Use alternative energy sources
to power your life. Solar, Hydrogen, and Wind are offering some huge
future savings to those willing to change methods. Also, look for tax
breaks that could be available to you for buying or using alternative
or cost efficient items, like hybrid cars, or solar panels on your
home.
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Keep the cold and heat out of your home by, sealing windows, weatherstripping, caulking doors. When weatherstripping pay attention to the type of windows you have. Double-hung requires two forms of weatherstripping and casement windows only need one. Also, consider installing foam gaskets behind outlets and switch covers. These fast changes should help you lower your heating and cooling bills.
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Use a programmable thermostat to regulate your homes temperature. You set them to heat or cool your home before you get there. If you get one you won’t have to worry about not turning off the heat before you go to bed or leave for work. Buy them for around $100 and potentially save $200 or more dollars for the year. These are especially helpful for elderly folks who may need some extra care and attention.
Use energy-efficient light bulbs and devises. They could potentially save you 30% on lighting costs. Also, the fluorescent light bulbs usually last many years longer than regular bulbs.
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Unplug electronics when not in use.
Unplug battery chargers, video game systems and other electronics that
don't require 24-7 access. Keeping them plugged in could be a drain on
your wallet. You could also use a surge protector power strip to turn
off and unplug the power to multiple items. The point is to avoid the
standby electricity consumption that could be equal to a 100 watt bulb
running 24-7.
Improve the efficiency of your water heater, furnace, air and heating systems. Change and clean all air filters when needed. Wrap your water heater in approved materials and get a timer. Also, seal all of the ducts and channels that your air heating and cooling system flow. These light changes and maintenance could save you around 25%.
Instead of turning up the heat in your home, consider wearing more clothing layers to offset the cold indoor temperatures.
Learn how to read and understand the meters around your home. You can see how much water, gas, and electricity you are using. You may even discover that you have a energy leak somewhere that could have been costing you for some time.
Replace aggressive energy consuming appliances with energy efficient appliances or ENERGY STAR products. If you can afford to make this change the long term savings might be worth it depending on use.
Water Savings
Try using an aerating showerhead or flow restrictors to reduce water costs while showering. And turn off the water while soaping and scrubbing body.
Check if you have leaks by reading the water meter. Read the meter before and then after a two-hour time frame when you are not using water. If the reading is different then you may have a costly leak. To check for a toilet leak, put a few drops of food coloring in the tank. Then look in the bowl to see if the coloring appears. If you can see the coloring placed in the tank, in the bowl and you didn't flush to get it there, then you likely have a leak.
Repair dripping or leaking faucets. You might save 100 gallons a month.
Install ultra-low-flush toilets in you home or business for longer term savings. They can cut water used when flushing down by around 50%.
Wash your dishes by hand in minimal, but safe and comfortable amount of water. The dishwasher uses electricity, gas and water to get the job done. Save the dollars and get some light exercise while you’re at it.
Also, be sure a full load is in the dishwasher if you decide to run it anyway.
Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of waiting for the fresh cold water to flow from your faucet.
Flush your toilet when necessary and skip flushes when it’s comfortable and safe to do so.
Turn off water while brushing teeth. Simple, but an affective way to save gallons of water.
If you let your water run for as long as it takes to get hot water, then consider installing a local water heating system by your sink. Make sure you don’t end-up paying more to heat water locally than you would if you let the water run hot.
Line dry machine washed clothes. Get some rope, clothes pins and you are good to go. When using your machine dryer, be sure to clean the lint trap every time. Also check the dryers outside vent for lint build-up every once in a while. If you can wash your clothes the old fashion way then more power to you. If not, then one more light change would be washing all clothes on the cold water setting to save on heating bills.
Outdoor Water
Water your lawn and plants in the early morning and around dawn to keep the evaporation down.
Water your lawn less often, but when you do water it let the water soak deep into the roots by watering for a longer period of time so the roots grow longer and deeper. Also, allow your grass to grow longer so it blocks the sun from drying out the soil and the taller grass will hold more water.
If you have automatic sprinklers make sure they don’t go on during times of rain.
If you really need to cut back on water costs, consider letting your lawn go. The dry grass will likely grow back when you decide to show it some more love and water.
Choose plants and trees that are drought resistant to cut on watering long term.
Avoid spraying clean driveways and sidewalks. Use a broom instead.
Keep pools covered when not in use to cut down evaporation. Also, use water-saving pool filters if possible.
