On the same note as saving water is saving energy. Here are some ideas that I found on the web that might be of help to you.
Home energy conservation - Fix the "money-leaks" in your home with these energy-saving tips
Home energy conservation tips can help towards having a more energy efficient home. An energy efficient home is something we should all strive for. Not only can small steps be taken to lighten the "footprints" we leave behind for future generations, but these same steps can really save a bunch of money on your utility bills. Something as simple as changing a lightbulb can make a dramatic difference in the energy efficiency and COST SAVINGS within your home!
Q. How many Do-It-Yourself buffs does it take to change a light bulb?
A. Only one, but it takes him two weekends and three trips to the hardware store.
(Sorry, I love silly jokes!)
Hopefully, with these basic "how-to" tips, all you do-it-yourself buffs will only need ONE trip to the hardware store!
home energy conservation tip #1 - Choose Your Color Wisely
Paint the walls of your home a light color. Dark colors tend to absorb light, requiring you to use more energy from light bulbs to achieve the same effect.This beautiful and unique reference provides an unrivaled mine of inspiration and ideas for anyone wishing to create a colorful new look for their home or garden! In this stunningly produced guide, internationally renowned interior designer Kevin McCloud puts together over 1,000 color chips arranged in over 80 palettes. Each palette-which includes anywhere from 6 to 16 color swatches-forms a blueprint for a unique decorative scheme. A palette based on old Chinese silk, for example, is seen reinterpreted in a contemporary New York apartment. Plus, each palette features gorgeous photographs that bring the color scheme to life, along with invaluable advice and tips for using the colors to transform a room. Readers will also find manufacturers' paint references and numbers, lists of suppliers, and much more. The ultimate color sourcebook!
home energy conservation tip #2 -- Who Wants to Do the Dishes?
A dishwasher that is 90% full uses 4 units of electricity. If it is only 50% full, it still uses 3 units of electricity. Fill the dishwasher to save on your electric bill.Alex Wilson and John Morrill have assembled a comprehensive guide to energy-saving techniques and devices with two goals in mind: save consumers money and save Earth in the process. Wilson and Morrill offer consumers the latest techniques for making their homes more efficient, comfortable, and cheaper to live in, and they supply energy ratings for appliances, light bulbs, water heaters, windows, heating systems, and more. The language is clear and entertaining; you needn't to be a technician or an engineer to understand the suggestions and analyses. Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings will prove incredibly useful for people who are about to build a home or remodel, or who simply want to get the most bang for their buck and not waste energy or foul the environmentReview"Not only does the Guide rate the brand of major home appliances and fixtures for energy efficiency, it also shows how to insulate, landscape and maintain your home in the manner that will make your wallet and your planet greener."-E Magazine
home energy conservation tip #3 -- Insulate
Buy a water heater blanket and keep your water heater insulated. You'll save $40 per year. Doesn't that just make you feel warm all over?Water heater insulation blankets are designed for gas, oil or electric heaters. White vinyl backed fiberglass blanket. Includes adhesive tape for easy installation. Easy to install with scissors, measuring tape and pencil. Fits up to 60 gallons. R-5.0 insulating value.-- Reduces energy cost-- Easily installed-- R-5.0 Insulating Value
home energy conservation tip #4 -- Lighten Up!
Replacing a single incandescent bulb with an energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulb (one of those "squiggly bulbs") can save up to $50 over the bulb's lifetime.Now THAT'S a bright idea!Did you know that if every U.S. home swapped out just ONE incandescent bulb for a compact fluorescent "squiggly bulb", the energy saved would be enough to power 2.5 MILLION homes!?!Save on energy costs with a bright, low-wattage fluorescent light bulb. Conserve energy by replacing any 100-watt incandescent light bulb with this 23-watt fluorescent bulb that emits the same amount of light! This 1600-lumen bulb is the same size as standard light bulbs, easily fitting in small lamps, recessed lighting fixtures, or anywhere else you usually install an incandescent bulb. The 23-Watt Mini Spiral Fluorescent Light Bulb features excellent color rendering and excellent light distribution as well as a double coating for higher lumen maintenance. A built-in soft-start circuit ensures a longer bulb life: Built to last 10,000 hours, this fluorescent light bulb has an average life span of more than 10 times that of standard 1,000-hour incandescent bulbs.
home energy conservation tip #5 -- Money Out the Window?
Up to 16% of your heat can escape through unprotected windows. Close your drapes at night or install insulating shutters to retain heat. If you have a large expanse of glass that doesn't receive direct sun, keep the drapes closed as much as possible.Carrie Blackout Curtains Room Darkening Thermal Insulated Pinch Pleated DraperyAntique Satin look on a classic slubbed fabric Foam thermal backing - 3 layers of acrylic foam: 2 white and 1 black layer Save energy and reduce heating costs with thermal insulated drapes Keeps out cold, Keeps in heat A great room darkener--Antique Satin look on a classic slubbed fabric--Foam thermal backing - 3 layers of acrylic foam: 2 white and 1 black layer--Save energy and reduce heating costs with thermal insulated drapes--Keeps out cold, Keeps in heat
home energy conservation tip #6 -- Turn the "Off" OFF
75% of electricity used by home electronics is consumed while "off". By using a power strip and switching off when not in use, you lessen CO2 emmissions and reduce your energy bill.Power strip extenders allow you to use every outlet on your strip, even with adapters and chargers! Simply plug adapters into one end of cables and plug other end into power strip. Like magic, your adapters are organized and clutter free, maximizing the use of power strip outlets. UL approved. Includes five cords, each 14 1/4".-- Allows entire family to charge cell phones in one easy location-- Stop struggling with bulky chargers and AC adaptors-- Use all of the outlets on the power strip
home energy conservation tip #7 -- Get a Load of This!
