Here are a few surprising and simple ways to cut your energy bill this season.
Put Lamps in The Corners:
Did you know you can switch to a lower wattage bulb in a lamp or lower it's dimmer switch and not loose a noticeable amount of light? It's all about placement. When a lamp is placed in a corner, the light reflects off the adjoining walls, which makes the room lighter and brighter.
Switch to a laptop:
If you're reading this article on a laptop, you're using a 1/3 less energy than if you're reading this on a desktop computer.
Choose an LCD TV:
If you're among those considering a flat-screen upgrade from your old TV, choose an LCD screen for the biggest energy save.
Give Your Water Heater a Blanket:
Just like you pile on extra layers in the winter, your hot water heater can use some extra insulation too. A Fiberglas insulation blanket is a simple addition that can cut heat loss and save 4% to 9% on the average water-heating bill.
Turn Off The Burner Before You're Done Cooking:
When you turn off an electric burner, it doesn't cool off immediately. Use that to your advantage by turning it off early and using residual heat to finish up cooking.
Add Motion Sensor:
You might be diligent about shutting off unnecessary lights, but your kids? Not so much. Adding motion sensors to playrooms and bedrooms only costs $15 to $50 per light, and ensures you don't pay for energy you're not using.
Spin Laundry Faster:
The faster your washing machine can spin excess water out of your laundry, the less you'll need to use your dryer. Many newer washers spin clothes so effectively, they cut drying time and energy consumption in half- which results in an equal drop in your dryer's energy bill.
Use an Ice Tray:
Stop using your automatic ice maker. It increases your fridge's consumption by 14% to 20% . Ice trays, on other hand, don't increase your energy costs one iota.
Use The Dishwasher:
If you think doing your dishes by hand is greener than powering up the dishwasher, you're wrong. Dishwashers use about 1/3 as much hot water and relieve that much strain from your energy- taxing water heater. Added bonus: you don't have to wash any dishes.
copyright National Association of Realtors 2010
No comments:
Post a Comment