351 Ways To Conserve Energy

351 Ways To Conserve Energy
Conserve-Energy-Future.com
Kukreja, Rinkesh 2/22/2013 The consumption of fossil fuels in last few decades has contributed much to the degradation of our environment. Global warming, climate change, extinction of wildlife species, depletion of ozone layer, and increase in air pollution are few of the problems from which our environment is suffering. In this short report, youll discover few steps that can be used to save energy and make this planet a clean and safe place for our future generations to come.
HEATING SYSTEMS
1. Inspect windows and ductwork for any air leakage. If you do feel air leaking at duct joints, use duct tape to seal them. Winterize windows with weather stripping (for all movable parts) and caulk (for non-moving parts). Eliminating these leaks can reduce heating costs up to 10%. 2. Use kitchen, bath and other ventilating fans sparingly. Leaving them on too long will suck away a tremendous amount of household heat. Turn them off when their job is complete. 3. Turn down your thermostat at night or when youre away for more than four hours during the day. Do not turn off your heating system entirely as this may cause pipes to freeze. 4. Keep heating supply registers and cold-air return registers clear of draperies and furniture to maintain proper air circulation. 5. Keep drapes and shades open during the day to let the sunshine in; close them at night. 6. Dust or vacuum radiator surfaces frequently. Dust and grime impede the flow of heat. 7. Keep lamps, TVs and other electrical appliances away from the thermostat. Heat from these appliances is sensed by the thermostat and could cause your furnace to shut off too soon and restart frequently. 8. Dress warmly to help retain body heat. Wear closely woven fabrics. Dressing in layers retains more heat than a single thick piece of clothing. 9. Keep garage doors closed in winter. An open garage door is just a giant hole that sucks warm air out of your home and lets cold drafts in. 10. When having company, turn down the thermostat before your guests arrive. Their collective body heat will add to the room temperature. 11. Plant evergreen trees on the north side of your home to block winter winds. 12. Install storm windows and doors; this can reduce your winter heat loss by up to 20%. 13. On sunny winter days, open curtains on south-facing windows to help heat your home. 14. Purchase an energy-efficient furnace. Select an energy-efficient furnace model by looking for an AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) rating of 90 percent or greater. 15. Maintain the furnace. Clean your furnace filters monthly or replace if necessary. A clean unit runs more efficiently.
16. Let the sun in. The suns energy can have a noticeable effect on the temperature in your home, especially from windows facing south and west. Keep window shades and drapes open during winter months to let in the suns radiant heat.
Photo by rbawindows
17. Warm with a space heater. A portable space heater can heat a single room without using your furnace to heat the whole house. Using a space heater to heat all or most of your home costs more. Always follow the manufacturers safety instructions when operating space heaters. 18. Use natural gas for heating. Consider switching to a natural gas heating system. Natural gas is less expensive than other heating fuels. 19. Use insulation. Insulate your attic to an R-value of 38 for a gas-heated home and 50 for an electrically heated home; your walls to an R-value of 19; and your sill box (upper portion of your basement walls) to an R-value of 10. Proper insulation allows you to use less energy to keep your home warm. 20. Insulate around windows and doors. Weather-strip and/or caulk all areas of noticeable leaks around windows and doors. Removable caulking is a good option for windows that you open in summer but not in winter.
21. Change your thermostat settings. In the winter, set your thermostat at 60 F when you are sleeping or gone. Set the thermostat to 68 F when you are at home. This can save 10 percent or more on your heating bills every winter. 22. Use the fireplace sparingly. Many older natural fireplaces are inefficient and draw more heat out of the house than they produce. Close the flue to eliminate drafts when not in use. 23. Consider fireplace inserts, doors or covers. If you use your fireplace often, consider these products to help reduce the heat loss in your home when using the fireplace. You save money on your heating bills while still being able to enjoy your fireplace. 24. Control air flow. If you are building a home, replacing heating equipment or remodeling, talk to your heating contractor about the options available to ensure proper air flow. Controlling air flow into and out of your home ensures energy efficiency, comfort and low energy costs. 25. Purchase Energy Star windows. When installing new windows, select, at a minimum, doublepaned (double-glazed) thermal windows. With existing single-paned windows, make sure you use storm windows during the winter months. 26. Have your heating system inspected regularly - especially if it's natural gas. A $50-100 annual tune-up can help reduce your heating costs by up to five percent. 27. If you have a forced-air furnace, do NOT close heat registers in unused rooms. Your furnace is designed to heat a specific square footage of space and can't sense a register is closed - it will continue working at the same pace. In addition, the cold air from unheated rooms can escape into the rest of the house, reducing the effectiveness of all your insulating and weatherizing. 28. 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. 29. Don't set the thermostat higher than you actually want it. It won't heat your home any faster, and it will keep your furnace running longer than necessary. 30. Vacuum registers and vents regularly, and don't let furniture and draperies block the air flow. Inexpensive plastic deflectors can direct air under tables and chairs. 31. If your home has a boiler system, avoid covering radiators with screens or blocking them with furniture. It's also a good idea to add a reflecting panel behind radiators - you can purchase one at a home center or make one yourself with a plywood panel and aluminum foil. 32. If your home has electric baseboard heating, be sure to keep furniture and draperies away from the heaters, and leave at least a three-inch clearance under the heating unit. 33. Keep curtains and blinds closed at night to keep cold air out, but open them during the day to let the sun warm the room. 34. If you have hardwood or tile floors, add area rugs to keep your feet warm.
