How to Save Energy – 101 Ways from the Evident to the Extreme
Posted: Sunday, January 10, 2010
by Dan Bossenbroek
Just Green Homes
Here's a challenge: implement 12 (more) of these energy conservation products and strategies over the next year. Take another step toward energy independence.
1. Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
2. Install a motion / occupancy sensor in a room that you go in and out of frequently at night.
3. Switch to LED night lights, they use a fraction of the energy that standard night lights do.
4. Unplug your alarm clock and keep your cell phone next to your bed at night.
1. Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
2. Install a motion / occupancy sensor in a room that you go in and out of frequently at night.
3. Switch to LED night lights, they use a fraction of the energy that standard night lights do.
5. Turn off the, lights and go to bed early, nudge, nudge, wink, wink.
6. Turn off the TV and read a book instead.
7. Use a clothes dryer heat saver in the winter.
8. Line dry your laundry.
9. Plug all of your electronics: TV, VCR, DVD, stereo, computer, printer, cable router, network router into a power strip and turn the power strip off at night.
10. Replace incandescent bulbs with CFL's (compact fluorescent lamps.)
11. Turn down your thermostat in the winter.
12. Turn up your thermostat in the summer.
13. Clean the condensing coil of your refrigerator.
14. Buy an Energy Star refrigerator.
6. Turn off the TV and read a book instead.
7. Use a clothes dryer heat saver in the winter.
8. Line dry your laundry.
9. Plug all of your electronics: TV, VCR, DVD, stereo, computer, printer, cable router, network router into a power strip and turn the power strip off at night.
10. Replace incandescent bulbs with CFL's (compact fluorescent lamps.)
11. Turn down your thermostat in the winter.
12. Turn up your thermostat in the summer.
13. Clean the condensing coil of your refrigerator.
14. Buy an Energy Star refrigerator.
15. Use a laptop instead of a desktop computer.
16. Turn off your computer when you are not using it.
17. Turn off your printer except when you are using it.
18. Turn off your monitor too.
19. Same goes for your speakers.
20. Buy a new computer since they use a lot less electricity than older ones.
16. Turn off your computer when you are not using it.
17. Turn off your printer except when you are using it.
18. Turn off your monitor too.
19. Same goes for your speakers.
20. Buy a new computer since they use a lot less electricity than older ones.
21. Same goes for flat screen monitors vs. CRT monitors.
22. Upgrade to Windows Vista or 7, they have a "Sleep" function. Oh, yeah Use it.
23. Allow food to cool to room temperature before you put them in the refrigerator.
24. Keep a pitcher of your favorite beverage in the refrigerator instead of using ice. It takes more energy to freeze water than to just keep it cool.
25. Insulate your attic and walls to the proper level.
26. Insulate the extra refrigerator or freezer in your garage or basement.
27. Crank the thermostat down another 4 degrees at night and turn on an electric blanket. Turn it on just long enough to warm up your bed or at least keep it on the low setting.
28. Move your kids into one bedroom in the winter and close off the registers in the empty ones.
29. Let your furry friends sleep on your bed in the winter. They can sure help to keep you nice and toasty warm.
30. Get rid of grandma's refrigerator or freezer that you have in the basement or garage.
22. Upgrade to Windows Vista or 7, they have a "Sleep" function. Oh, yeah Use it.
23. Allow food to cool to room temperature before you put them in the refrigerator.
24. Keep a pitcher of your favorite beverage in the refrigerator instead of using ice. It takes more energy to freeze water than to just keep it cool.
25. Insulate your attic and walls to the proper level.
26. Insulate the extra refrigerator or freezer in your garage or basement.
27. Crank the thermostat down another 4 degrees at night and turn on an electric blanket. Turn it on just long enough to warm up your bed or at least keep it on the low setting.
28. Move your kids into one bedroom in the winter and close off the registers in the empty ones.
29. Let your furry friends sleep on your bed in the winter. They can sure help to keep you nice and toasty warm.
30. Get rid of grandma's refrigerator or freezer that you have in the basement or garage.
31. Install a programmable thermostat lower heating bills = lower electrical bills.
32. Buy and use a space heater or two and heat up only rooms that you use while keeping the rest of the house at a lower temperature.
33. Bundle up and turn down the thermostat.
34. Snuggle under a blanket with a friend while you watch TV.
35. Use timers to turn lights on and off when you are not at home.
36. Use task lighting instead of lighting up the entire room.
37. Watch your favorite programs on your laptop instead of the TV.
32. Buy and use a space heater or two and heat up only rooms that you use while keeping the rest of the house at a lower temperature.