Gas & Fuel Savings
Avoid driving like a wild man. Aggressive driving habits can consume more fuel than safe rational driving. Increase your savings and the safety of others by avoiding racing styles of driving.
Try to limit the time your car spends idling. Turn it off when you know you will be idling for more than a minute and it’s safe to do so. This might save you 15-19%
Remove any excess weight you may be carrying around in your car. The trunk of your car is a good place to start looking for weight reducing items. 100 extra pounds in your car could mean the difference between saving 2% on gas or losing 2%.
Many vehicles will start to consume more fuel when driving over 60 mph. Increase fuel economy by observing the speed limit.
Word on the street is that using your vehicles cruise control system could save you some gas. Highway driving is the best time to use the cruise control function for savings.
Using overdrive gears is said to save some gas and reduce engine wear.
Make sure your car is properly tuned. A faulty oxygen sensor is known to be a major gas waster. Fixing this item when broken could possibly save you 40% in fuel costs.
Look into Eco Tuning your car. It helps you tune your cars electrical system for fuel efficiency.
Checking and replacing clogged air filters could possibly help you save around 10%.
There are conflicting reports about proper tire inflation helping gas mileage. Either way it’s a safe thing to do and if it does help with fuel economy then great. Also, under or over inflated tires usually wear down faster and need replacement earlier than properly inflated tires.
Using the manufacturer’s recommended motor oil grade is said to increase fuel economy. And look for oil that is energy conserving with friction-reducing additives.
Roll up those windows to reduce air drag in your car and potentially save 5-10% when driving on the highways.
If you are using the A/C then turn it off 5-10 minutes before you reach your destination.
Make sure the gas station is not charging you a fee to use credit. Some gas stations will sneak in .25+ cents per transaction to your gas purchase. Double check this is not happening to you. That maybe the only reason the price per gallon is less at that gas station. They just charge you a fee and get back the supposed savings they showed on the price per gallon. If you are the type that only puts in two or three survival gallons each time you fill up, then this affects you the most.
Don’t drive. Instead walk or use some other mode of transportation. Get in shape and save some dollars.
Buy food less frequently by getting all your groceries for the week and making a list so you don’t drive to the store more often than you need.
Use a gas card that gives you rewards and has no fees. You may get a few free gallons and 5% back on you purchases.
When you fuel up at the station, don’t fill up the tank. If you drive with less gas weight then that’s less fuel burned hauling around the extra gas weight.
Try to buy your fuel when the trading price of oil is down. This one is more complicated because you need to watch the financial markets. But, if you can buy your gas a day or two before political turmoil starts in a oil producing country then you could save a few dollars if you buy before the price spike. Or if you figure that there will be a glut of oil reported that will reduce demand and lower costs.
Avoid fueling up at the first gas station after a long stretch. This gas station will likely have a much higher price per gallon vs. the next stop. If you have to fill up then do it, but if you can hold out for a better less desperate stop then it could help save a few bucks.
Hang out for awhile after a major sporting event or concert. Don’t get stuck for half an hour trying to get out with the rest of the herd. Hang-back, maybe meet the stars and athletes or relax somewhere in the building. When you leave it should only take a few minutes saving you from stress and gas waste.
Change your big snow tires for your all-weather tires as soon as it’s safe to do so. They are usually heavier and the deep rough tread could reduce your fuel economy.
Get that cold weather ice buildup off your car before driving. The weight of all those icicles and increased wind resistance may cost you some mileage.
Take removable roof racks and roof storage cases off when you aren’t using them. Reduce the weight and resistance these items can put on your vehicle.
Avoid accelerating up to red lights and stopped traffic. It’s not always a hit the gas or slam the breaks situation. Sometimes it’s good to let the car use its current momentum to get you where you need to go while keeping to the speed limits.
Accelerating before a hill without speeding might be better on fuel economy than doing it while climbing.
Parking your car to avoid leaving a space in reverse might help some with fuel economy.
Travel the shortest route from point A to B. Avoid hills, and rough terrain when possible.
Get your errands done in one well planned trip. Less back and forth means more savings. And less wear on your engine.
Spend less time in traffic. Leave for work before the rush and leave work after rush hour. You may even get a promotion for being first in the office and last to leave.
Get involved with carpools and ride-sharing programs. Save the gas and strengthen your work relationships.
Work from home whenever possible.
Use public transportation when it’s safe and worth the effort.
Buy a vehicle that gets you around for less.