35. If you'll be going on vacation, lower the thermostat to 55 degrees. This will save energy while preventing water pipes from freezing.
FANS & LIGHTING

36. Use Energy Star compact fluorescent light bulbs. Energy Star compact fluorescent light bulbs last longer and use up to 75 percent less energy than standard light bulbs. 37. Use halogen light bulbs for outdoor lighting (spot lights, flood lights, security lights). They use about 25% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. 38. Turn off lights in any room not being used. Turn on outdoor lights only when needed. 39. When using incandescent bulbs, use the lowest wattage possible or convenient. In many cases a lower wattage bulb can be substituted for the one currently being used. 40. Light-zone your home to save electricity. Concentrate lighting to areas where needed for reading, work and safety. Reduce lighting in little used areas. 41. Install lighting dimmer switches; they save energy by reducing the lighting intensity in a room. 42. Keep light bulbs dust-free. Dust on bulbs could be reducing your light output by 50%. 43. Use timers, motion detectors, heat sensors or photocell controls for light fixtures when possible. 44. Use satin or semi-gloss paint on your walls will reflect more light and allow you to use lower watt bulbs. 45. Put your computer to sleep instead of using a screen saver. 46. Laser printers use an incredible amount of energy. Switch to ink-jet printers. 47. Get rid of your CRT monitor. CRT monitors are energy hogs. Get an LCD monitor for your computer instead. 48. Dump your desktop computer. Laptops use a fraction of the electricity that desktop use. 49. Unplug any appliance thats going unused for long or wont to be used in the near future. Many plugged-in appliances, such as clocks, radios and TVs, can actually draw electricity even if they are not turned on. 50. Replace old, inefficient appliances with new Energy Star appliances. 51. Use natural lighting. Open curtains and shades during the day instead of using lighting. Consider skylights and solar tubes during remodeling or new construction design. This allows the maximum use of natural daylight.
52. Buy LED holiday lights. LED lights use 90 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs.
Photo by samsungtomorrow
53. Plan your lighting. Not every room needs the same amount of general light. Plan within a room to provide general background lighting and supplementary task lighting. A good lighting plan can reduce lighting costs and still provide all the light you need. 54. Use a single, high-watt bulb. Using one high-watt bulb instead of several low-watt bulbs saves energy. Do not exceed the manufacturers recommended wattage for the fixture. 55. Control outdoor lighting. To assure only dusk-to-dawn operation of your outdoor lights, control your fixtures with a photocell or a timer. 56. Turn off lights. Turn off lights when not in use, even for short periods of time. Turning lights off and on uses less energy than if they are left on all the time. 57. Install a timer on indoor lights. Use timers to turn lights on and off to help regulate use. 58. Avoid long-life incandescent light bulbs. Long-life incandescent light bulbs are the least efficient of the incandescent bulbs.
