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Green Tips
Maintain your central air conditioner by cleaning the outside compressor with a garden hose. (Be sure to shut off power at the fuse or breaker first). Keep plants at least one foot away from unit for adequate airflow.
Reflective window film can help reduce heat gain during the summer, and it will keep furniture and carpets from fading.
Set the water heater temperature at 120-degrees, about halfway between low and medium. This will help save energy and prevent scalding while keeping unhealthy bacteria from growing.
Plant during the spring or fall when the watering requirements are lower.
Divide your watering cycle into shorter periods to reduce runoff and allow for better absorption every time you water.
Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. Longer grass shades root systems and holds soil moisture better than a closely clipped lawn.
Replace an incandescent outdoor light or high-intensity floodlight with a high-pressure sodium fixture. The bulbs will last longer, use less energy, and handle temperature extremes better.
Install a low-flow showerhead. They're inexpensive, easy to install, and can save your family more than 500-gallons a week.
Don't buy recreational water toys that require a constant flow of water.
Use a hose nozzle and turn off the water while you wash your car and save more than 100-gallons.
Unplug any electrical device that's not being used. Many appliances, especially computers, televisions and VCRs draw power even when turned off.
Place humidifiers and dehumidifiers away from walls and bulky furniture. These appliances work best when air circulates freely around them.Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.
Minimize evaporation by watering during the early morning hours, when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter.
Install a programmable thermostat. If you use it to set back the temperature by 10-degrees for eight hours every night, you'll lower your heating bills by 10-percent. A $50 digital thermostat can pay for itself in energy savings in less than a year.Plug the bathtub before turning the water on, then adjust the temperature as the tub fills up.
Use ceiling fans to help circulate air throughout the house, and make sure your attic is properly ventilated. A ceiling fan should run clockwise during the summer, and counter-clockwise during the winter.
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Electricity Truly Powers AmericaReported by: Courtney Collins, KARK 4 News
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 @04:10pm CST
Electricity truly powers America. But ask most people and they'd love to cut back. For them it's a pocketbook issue. For the planet it's a health issue. Anybody who pays bills can tell you… electric rates continue to rise. That’s the hit to the pocket book. Here’s the hit to the environment. More than half the electricity that's produced in this country is coal generated. That means atmospheric emissions. Use less electricity and you'll kill two birds with one stone. You'll lower your bills and reduce pollution.
When it comes to energy for heating and cooling… U.S. homes consume 6 times the world average. You might want to consider an energy audit for your home. You can contact your power company or look on-line. Rich Beasley is with Pennsylvania power and light, a major electrical provider in the Northeast. He says there are many ways to cut back on the amount of power we use.
Beasley said, “If you have a 30-35 year-old heating system that's really costing you a lot of money you might want to consider getting rid of it, getting something that's a lot more energy efficient. Put your thermostat on an inside wall in the home that's away from any drafts or any heat. Energy efficient storm windows can save electricity too. It's the same story with insulation. And don't forget those small appliances. Hook your major appliances that have standby power up to a power strip or surge protector and you can turn your power off to those appliances and/or entertainment units at the surge protector or at the powerstrip and thus you don't have the energy coursing through a non-working entertainment unit or DVD player."
Over time, consumers should start to see those savings add up.
"Some savings might not amount to much in a week. But they will amount to something in a month and especially in a year!"
52 percent of the electricity produced in the U.S. comes from coal. Nearly 20 percent is nuclear… 16 percent natural gas… and another 7 percent is from hydroelectric plants.
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