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Energy Saving Tips

Kindra - posted on 01/30/2010 ( 9 moms have responded )

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1. Let the Sun Shine In during the winter. Open window coverings during the day to let in the warmth of the sun, and close them at night.

Keep the Sun Shine out during the summer. Close window coverings during the day to keep the warmth of the sun out and lower your cooling bill.





2. Install a programmable thermostat compatible with your heating and cooling system. These new programmable thermostats are proven to lower energy cost when in comparison to the older ones that use mercury. Make sure to set it comfortably low in the winter and comfortably high in the summer.





3. Try Compact Fluorescent bulbs to light up your home. Not only do these bulbs use much less energy, but they last a lot longer than regular bulbs. The upfront cost is a little higher, but they pay for themselves in energy savings.



These are just a few energy saving tips from http://www.greatest-money-saving-tips.co..., ,



Ok guys, lets keep this rolling. Help and be helped, I always say.

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9 Comments

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Sally - posted on 03/10/2010

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Check that all window catches are locked in the winter, this ensures that you have an air tight fit, just a small gap can cost you $$$$'s on your Gas & Electric bill...

Stefie - posted on 03/08/2010

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LOVE baking soda and vinegar, but want to stay on topic...
We hang dry as much as possible! We cloth diaper and just doing those outside shows in our electric bills. In the summer I try to do everything outside. We hang our shirts anyways so we just put those on hangers and out they go, makes folding easier! On bad weather days we still hang the shirts in the laundry room. If you can not hang a line outside you can get a very inexpensive small rack you can dry clothes in the bathroom to avoid mold issues!

Jamie - posted on 03/07/2010

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I switched over to baking soda and vinegar for almost all of my cleaning and tossed out the other cleaning supplies. A 64 ounce bottle of vinegar is about 4 dollars, and a 32 ounce box of store brand baking soda runs about 3 dollars. These sizes last quite awhile!

Ink - posted on 03/07/2010

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"Residential solar power systems for the average American home cost between $40,000 and $60,000 (Before solar incentives)."

There are Federal and State incentives, You will get tax breaks from the government, they vary by state.

The amount of sunlight varies by region, some solar systems are going to be more efficient than others, depending on if you are in Arizona or Michigan.

source: http://solar.coolerplanet.com/

It's really hard to toss down $50,000 for something that is going to take a while to see a return... but it is a wise investment, over time.

Jaimee - posted on 03/07/2010

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Does anyone know anything about going solar? I would like to convert our electricity to solar but don't know much about the process or cost.

Jenifer - posted on 03/06/2010

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Keep lights off all day (sunshine should do enough) if the weather is nice do everything outside, reading;writing, etc.... Power strip idea in previous post is great! I have always wondered if a house were wired right, if you could just hit the breaker for when you are going to be away a while, that way you wouldn't have to use much energy at all. But fridge and freezer would still need to be on. We have been using the (swirly) bulbs for a while now, and they have lasted for over 4 years, except one we broke in our move.
Keep the ideas coming!!!

Kindra - posted on 02/17/2010

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Those are some excellent tips Ink Ette, thank you

Ink - posted on 02/09/2010

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Unplug your battery chargers after you remove the device. Unused chargers draw just as much power as ones that have something attached to them.
A television with the power OFF draws just as much power as one that is ON. Put your entertainment system on a power strip and click the main on the power strip if you are going to be gone all day. Computers too.

Source:
http://www.energy.gov/applianceselectron...

After your washing machine stops, reach in, fluff the wet clothes up and let them do a final spin again. You will notice how much lighter they are. When you put them in the dryer, it will take less time to dry now.

Anything dirty is going to run inefficiently. Keep your dryer lint trap cleaned out. Next time you change your a/c filter, drag the vacuum over and clean out all the dust that sticks to the metal in there.

Keep your freezer defrosted. Caked on ice reduces efficiency.

Kindra - posted on 02/03/2010

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Come on ladies, I'm sure some of you have a few good ideas for saving energy you would like to share with the group.

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