KITCHEN
59. Boil water in a kettle or covered pan; the water will boil faster and use less energy. 60. Keep range-top burners and reflectors clean. They will reflect heat better and you will save energy. 61. Match the size of the pan to the heating element. More heat will get to the pan, and less will be dissipated. 62. Turn off the stove or oven five to 10 minutes before cooking time is up and let trapped heat finish the cooking. 63. Avoid opening the oven door repeatedly to check food while it cooks. This allows heat to escape and requires more energy to complete the job. Use a timer to let you know when food is ready. 64. Use small electric cooking appliances (such as portable grills and skillets) for small meals rather than the stove or oven. 65. Dont preheat the oven unless absolutely necessary and then for no more than 10 minutes. 66. Avoid using the broiler as much as possible; it uses a great deal of energy. 67. Thaw frozen foods thoroughly before cooking. 68. Barbecue outside as much as possible during warm weather months. 69. Cook during cooler hours (early morning and late evening) whenever possible. 70. Use a microwave to cook meals whenever possible; it uses about half the energy of a conventional oven. 71. Use crock pots and slow cookers; they can be as much at 75% more energy efficient than stoves and ovens. 72. Use cold water rather than hot to operate your garbage disposal. Cold water also helps get rid of grease by solidifying it, so it can then be ground up and washed away. 73. After using your oven, leave it open a crack to let warm air escape into your kitchen. (Dont do this if you have children or pets around). 74. Use smaller kitchen appliances whenever possible. Microwaves, toaster ovens and slow-cookers can use 75 percent less energy than a large electric oven. 75. Water heaters should be close to kitchen so that it does not have to travel through a long distance of pipe and lose its heat
76. Reuse old jars in your kitchen. Use them to store bulk items. Remember the concept of Reuse, Reduce and Recycle.
WATER HEATER
77. Purchase an energy-efficient model. The initial cost may be more but operating costs are less in the long run. Consider a tank less or instantaneous water heater, which uses energy only when hot water is needed, rather than maintaining 40 gallons or more of hot water all the time. 78. Purchase the correct size. Consider your familys hot water needs. If your water heater is too large, it uses more energy than needed. If it is too small, you may run out of hot water. 79. Purchase a natural gas water heater. If you currently have an electric water heater, consider replacing it with a natural gas water heater. When it comes to heating water, natural gas is less expensive than electricity, and it heats more water faster during heavy use. Consider a sealed combustion or an on-demand water heater. Both types use less energy. 80. Install your water heater near the kitchen. The kitchen is where you use the hottest water. When the water heater is located near the kitchen, hot water doesnt have to travel as far and less heat is lost. 81. Insulate water pipes. Use half-inch foam or pipe tape for insulation wherever pipes are exposed. On cold water pipes, insulate four to five feet nearest to the water heater. Pipe insulation can save you up to $25 annually. 82. Set the water temperature to 120 F. It takes less energy to heat water to a lower temperature. If you have an electric water heater, youll have to remove the cover plate of the thermostat to adjust the temperature. For safety reasons, remember to turn off the water heater at the circuit breaker/fuse before changing the temperature. 83. Repair dripping faucets promptly. If the faucet leaks hot water, the energy used to heat it is costing you money. (One drop a second can waste up to 48 gallons a week!) 84. Install a heat loop or in-line trap. If you add a new water heater to your home, consider having a heat loop or in-line trap installed. These mechanisms can be inexpensive to install and keep hot water from moving into the piping system when you are not using hot water. Ask your plumbing contractor for details. 85. Reduce deposits and build-ups. Drain a bucket of water from the bottom of the water heater once or twice a year to reduce mineral deposits and sediment build-up. This increases water heater efficiency. Dont drain the water heater, though, if youve used it for a year or more and have never drained it. The faucet may have corroded shut and could break if you force it open. Before draining the water from an electric water heater, turn off the water heater at the circuit breaker/fuse.
86. Install water saving devices. Use low-flow showerheads on all showers and faucet aerators on all faucets to reduce your hot water use. 87. Install a water softener. If you have hard water, install a water softener to prevent mineral deposits from coating the elements. This helps prolong water heater life and saves energy and money. 88. Turn down the water heater temperature dial to 130 degrees F or less; 120 degrees F is recommended for most home hot water needs. 89. When you need a new water heater, purchase a unit with a high Energy Factor (EF) rating. EF ratings such as those of 91 and above correspond with greater efficiency. The higher the rating the more efficiently the unit will operate. 90. Insulate the outside of your electric water heater with an insulation blanket to reduce heat loss; this can easily save you $10 to $20 per year. 91. Turn down your hot water heater to its lowest setting when you go on vacation or are away from the house for an extended time period. 92. Drain a bucket of water out of the hot water heater once a year to remove sediment and dirty water and improve heating efficiency.