When choosing your next washing machine, pick one with a front-loader. Front-loader models use 25% less energy than a standard model.Also, simply switching from a hot/warm cycle to a warm/cold cycle when washing laundry can save you 10 cents a load. That adds up when you think about how many loads of laundry you do a year!Don't forget to look for the Energy Star before making those big purchases!Introducing the Whirlpool Duet Sport washer.It's time to get serious about conserving not only space, but water and energy too.This washer combines a contemporary front-load design and large capacity with the flexibility of a compact frame. Enjoy this front-loading washer's deep cleaning performance and save as much as 2/3 the water and energy consumed by traditional top-loading washers. The Duet Sports fabric care system combines two powerful technologies combine for one powerful clean. The Anti-Escape valve ensures the maximum concentration of detergent, while the Care Control System keeps temps optimal for detergent enzymes.--Anticipated Durability (Consumer Reports indicates Whirlpool has lowest repair-rate for front-loaders.--Quiet.--Super clean clothes.--SGreen: consumes way less water and electricity than top-loaders
home energy conservation tip #8 -- Ditch the Dirty Filters
Check your furnace and AC filters regularly. Cleaning or replacing filters once a month during periods of high use will insure proper air flow, promote better health, increase efficiency, and save money too.Did you know they make energy saving lightbulbs that clean the air in your home or office, too? The CrispAirTM Air Cleaning Light Bulb purifies the air by generating negative ions. These negative ions collide with airborne particles, which are large rafts for hundreds of toxic chemical and disease organisms. This process removes viruses, bacteria, odors, cigarette smoke, pet dander and other pollutants from the air we breathe. The negative ion functions as a remover of dust, bacteria, cigarette smoke, offensive odors and the positive ions generated from TVs, computers, and other electrical devices. The CrispAirTM Air Cleaning Light Bulb helps to balance the ionization in your home and office to help combat the positive ions that make us feel tired and irritable. This restored balance increases oxygen intake so we feel more alert and helps to relieve asthma symptoms, fatigue, headaches. The CrispAirTM light bulb is a compact fluorescent bulb and as such, uses about a quarter of the wattage to produce the same amount of light as an incandescent light bulb. In addition, since it lasts up to 10 times as long, it saves multi-bulb replacement costs.--Cleans air by removing cigarette smoke, odors, dust, pollen, pet dander, mold and mildew.--Removes harmful germs that aggravate allergies, asthma and bronchitis. Relieves headaches caused by computer use.--23 Watt, 90 Watt equivalent. 110V, 1300 Lm--Color: Daylight/6400K--Life: 10,000 hours. Save up to 75% in energy costs
home energy conservation tip #9 -- Air Your Laundry
During spring and summer months, line dry your clothes instead of using a clothes dryer. This can save you as much as $75 a year.Whitney Design 1600 - Umbrella Type Line Dryer, Galvanized steel 2-piece center post. Completely pre-strung and ready for installation. Single action opens and closes dryer. Folds down for compact storage. High-impact plastic post cap and slide. Rotates"I love my umbrella clothes dryer! It's lightweight yet durable, folds down and easily opens for use or can be removed completely when not needed."
home energy conservation tip #10 -- Get with the Program
Why pay for heat or AC you don't need? You can save energy and money by using a programable thermostat. It can reduce your energy needs from heat or AC when you are at work, away at vacation, or asleep.Create the ideal indoor climate for a particular household's daily needs while conserving energy with this Energy Star-compliant programmable thermostat from Hunter. Users program for each day of the week, enabling the thermostat to automatically heat up at dawn on a cold morning or to run the air conditioner for longer hours over a summer weekend. By adjusting the thermostat to operate primarily when household members are home, the device reduces wasted energy and minimizes the size of the electric bill in addition to maximizing comfort."This is not a particularly expensive thermostat, but it might as well be because you get a lot more than you pay for. It was so easy to install that my not-particularly-handy husband was able to do it (he DID have to read the directions, but he did NOT have to ask for help). It works really well, we love the indigo glow, and the program is really easy to use and really convenient for people who don't work the standard 9-5 M-F that some thermostats limit their programs to. The energy-saver programs are also really nice. All in all, I think this was a great buy."
Bonus "Bright Idea"! Learn More!
These were just 10 Simple Tips to Improve the Energy Costs in your Home.There are so many more great ideas and money saving techniques that can be used to really make an impact on your budget within the pages of "How To Make Your Home Energy And Cost Efficient".This new breakthrough book is a guide, really. A guide as a result of years of searching, studying, and scouring hundreds of websites, stores, and magazines.And this isn't one of those "Latin" books where you don't understand what's being said. Everything is in plain English, so you can put the Latin book away :) This easy to read home energy savings book is completely comprehendible and won't take weeks to read.This truly is a one-of-a-kind book that can not be found offline, or online other than right here.(Note: Don't forget to take advantage of the Free 5 part e-course on improving your homes energy efficiency!)