The best way to reduce carbon emissions is to reduce your use of energy. There are lots of ways to accomplish this that are simple and easy. Get started today! Shrink your carbon footprint by conserving electricity and reducing your usage of fossil fuels. It just takes a little effort, and while you save the environment you will also save money.
Switching to CFLsCLF isn’t just the acronym for the Canadian Football League, it also stands for something useful, Compact Fluorescent Lights. Those soft-serve ice cream bulbs offer sweet savings. They produce the same amount of light as incandescent bulbs and use a quarter of the electricity! One CFL can save $40 off your electric bill before it burns out. (Because they contain a small amount of mercury, be sure to dispose of them properly.) More details at energystar.gov
Shading The Air Conditioning UnitShade around the house will lower your summer cooling bill, but if you don’t want to cover your windows in green, just shade your air conditioning unit. This can make it 10% more efficient (and 10% less costly) according to the U.S. Department of Energy. More details at energysavers.gov
Really Turning It OffWhat if you were spending $100 per year on electricity for things that were supposed to be off or on standby? That is the national household average. Luckily there are simple ways to combat these “energy vampires.” Put down the garlic and grab a power strip! Plug large appliances that have a standby mode onto one power strip and really turn them off when you leave the house. More details at energystar.gov
Easing off the thermostatA little less heat and air conditioning can result in big energy savings. You can save 10% off your annual heating and cooling bills by dialing your thermostat back 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours of the day. It has been estimate that if people were comfortable with the thermostat set at 68 oF in the winter and 72 oF in the winter, (Instead of the reverse) we could reduce the energy we use for heating and cooling by 20 to 25%! More details at energystar.gov
Questioning Your Transportation
Before hopping into the car to run to the store, ask yourself, “Can I walk? Can I bike? Can I carpool? Can I tale public transportation? Can I combine it with another trip” If the answer is yes, you can reduce your use of fossil fuels, save money, and have a little extra to spend at the store. Get yourself something nice.
Ten More Energy-Saving Money-Saving Tips
- When you aren’t using small electronic devices like cell phone chargers, unplug them! They suck up energy even when they are not being used.
- When you drive, accelerate gradually. You’ll save time and money by making fewer trips to the pump.
- If you have junk in your trunk, lose it! Removing things from your car that don’t need to be stored there will increase your fuel economy, saving you gas and money.
- When you pour a small amount of water from the faucet, use cold water. Turning the faucet to hot wastes energy heating water that may never reach the faucet.
- Let food cool before you put it in the refrigerator. Also, avoid putting uncovered liquids in the fridge. Either misdeed will overtax your refrigerator, costing you cash.
- When you wash dishes or clothes, make it a full load! Running these appliances less often will save on energy and water.
- When you dry your clothes, be sure to change the lint filter before every load. A clogged filter wastes electricity.
- When you leave a room, turn off the lights. Yes, this rule also applies to grownups! In rooms lit by CFL bulbs, only turn off the lights when you will be out of the room for an extended period of time. Too much on and off can reduce the lifespan of these bulbs. This is not a concern for incandescent bulbs.
- On hot sunny days, close blinds and curtains to keep your apartment cool and reduce the strain on the air conditioner.
- Don’t crank up the air conditioner by adjusting the thermostat to a temperature lower than you need. You will not cool the room any faster, but you could over-cool and overpay.
Saving energy is a win-win. By being conscious of your energy use, you can save money while you save the environment. A lot of people making small changes can have a big impact. Lower your energy bill, lower your fuel consumption, and increase the thickness of your wallet. It will feel good to do the right thing!
Hire a professional (one that is certified) to check your house
In many locations these tests are subsidized by the utility or the state agency. In addition to looking over your house to find ways you can save, they often use a blower door test and thermal scanning devices to determine how much and where your house is leaking. They can show you were to place insulation or install energy efficient windows. These measures could return your investment within one year.
Install a Solar Thermal System
The technology for hot water heaters has really improved in recent years. Systems can last over 20 years and if you are using electricity, oil, or propane to heat your hot water, with tax credits and savings, your system could be paid off in not much more than 5 years. Let Better World Energy show you how your business can benefit from Solar Thermal while you continue to operate as you do now.
Install a Photovoltaic System and generate your own electricity
PV systems have also greatly improved over the years. There are great U.S. manufacturers providing long term performance guarantees. Costs have declined and are at the lowest levels in years. With net metering (utilities buy excess power that you produce) plus tax credits and incentives, PV systems have never been as affordable. Some installers will even finance the system for you, reducing your out of pocket expenses.