ROOM AIR CONDITINER

93. Dont over-cool. The ideal thermostat setting is between 75F and 78F. Every degree you raise your thermostat can result in a 5% savings on the cost of cooling your home. 94. Keep lamps, televisions and other heat sources away from the air conditioner thermostat. Heat from these sources may cause the air conditioner unit to run longer than it should. 95. Make sure that no furniture or other obstacles are blocking ducts or fans. This will enable cooled air to circulate more freely. 96. When selecting a central air conditioning unit, be sure to choose one that is sized appropriately for your home and uses the minimal amount of electricity to complete its task. Air conditioners with high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratios (SEERs) such as 13.0 SEER and above provide the greatest energy efficiency. 97. Install a ventilating fan in your attic or in an upstairs window to help dissipate hot air and cool down your home. 98. Dont set your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn your air conditioner on. It will not cool the room any faster, but it will use more energy. 99. Use a ceiling fan in conjunction with your air conditioner to spread cooled air to other rooms.
100. Clean or replace air conditioning filters monthly. A clean air filter improves system efficiency, which leads to energy savings. 101. Close all windows and outside doors when the air conditioner is operating.
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102. Clean the outside air conditioner condenser coil once a year. Turn off the unit and spray the coils with water at a low pressure to remove dirt, dust, leaves and grime. 103. Use duct tape to seal the cracks between each section of an air duct on your central air conditioning or forced heating system. 104. Close your blinds, curtains and shades during the hottest part of the day. Keep out the daytime sun with vertical louvers or awnings on the outside of your windows. 105. Keep lights low or off when not needed. Electric lights generate unnecessary room heat. 106. Plant shade trees strategically around your home. Properly selected and planted shade trees can save up to $80 annually on the average electric bill.
107. Apply sun-control or other reflective films on south-facing windows to reduce solar heating of your homes interior. 108. Take brief, cool showers this summer to keep humidity out of the air and reduce the load on your A/C. 109. Purchase an Energy Star model. Energy Star room air conditioners cost at least 10 percent less to operate than conventional models. 110. Use a timer. Set the plug-in timer to turn off the air conditioner when you leave home and to turn it on just before you return. 111. Purchase a unit with varying fan speeds. Use a room air conditioner with fan speed control. This allows faster cooling when needed and quieter, more efficient operation at other times. 112. Keep the unit centrally located. To allow better air circulation, install your room air conditioner in the window or area of the wall that is nearest to the middle of the space being cooled. 113. Seal the unit. Once a room air conditioner is in place, seal the space around it with rope caulk or some other sealant to prevent warm outside air from leaking in. 114. Dont set the thermostat at high initially. When you first turn on your room air conditioner, set the thermostat at normal or medium. Setting it any colder wont cool the room any faster. X 115. Keep the unit out of the sun. Locate your room air conditioner on the shady side of your home. It will operate more efficiently in a cooler location. 116. Close the fresh-air vent. Make sure the fresh-air vent is closed when the room air conditioner is operating so you arent cooling outside air. Open the vent when the outside air is cooler to let in fresh air. 117. Remove the unit at the end of the cooling season. Take your room air conditioner out of the window when the cooling season is over. If you must leave the unit in place, cover the outside of the unit with a weatherproof cover and fill any cracks around the unit with removable caulk. 118. 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 plantings at least one foot away for adequate airflow. 119. During late afternoon and early evening, turn off unnecessary lights and wait to use heatproducing appliances. It's also a good idea to shade south- and west- facing windows during the hottest part of the day. 120. Plant a tree. One well-placed shade tree can reduce your cooling costs by 25 percent. For maximum benefit, place leafy shade trees to the south and west, and evergreens to the north.
