Loading
Great Power Savers That Everyone Can Use
Each time the seasons change, we are reminded just how much energy we use, and just how much it can cost us on our power bills. In recent years, energy management has become one of the biggest goals for everyone from the biggest companies to the smallest households. Luckily, there are literally thousands of ways that you can save energy and money on your power bills. Many of these tips require very little effort from you, and will most often go unnoticed until you see a difference on your power bill. Some of the best power savers out there are listed below.
- Always be sure to turn off lights and other appliances when you leave a room. This is often one of the most overlooked and easiest tips. It is also one of the easiest power savers
- When spring rolls around and you no longer need to use the fireplace, close the damper tight to avoid any cool air escaping through it.
- When washing clothes, try to wash full loads to get the most out of the water and energy used.
- Use fluorescent lighting whenever possible. A 40 fluorescent bulb uses the same energy as a regular 40 watt light bulb, but the fluorescent bulb emits five times as much light!
- Use your dishwasher’s economy cycle and let dishes dry overnight instead of using energy to dry them.
- Be sure that nothing is blocking any air ducts to your air conditioning. Even furniture and drapes that are too close can significantly hinder air flow. Proper air flow is always a power saver.
- If you have central heating and air, keep all doors open whenever possible in order to allow air to flow freely and easily back to the main unit.
- When weather permits, open windows instead of running the air conditioner.
- Whenever possible, buy power saving appliances.
- When caring for your lawn, use electric equipment instead of gas powered. They are generally more energy efficient and cause less harm to the environment.
- Turning your water heater down by several degrees is also a great power saver, and you will almost never notice a difference.
- When it’s time to begin using the air conditioner again, make sure all ducts are clean. It takes more energy to pass air through ducts that are clogged with dust and dirt.
- Think about purchasing motion detectors for your outside lights. That way lights are only on when you need them, or when something or someone is around your house. This can also be a great form of cheap home security.
- Another great power saver is to plant shrubs or bushes around your outside air conditioning units. That way, the unit will be shaded and will not take extra power to cool itself in order to produce cool air to circulate through your house.
Many of these tips show us that often times, the appliance or process you are already using is not necessarily inefficient, but the conditions in which it is working is what ends up costing you extra energy and money.