Top 10 Ways To Save Energy (And Make More Money).
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Global warming is a threat that everyone needs to take action against. Although government policies and corporations can make the biggest impact, you personally can also do your part.
Some of you may be looking at more revenue streams when looking to make more money, but there is a way to make even more money and it doesn’t involve finding another excellent revenue stream. In fact, its a stream that goes the other way and takes money from you each month. I’ve noticed a lot of bloggers report their monthly earnings, but they make no mention of the costs that are associated with running their businesses.
Think about how much paper goes to waste just from the junk mail you receive. Recycling is just not enough. Stop the mailing all together. You will save trees from being cut down for paper use, as well as finally stop all that annoying mail. Smartmoney.com wrote a great article on how to stop junk mail.
One of the easiest ways to knock some numbers off your cost streams is by saving energy. A lot of people scoff at the idea of saving energy (hey, even I speak out against being energy efficient sometimes) but its no different than making more money each month and everybody is more than willing to do that! So, for those of you who are already thinking this is stupid, just turn it around and read this based on the fact you will be “earning” more money each month, because the end result is the same.
Not only will sealing your windows save you energy and money, but it will also help reduce uncomfortable wind drafts and help reduce mold and mildew problems. Insulation will help keep your house cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Insulation and sealants are easy and cheap to install, and you can pick up the supplies you need at your local home improvement store.
Okay, before I continue rambling, the list…
- Let Food Cool Down Before You Place Into Your Fridge - Placing warm food into your fridge causes your fridge to have to work overtime to cool the food down. This is a no brainer, placing hot food into a refridgerator is no different than trying to heat your home in winter while leaving the patio door wide open. While we’re at the fridge, adjust the temperature settings so they are not maxed out (coldest).
- Replace Light Bulbs With Fluorescent Bulbs - You don’t need to change over every bulb in the house, but try to change the ones that are on the most. Some people (me!) have stayed away from these energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs because they give off very harsh white/blue type light as opposed to the warmer yellowish light of regular bulbs–THIS IS NOT TRUE anymore. Most modern fluorscent bulbs give off very similar light.
- Remove Dust - This one may sound like it does nothing in terms of saving energy, but dust makes many electrical devices inefficient. Remove the dust from your powersupply on your computer and you’ll find that the power saving variable speed fan will actually slow down more often because it can cool itself more efficiently now. The dust traps the heat and makes you waste more power. Dust off your amps, televisions, fridges, furnaces, etc.
- Get an Electronic Thermostat - This sucker will pay itself off within a month if you buy a simple one. Lower the temperature that your home is heated to while you are out at work, or away from home. For added savings, lower the temperature when you are asleep and have it warm up your home just prior to when you wake up.
- Wrap your Water Heater - Go touch the side of your hot water tank. If its not insulated you’ll probably feel that it is pretty warm. All that heat is escaping away from the hot water where it should be. Head down to your local hardware store and get an insulating blanket for your tank to trap the heat inside the water. While you do this, check to see what setting you are on. Some have it set to the hottest setting by default. Adjust it one notch down. Now you just might need to mix less cold water into the mix when showering.
- Skip the Heat Dry Option on Your Dishwasher - Theres no need to incinerate your dishes after washing. If you give everything a light rinse before placing into your dishwasher, they will be clean. Just let it air dry and save on the costs to run the heater.
- Your oven door has a window, USE it - I’ve seen this countless times when people are preparing something in the oven. They open the door to look inside every 2 - 3 minutes to monitor the progress of their food. Either learn to cook without having to check every 2-3 minutes, or use the window on the oven door. After you are done baking, keep the oven door open to let the radiant heat escape to warm up your home. Oh and last thing about the oven, Don’t use the self cleaning feature. Get off your lazy ass and clean it by hand.
- Turn off the Master Power switch on your powerbars - If you are leaving on an extended trip away from home, don’t just shut off your computer monitor and have all your stereo equipment on standby. Shut everything off, then turn off the master power. When your stereo equipment is on standby mode, it is still using electricity. Unless you need to access your computer while you are away, shut it off completely.
- Wash / Dry Full Loads Only - Wait until you have a full load before doing any laundry. Also, ensure your lint trap is fully cleaned before each load as a clogged lint filter will slow down the drying process. Don’t over dry your clothes, and don’t use the extra rinse option of your washer if it has one. Wash with cold water and you’ll save even more money.
This one is last because its painfully obvious. I’ll include it anyway… - Close your doors, windows, patio doors, etc when it is cold outside - If you’re going to leave your windows open when its cold outside, you mgiht as well just throw money out the window and let it blow away.
Every electronic in your house that you can think of has energy star equivalents. Air conditioners, heaters, fans, lights, phones, refrigerators, washers, dryers, televisions, dvd players, and so on. Next time you purchase any electronic, make sure it is Energy Star Compliant to ensure that you are saving money when you power your electronics.
Driving on underinflated tires can reduce your gas mileage and tire life by more then 15%, and also increases your chances for your tire to explode while driving. Be safe and save the environment by keeping your tires inflated.
Microwaves can use about 50% less energy then conventional ovens. Especially make sure you use the microwave in the summer because the conventional oven will heat up your kitchen, forcing your air conditioning to work harder.
Do you have a guest bedroom, a dining room, or a study that is rarely used? Close all the air vents in that room and keep the door closed. By doing this, your heating and cooling systems will not have to work harder to regulate extra space that just goes unused anyway.
Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) use 75% less energy, last 10 times longer, and give off a lot less heat compared to the standard incandescent lightbulb. Considering the average household spends 11% of their energy consumption on lighting, CFLs could really help you save energy and money.
Take short showers instead of baths. If you take hot showers, lower the temperature a little and take quicker showers. Don’t forget - sometimes a cool or cold shower feels a lot better then a hot shower so don’t get stuck in a routine and always take a hot shower.
By planting deciduous shade trees such as Maple Trees or Oak Trees on the south and/or southwest side of your home, you will save cooling costs in the summer. These trees will shade your home from the sun as well as naturally cool the air. In the winter when the leaves fall off, the sun will then be able to shine on your house, giving you heat when you really need it.
Put the back of your hand against your hot water heater. If it is warm or hot, then you are wasting valuable money and resources every second. The heat that is supposed to be heating your water is leaking out of the appliance. Most insulation packages come in easy to install kits and are relitavely cheap.
Notice I didn’t include stuff like: Take shorter showers, or use less water when brushing your teeth, etc. These 10 items do not impact your lifestyle and it will save you money. You should continue to shower like you normally do, unless of course you’re in there for an hour! If thats the case, then you’ve got other issues that this list just is not designed to help with ;)
Almost all utility companies offer free energy audits to help your household reduce the energy bill. Give your electric company a call and schedule an appointment. It’s free and you will end up saving money on your monthly payments. Why not take advantage of this free service?.. [read more]
There, by following this list of energy saving tips you will end up making more each month. Take this extra cash and invest it and make even more money.
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