121. 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. 122. Set the fan on your central air conditioner to "on" rather than "auto." This will circulate air continuously, keeping the temperature more even throughout the house and aiding in dehumidification. 123. Make sure your window air conditioner is the proper size. It's better to get one that's too small than too large - a larger unit will start up and turn off more frequently and won't do as good a job dehumidifying the air. 124. Don't judge the efficiency of your air conditioner by the sound of the fan shutting on and off. The blower will continue to circulate cooled air throughout your home up to 15 minutes after the compressor has stopped. (The same holds true for the furnace.) 125. Raise the thermostat to about 78 to 80 degrees whenever you go to bed or leave the house. A programmable thermostat will do this for you automatically. 126. If your home can't accommodate central air conditioning, try a whole-house attic fan. This device pushes hot air out through attic vents, lowering the temperature throughout your home about five degrees in less than ten minutes. Attic fans cost less than 25 cents per day to operate. 127. During the winter, remove window air conditioners and seal the windows with caulk and weather-stripping. You might also want to cover the central air compressor with a tarp to keep it clean
REFRIGERATORS & FREEZERS

128. Vacuum the coils on your refrigerator at least every three months. Dust and dirt build-up makes the refrigerator work harder and uses more energy. 129. Set the refrigerator thermostat at 38 degrees F for fresh food compartments and 5 degrees F for the freezer compartment. 130. Regularly defrost your freezer. Frost buildup increases the amount of energy needed to keep the refrigerator at its proper temperature. Never allow frost to build up more than one quarter of an inch. 131. Dont place your refrigerator or freezer in direct sunlight or near the stove. 132. Make sure your refrigerator door seals airtight. Test them by closing the door on a piece of paper or dollar bill so it is half in and half out of the refrigerator. If you can pull the paper or dollar out easily, the hinge may need adjusting or the seal may need replacing.
133. Keep the refrigerator door closed. Each time you open the refrigerator, up to 1/4 of the cold air inside can leak out. Stop making unnecessary trips to the fridge. 134. Purchase an Energy Star model. When buying a new refrigerator or freezer, look for the Energy Star label. Energy Star refrigerators and freezers can save you hundreds of dollars on your electric bill over the life of the appliance. Remember, older refrigerators and freezers use two to three times more electricity than ones that are 10 years old or less. 135. Select the right size. Determine your households needs before purchasing a refrigerator or freezer. One that is too large wastes energy. 136. Only use one refrigerator or freezer. You can spend up to $120 in electricity per year using a second refrigerator or freezer. If you want to use a second refrigerator or freezer during holidays or for special occasions, turn it on one to two days before you need it. 137. Dont set the temperature colder than necessary. Set the refrigerator temperature between 36 F and 42 F. Set the freezer control so the temperature is between -5 F and +6 F. A small thermometer placed in the refrigerator or freezer will help you set it correctly. 138. Clean the unit. Clean dust off the condenser coils, fins, evaporator pan and motor once or twice a year. A clean unit runs more efficiently. Unplug the unit and clean with a vacuum cleaner or long-handled brush. 139. Defrost a manual-defrost unit regularly. Frost makes your unit work harder and wastes energy. Dont allow more than one-quarter inch of frost to build up. 140. Stay away from direct heat. Place the refrigerator or freezer away from direct sunlight and other heat sources such as ovens or ranges. Heat will cause the unit to use more energy to stay cold. 141. Do not place the unit in unheated space. Dont place your refrigerator or automatic defrost freezer in a garage, porch or other unheated space. If the temperature drops below 60 F, the unit will be less efficient and cost more money to operate. Or, the compressor may stop running, causing the temperature inside the freezer compartment to rise. Stored food could spoil. 142. Check the seals. Refrigerator and freezer doors should seal tightly. Loose seals cause your unit to work harder and use more energy. If you can move a dollar bill through the closed door, the seal is not tight enough. Get the seals replaced or replace the unit if it is an older model. 143. Keep the refrigerator temperature about 36-38 degrees, and the freezer at 0-5 degrees. 144. Don't overload the refrigerator or freezer. 145. Make sure the refrigerator is level, so the door automatically swings shut instead of open. 146. Check the seal on your refrigerator door by closing it on a dollar bill. If you can pull the bill out easily, it's time to replace the gaskets
DISHWASHER
147. When buying a dishwasher, look for an energy-efficient model with air power or overnight dry setting. These features automatically turn off the dishwasher after the rinse cycle. This can save you up to 10% of your dishwashing energy costs. 148. Scrape dishes and rinse with cold water before loading them into the dishwasher. Avoid using the dishwashers pre-rinse cycle.
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149. Dont use the rinse-hold on your machine for just a few soiled dishes. It uses several gallons of hot water each time you use it. X 150. Run full loads. Always wait until you have a full load before running your dishwasher. Full loads use the same amount of hot water and energy as smaller loads. You run fewer loads and save energy. 151. Use short cycles. Select the shortest cycle that properly cleans your dishes. Shorter cycles use less hot water and less energy.
152. Skip rinsing the dishes. If you do rinse, use cold water. 153. Clean the filter. If your dishwasher has a filter screen, clean it regularly. A clean appliance runs more efficiently. 154. Don't bother pre-rinsing dishes with the idea that your dishwasher will work less hard.