33. Bundle up and turn down the thermostat.
34. Snuggle under a blanket with a friend while you watch TV.
35. Use timers to turn lights on and off when you are not at home.
36. Use task lighting instead of lighting up the entire room.
37. Watch your favorite programs on your laptop instead of the TV.
38. Go solar to heat your water.
39. Listen to your MP3 player instead of cranking up the stereo.
40. Use window fans on cool nights instead of your air conditioner.
41. When you remodel, avoid carpeting, you can vacuum less often with hard floors.
42. Replace your air conditioner with one that is Energy Star rated.
43. Move to a smaller house or apartment.
44. Seal up your windows with insulating window film.
45. Install a radiant barrier in your attic.
46. Replace furnace filters when needed, this will help your furnace run more efficiently.
39. Listen to your MP3 player instead of cranking up the stereo.
40. Use window fans on cool nights instead of your air conditioner.
41. When you remodel, avoid carpeting, you can vacuum less often with hard floors.
42. Replace your air conditioner with one that is Energy Star rated.
43. Move to a smaller house or apartment.
44. Seal up your windows with insulating window film.
45. Install a radiant barrier in your attic.
46. Replace furnace filters when needed, this will help your furnace run more efficiently.
47. Upgrade your furnace with one with a higher efficiency.
48. Eat it raw or cold: veggies, bread (instead of toast), sandwiches (cheese vs. grilled cheese), and milk for example.
49. Cook with a sun oven.
50. Dine by candle light.
51. Get a four poster bed and hang blankets over the top and sides then you can turn the thermostat down even more at night.
52. Weatherize your house, seal all of those cracks, gaps and holes
53. Customize your refrigerator and wrap it with 1 " of rigid insulation and any number of finishes: painted or stained wood veneer, chalk board, galvanized steel, vinyl tile, or cork tile.
54. Teach your kids not to stand with the refrigerator door open. 55. Practice what you preach.
56. Wash your hands in cold water.
57. Install energy saving heat reflective film on all your windows.
58. Move your refrigerator to an unheated porch, garage or breezeway in the cooler months.
59. Use an unheated vestibule, garage or enclosed porch to enter and exit your house. This will prevent cold blasts of air from invading your house every time you go in or out.
60. Add a dog door in above mentioned vestibule, this too will reduce the cold blasts.
61. Install solar powered lights at your patio, deck and/or garden.
62. Open up the curtains in the winter and on the north side of your house to let the sun in.
63. Install a solar tube type skylight and turn off the lights in that room even at night.
48. Eat it raw or cold: veggies, bread (instead of toast), sandwiches (cheese vs. grilled cheese), and milk for example.
49. Cook with a sun oven.
50. Dine by candle light.
51. Get a four poster bed and hang blankets over the top and sides then you can turn the thermostat down even more at night.
52. Weatherize your house, seal all of those cracks, gaps and holes
53. Customize your refrigerator and wrap it with 1 " of rigid insulation and any number of finishes: painted or stained wood veneer, chalk board, galvanized steel, vinyl tile, or cork tile.
54. Teach your kids not to stand with the refrigerator door open. 55. Practice what you preach.
56. Wash your hands in cold water.
57. Install energy saving heat reflective film on all your windows.
58. Move your refrigerator to an unheated porch, garage or breezeway in the cooler months.
59. Use an unheated vestibule, garage or enclosed porch to enter and exit your house. This will prevent cold blasts of air from invading your house every time you go in or out.
60. Add a dog door in above mentioned vestibule, this too will reduce the cold blasts.
61. Install solar powered lights at your patio, deck and/or garden.
62. Open up the curtains in the winter and on the north side of your house to let the sun in.
63. Install a solar tube type skylight and turn off the lights in that room even at night.
64. Set solar powered lanterns outside during the day and bring them inside at night for a taste of living off the grid.
65. Install LED lamps in your recessed cans. They use even less energy than CFL's.
66. Don't leave the television on for your dog during the day. Let them read the paper if they need to catch up on the news.
67. Install a whole house fan and use it instead of your air conditioner.
68. Use an antique sewing machine with a foot pedal.
69. Plug power strips into timers so you don't need to remember to turn them off.
70. Can the jam, instead of freezing it. This goes for the extra produce from your garden too.
71. Generate your own electricity with a wind turbine.
72. Install a solar air heater, or two.
65. Install LED lamps in your recessed cans. They use even less energy than CFL's.
66. Don't leave the television on for your dog during the day. Let them read the paper if they need to catch up on the news.
