Energy Conservation tips

Light bulbs:    

Compact fluorescent bulbs are 4 times more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs, provide the same light & last 10 times as long. This saves glass, metal, & electricity! 

Unplug it:  

• Cellphones, laptop chargers, & battery chargers still consume energy after they are fully charged & still attached to an outlet! Unplug the charger once batteries are full & when not in use. 
• In standby mode many electronics still use several watts of power.
• Plug home electronics (such as TVs & DVD players) into power strips & turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use. 

Turn it off:

• When not in use, shut down: computers, lights, appliances, & anything else that consumes energy!
• Turn off kitchen, bath, & other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you are done cooking or bathing. 

Heating & Air Conditioning:

• Typically, 45% of your utility bill goes for heating & cooling. Heating & cooling systems together emit million tons of CO2 each year, adding to global climate change. 
• Set your thermostat comfortably low in the winter & comfortably high in the summer. • Close windows when using air-conditioning or heat. 
• In winter, keep draperies & shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to let in sunlight & closed at night to reduce heat loss through the windows.  In summer, keep window coverings closed during day.  
• Install exterior or interior storm windows; storm windows can reduce heat loss through the windows by 25% to 50%. 
• Clean air registers, baseboard heaters & radiators; make sure they’re not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.  
• Clean or replace filters once a month or as needed. 
• Check the insulation levels in your attic, exterior & basement walls, ceilings, floors & crawl spaces.  
• Check for holes or cracks around your walls, ceilings, windows, doors, light & plumbing fixtures, switches & electrical outlets that can leak air into or out of your home. 
• Trees & shrubs planted around your house can provide shade & act as windbreaks, reducing your energy bills. 
• Carefully positioned trees can save up to 25% of the energy a typical household 

Computers:

• Enable the sleep mode on your computer & allow the monitor to deactivate after ten minutes of non-use. 
• Despite the name, screen savers don’t save power! 
• Turn your computer off over night. 
• Buy a flat-screen monitor– they use 1/3 less energy than normal monitors.

Appliances: 

• Look for Energy Star products – approved appliances that use 10-50% less energy & water.
• If just 10% of homes used Energy Star qualified appliances, it would be like planting 1.7 million new acres of trees.  
• Regularly defrost manual-defrost refrigerators & freezers; frost buildup to more than ¼“ decreases their efficiency. 
• Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight: close the door over a piece of paper.

Laundry & Dishes:  

• Wash clothes on the cold water cycle. It takes a lot of energy to heat water. 
• Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher’s drying cycle.  
• Take short showers instead of baths. 
• Wash only full loads of dishes & clothes.