BUYING NEW APPLIANCES

155. Remember that it pays to invest in energy efficiency. In some cases, the money you save in energy costs can pay back the purchase price in just a few years. 156. Always read the Energy Guide label carefully, and make sure you're comparing "apples to apples." Energy use can range significantly even within a single brand. 157. Choose the capacity that's right for your family. Whether it's a furnace or a refrigerator, it doesn't pay to purchase a unit that's too large or too small. 158. In almost every case, a natural gas appliance is more economical to use than an electric model. The $50-75 price difference can be paid back in energy savings in less than a year. 159. Replace inefficient appliances - even if they're still working. An aging water heater or refrigerator could be costing you much more than you think. If your central air conditioner is more than 10 years old, replacing it with a high-efficiency new unit will cut your summer electric bills by about one-third. 160. Shop during the off-season. Many heating and cooling manufacturers offer significant rebates during seasonal sales promotions, and dealers may charge less for installation. 161. Investigate new technology carefully. Some innovations, like convection ovens or argon-filled windows, may save energy and make life more convenient; others, such as commercial-grade kitchen appliances, might be merely expensive cosmetic enhancements. 162. Look for the "Energy Star" logo. This designation from the Environmental Protection Agency means that the appliance exceeds minimum federal energy- use standards, usually by a significant amount. 163. Don't forget to ask about warranties, service contracts, and delivery and installation costs. 164. Be sure to choose a reputable and knowledgeable dealer. A good dealer should be able to help you calculate energy savings and the payback period, and he or she should offer you a range of brands and prices.
WASHER, DRYER & LAUNDRY

165. Wash clothes in warm or cold water instead of hot water. Rinse in cold water; this can save you about $50 per year. 166. Put a dry towel in the dryer with each load of wet clothes. The towel will absorb dampness and reduce drying time, thus saving energy and money. 167. Fill washers and clothes dryers but do not overload them. 168. Clean the lint screen after each load of laundry and check the exhaust regularly. Clogged, dirty lint screens and exhausts can increase drying time and energy usage.
Photo by coalitionsudbury
169. Dry your clothes on an outside clothesline whenever possible. 170. Remove clothes from the dryer and hang to dry while they are still damp. Theyll dry without wrinkles, thus avoiding the need to iron. 171. Avoid ironing clothes. Wear wrinkle-free clothing and save yourself time, money, and energy.
172. Use a front-loading washing machine; they require less water and energy than other washing machines. 173. Use less detergent and skip the extra rinse cycle on your washing machine to save water and time. If your clothes need to be rinsed twice, youre using too much soap. 174. Adjust the water level. If you have a washer that allows you to control the loads water level, adjust the level according to laundry load size. You can save energy by using less hot water for small loads. 175. Run full loads. Always run a full load in your washer or dryer. Running a partial load uses the same amount of energy as a full load but you get less done. Running full loads allows you to run your washer or dryer less often. 176. Wash laundry in warm or cold water. Washing laundry with warm or cold water works your water heater less. Use hot water only when the greatest cleaning is needed. 177. Rinse in cold water. Rinse water temperature has no effect on cleaning. Rinsing with cold water saves money by heating less water. 178. Place the washer close to the water heater. Water loses heat as it flows through pipes. When the washer is located near the water heater, hot water doesnt have to travel as far to reach the washer, and less heat is lost. Insulating the pipes between the water heater and washer helps retain heat, too. 179. Dont dry clothes excessively. Drying laundry excessively uses more energy than is needed, and is hard on fabrics. If you purchase a dryer, get one with an electronic sensor that shuts off the dryer when clothes are dry. 180. Clean the lint filter. After each load, clean the filter to keep the dryer running efficiently. Also, periodically check the air vent and hose for clogging. Keeping the air vent and hose free of lint prevents a fire hazard.
FOR TRAVELLERS
181. Put indoor and outdoor lights on timers. 182. Dont leave your lights on 24/7 while youre away. 183. Put water heater on the vacation setting, if it has one. 184. Choose green-rated hotels when travelling for business or pleasure. 185. Pull the plug on my battery chargers. Laptops, cell phones and digital cameras always draw power if theyre plugged in.
186. Drive steadily and a bit slower. Hard acceleration and abrupt braking will use more fuel than if you start and slow more moderately.