67. Install a whole house fan and use it instead of your air conditioner.
68. Use an antique sewing machine with a foot pedal.
69. Plug power strips into timers so you don't need to remember to turn them off.
70. Can the jam, instead of freezing it. This goes for the extra produce from your garden too.
71. Generate your own electricity with a wind turbine.
72. Install a solar air heater, or two.
73. Install SolarChoice Blinds : a passive solar heater in the guise of vertical blinds.
74. Buy an Energy Star front loading washing machine.
75. Wear your clothes more than once between washes.
76. Only do full loads of laundry.
77. Wash your clothes in cold water, or at least warm instead of hot.
78. Fill up your dishwasher before you run it.
79. Use the energy saver setting on your dishwasher.
80. Switch to an Energy Star dishwasher.
81. Use a small plate instead of a large one whenever possible, to cut down on dishwasher loads.
82. Use one glass all day for your drinking water and it will take longer to fill up your dishwasher.
83. Try to use only one plate or bowl per person for each meal, this will lead to fewer dishwasher loads.
84. Serve food in the pots that you cooked the food in and it will take longer to fill the dishwasher.
85. Skip taking a shower once in a while.
86. Install an instant hot water heater hot water will be at the tap sooner.
87. Insulate your hot water pipes.
88. Skip shaving once in a while.
89. Switch to low flow showerheads.
90. Put the scraps from your plates in to a worm bin instead of down the disposal.
91. Take shorter showers keep them to five minutes or less.
92. Plant a tree or more to shade your house.
93. When you take a shower turn off the water while you lather and wash.
94. Two young kids in the same tub = ten to twenty gallons of water saved.
95. Get your kids involved and teach them to turn the lights off when they leave the room (for instance).
96. Adjust your water softener so that it regenerates only as necessary.
97. Lightly steam your vegetables instead of boiling them to death.
98. Take tandem showers: as soon as one person is done the next hops in.
99. Give your dog a bath in the water your kids just bathed in.
100. Jump in the shower before the water gets warm and enjoy a refreshing start to your day.
101. Trade your furnace in for a small fire breathing dragon. This may be difficult as they are uncommonly rare.
Have fun and start saving (more)!
74. Buy an Energy Star front loading washing machine.
75. Wear your clothes more than once between washes.
76. Only do full loads of laundry.
77. Wash your clothes in cold water, or at least warm instead of hot.
78. Fill up your dishwasher before you run it.
79. Use the energy saver setting on your dishwasher.
80. Switch to an Energy Star dishwasher.
81. Use a small plate instead of a large one whenever possible, to cut down on dishwasher loads.
82. Use one glass all day for your drinking water and it will take longer to fill up your dishwasher.
83. Try to use only one plate or bowl per person for each meal, this will lead to fewer dishwasher loads.
84. Serve food in the pots that you cooked the food in and it will take longer to fill the dishwasher.
85. Skip taking a shower once in a while.
86. Install an instant hot water heater hot water will be at the tap sooner.
87. Insulate your hot water pipes.
88. Skip shaving once in a while.
89. Switch to low flow showerheads.
90. Put the scraps from your plates in to a worm bin instead of down the disposal.
91. Take shorter showers keep them to five minutes or less.
92. Plant a tree or more to shade your house.
93. When you take a shower turn off the water while you lather and wash.
94. Two young kids in the same tub = ten to twenty gallons of water saved.
95. Get your kids involved and teach them to turn the lights off when they leave the room (for instance).
96. Adjust your water softener so that it regenerates only as necessary.
97. Lightly steam your vegetables instead of boiling them to death.
98. Take tandem showers: as soon as one person is done the next hops in.
99. Give your dog a bath in the water your kids just bathed in.
100. Jump in the shower before the water gets warm and enjoy a refreshing start to your day.
101. Trade your furnace in for a small fire breathing dragon. This may be difficult as they are uncommonly rare.
Have fun and start saving (more)!
This Article has been viewed 624 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (10 total)Wonderful and creative ideas - fun to read too. MarijoMarijo,Thanks for the comment! Which ones are you going to do?
Wow. great ideas, Dan. Thanks for taking the time too gather them. I'll print this and use as many as I can.Richard,Glad that you liked it. Keep me posted on your progress!I will.
There's a lot there, the only trouble with this is I would have to change my entire routine to make all the changesJust pick a few to start with and then move on from there.
Hi Dan, we're on the same page. I'm big into saving the environment as well. Slow flow showers heads are what I'm installing in my house.Ty,One down, Eleven to go. Thanks for your comment.
This was a very good read. Very informative, very simple, common sense every day things you can do to conserve energy and make a difference. Now I wouldn't agree with all of your suggestions (such as skip taking a shower once in a while.... or upgrade to Windows Vista) but all in all, I really enjoyed reading the tips you had to offer. Thank you!Jacques,Thanks for your comments! Glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks for sharing your ideas. Good article and good ideas.Jenn,Thanks for your comment. Glad you liked it.
Dan, definately some creative ideas here, don't think I would do about 75% of them though. Did you know Windows XP has a sleep/power save function as well as windows Vista and 7 and is a far better operating system? I have number 102 for you- bathe in the water you washed your dog with, save the water for the next time you bathe the dog, and repeat. Its my favorite way of saving the planet. All jokes aside, good article.Brandon,Glad that you liked it. Just pick a few and start there. I figure that I saved about $900 on my utulity bills this year from the changes that I have made and we are up to about 45 out of the 101.
#62i didn't quite understan...Blaine,I think what I meant to say was: "Open up the curtains on the south facing windows in the winter and on the north side all year round to let the sunlight in." That is for those of us in the northern hemisphere. Thanks for the edit.
Plenty of ideas I haven't even considered. Thank you for putting it all in a nice tighty list.Let me know which ones that you try. Thanks for your comments.
Dan,Thank you for the informative; yet simple measures that we can all institute in our 'green efforts'!Millicent - Gald that you appreciate them. Hope you will implement a few and cut your utility bills.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.