I don't use the dishwasher unless it's a holiday and we had a lot of people over for dinner. With just me and my husband, I wash the dishes by hand.