Steps to Energy Saving

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Since the economic downturn, people have been looking for ways to reduce their regular expenses, and one of the ready solutions has been to cut down their consumption of energy. This has been one of the easiest solutions to budget problems because it requires only minor adjustments to one’s daily routines.

Obvious Steps to Saving Energy

You may not realize it, but there are many things that you probably do on a daily basis that waste energy. By simply being more conscious about these things, you can significantly reduce unnecessary use of energy. Here are some examples:

-          Turning Off Unused Lights: This is probably the mother of all obvious steps to saving energy. Unfortunately, many people still ignore this little helpful tip. True, lights, especially energy-efficient ones like LEDs and fluorescent lights, really don’t comsume much electricity compared to, say, air conditioners, TVs and the like. Still, you have to start small, and how much trouble could it be to turn off the lights in a room that you won’t be coming back to in the next 10 minutes?

-          “Shut Down,” Not “Sleep”: With computers now able to “sleep,” or even “hibernate” in order to save energy when not in use, it seems that more and more people have taken these features for granted and hardly ever shut down their computers and laptops anymore. Unfortunately, even when in energy saving mode, such electronic devices still use up electricity.

Less Common Steps to Saving Energy

If you’re really serious about saving energy, then there are other things that you should consider doing:

-          Switching to Alternative Energy: Although many people would like to be less dependent on the local power grid, they are reluctant to start using solar or wind energy because of the money they will have to spend initially. But if you can think long term, you will realize that having free access to renewable sources of energy like the sun and wind will save you a lot of money on energy bills, as well as make your home a more environmentally friendly place.

-          Wise Use of Appliances: Don’t start the dishwasher until it’s stocked full of plates, cups, bowls, and utensils. Do the same with the washing machine and the dryer. Turn off the electric stove a little before the food is completely cooked, since the hot surface will continue to slowly cook the food. Make sure that you air conditioner is situated at the top of your room, near the ceiling, and that your heater is located near the floor.

-          Downsizing Appliances: If you are serious about saving energy, then you should consider using a smaller TV, perhaps, or turning off your supped up sound system.

-          Installing A Clock Thermostat: By using a clock thermostat, you can program your house to be the right temperature at the right time, while making sure that you don’t consume energy needlessly by keeping your heater or air conditioner running even when there’s no one in the house.