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187. If you travel at 65 mph instead of 55, you are penalized by lowering your mileage 12.5 percent. If you get your vehicle up to 75 mph, you're losing 25 percent compared with mileage at 55 mph. 188. A loaded roof rack can decrease an SUV's fuel efficiency by 5 percent and that of a more aerodynamic car by 15 percent or more. 189. Stick with regular. If your car's manufacturer specifies regular gas, don't buy premium with the thought of going faster or operating more efficiently. 190. After starting the car in the morning, begin driving right away; don't let it sit and "warm up" for several minutes. 191. If your windows don't have a low-E coating, consider applying a self-adhesive film on the glass. 192. Use reusable containers for food storage instead of wrapping food in foil or plastic wrap. 193. Be aware of your paint you use - Use latex paint instead of oil-based paint. Oil-based paint is highly toxic.
194. Inflate your tires well. This preserves the life of the tires and saves gas, which ultimately saves money. 195. Recharge Your Batteries.
AT OFFICE
196. Train myself or an employee to become an Energy Conservation Officer. 197. Making conservation someones responsibility will set your business on the path of saving energy. 198. Participate in an OPA commercial demand response program. 199. Your company can benefit even more from your efforts to conserve. Learn more at saveonenergy.ca . 200. Organize conservation learning opportunities for the people who work with me. 201. Educate and encourage employees who identify and implement energy savings. 202. Reward the people who work with me for their innovative, money-saving ideas. 203. Celebrate the implementation of successful energy efficiency measures. 204. Ensure meeting rooms are equipped with light switches. 205. Install light emitting diodes (LEDs) in suitable 24-hour-use locations. 206. Consider them for elevators, hallways and parking garages. 207. Replace my incandescent or fluorescent EXIT signs with LED EXIT signs. 208. Install high-quality electronic ballasts along with T8 florescent tubes. 209. Install new high-performance chillers. 210. This will improve the performance of your buildings air conditioning system. 211. Use modular load control technology. 212. This technology can reduce energy use by briefly cycling off electricity demand. 213. Install effective automatic door closers. 214. Doors cant save energy if theyre not closed!
AT WORK- EMPLOYEES
215. Turn off meeting room lights when not in use. 216. In the summer, unnecessary lighting can increase air conditioning load. 217. Dim, turn off or remove lights near windows in the daytime. 218. Use efficient task lighting where needed.
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219. Use the stairs instead of taking the elevator. It not only saves energy, its good exercise too. 220. Unplug coffeemakers, toasters and microwaves. 221. Make sure theyre unplugged on weekends and before shutting the office down for the holidays. 222. Keep entrance doors closed. 223. Use the revolving doors into my office building.
224. Revolving doors keep heat and cool air inside. 225. Use standby mode for computers and copiers. 226. These tend to be in use only a fraction of the time they are turned on. 227. Turn all equipment off at the end of the day. 228. This includes lights, copiers, computers and computer monitors. 229. Use paper-reducing strategies. 230. Consider double-sided printing, re-using paper, and using e-mail instead of mailing or faxing documents.
WHILE DRIVING
231. When driving, avoid quick breaking and starting as it decreases mileage 232. Dont start the car before settling well in it. Read more on gas saving tips. 233. Avoid as much as possible getting stuck in traffic jams as they also decrease mileage 234. Keep your tires properly inflated-under-inflated tires will reduce mileage 235. Use premium unleaded gasoline because it is more efficient, although its debatable. 236. Use air conditioning only when it is necessary 237. Open window or close them to adjust the heat instead of using the air conditioner. 238. Park in a shade to prevent your car from overheating and reliance on air-conditioning 239. Service your air conditioner to ensure it works efficiently and it does not leak CFCs 240. Do not turn off your engine if you are stopping for less than 30 seconds 241. Drive slowly, my mile-per-gallon indicator runs at highest efficiency at 55 mph speed on high ways. 242. Use the right oil for your car 243. Take your car for regular maintenance 244. Take used oil to a recycling center; dont drop it in your trash can.
245. Remove luggage racks if you do not use them 246. Travel light, dont carry excessive luggage, a lighter car consumes less gas. 247. Buy a vehicle that is energy efficient 248. Combine your errands rather than making a trip every time you need something 249. Drive only when you must, carpool when you can. 250. Use smaller vehicle while driving alone 251. Use scooter/bike for small errands
OTHER ENERGY SAVERS

252. Get rid of spare refrigerators or freezers. An extra appliance can add more than $100 to your energy bills every year, and it's a safety hazard for small children. 253. Keep outdoor hot tubs covered when not in use. If you have a pool, use a solar cover to use the natural warmth of the sun to heat the water. 254. Keep waterbeds covered with quilts or blankets to help retain their heat. You might also want to insulate the bottom with a sheet of rigid foam insulation. 255. Keep the garage door closed, especially during the winter. 256. If you need a new lawn mower, consider an electric model. They're less expensive to operate (about three cents of electricity per use), 75 percent quieter, and they significantly reduce toxic emissions. 257. Instead of air-polluting and expensive charcoal or propane, try an electric or natural gas grill. They're more economical and more convenient - you'll never run out of fuel. 258. Unplug any electrical device that's not being used. Many appliances, especially computers, televisions and VCRs draw power even when turned off. 259. Place humidifiers and dehumidifiers away from walls and bulky furniture. These appliances work best when air circulates freely around them. Be sure to clean the unit often to prevent unhealthy mold and bacteria from developing. 260. If your home has no sidewall insulation, place heavy furniture like bookshelves, armoires and sofas along exterior walls, and use decorative quilts as wall hangings. This will help block cold air. 261. When you take a vacation, don't forget to give your appliances a rest too. Turn off and unplug everything you can, set your water heater to the lowest setting and shut off the water supply to the dishwasher and washing machine.
262. Use solar energy to heat the swimming pool.
Photo by solareworld
263. You can actually go solar energy route for all your energy need, if you have money for the equipment upfront. 264. Trees will protect your home from the heat hence reduce energy spent in cooling 265. Heat your swimming pool only when necessary 266. Dont idle in your car, you may have to turn on the air conditioning 267. Put vinyl foam covers in your hot tub to save energy 268. Plant trees to protect your home from winds 269. Use rain water for watering plants to reduce reliance on pumped water 270. Take advantage of gravity when collecting and pumping water outside your home
271. Water lawns in the morning. Read more on saving water. 272. Dont water lawns in the rainy season 273. Use drip irrigation instead of sprinklers 274. Use less plastic, use reusable shopping bags. 275. Reuse and re-purpose your tools and containers. Heres 30 ways to reuse bottles. 276. Use emails and e-Greetings and try to reduce the usage of physical mails and letters to save paper. 277. Use less fertilizer, use more of organic compost 278. Mulch your plants to retain moisture 279. Sweep sidewalks, dont use a hose-it wastes energy 280. Organize planting events in your neighborhood. 281. Believe it or not, BBQ pollutes the air, I feel the pain when theres some steak burning nearby, I feel sick inside. Does everybody need to smell it? 282. Check your hoses and connectors for faults that may lead you to using more energy 283. Carpool or walk to reduce carbon dioxide pollution in the air. 284. Buy in bulk--this saves not only on packaging that you would eventually have to dispose of, but reduces tremendously the amount of industrial waste generated to make the packaging. 285. Shop for durable, long-lasting products. For example, use a metal razor instead of disposables, or a metal roasting pan instead of a disposable one. 286. Reuse whatever you can, including aluminum pie tins, glassware, plastic cutlery and aluminum foil. 287. Buy products with recycled contents. 288. Make an effort to buy products with recyclable packaging. 289. Leave the grass clippings on the lawn. 290. Start a backyard composting bin for yard clippings. 291. Make recycling easy by putting recycle bins in the rooms where you use the products.
292. Replace paper cups, plates and napkins with washable, reusable cups and plates and cloth napkins. 293. Print or copy on both sides of the paper. 294. Use smaller paper for smaller memos.
Photo by sirwiseowl
295. Plant trees in your community. 296. Think twice about buying "disposable" products. 297. Buy paper products instead of plastic if you must buy "disposables." 298. Buy locally grown food and locally made products when possible. 299. Join a conservation organization. 300. Volunteer your time to energy conservation projects. 301. Give money to energy conservation projects. 302. Collect the water used to wash vegetables and salad to water your houseplants.
303. Turn off the water while you are brushing your teeth 304. Use rechargeable batteries, instead of disposable ones 305. Turn off your lights and any electronics when not in use 306. Use rags or hand towels instead of paper towels or napkins. 307. Buy fruits and veggies loose, and not in plastic bags. 308. Decrease TV watching. 309. Recycle paper products (newspaper, office paper, cardboard, etc), aluminum, glass, tin, steel, plastic, batteries and everything else possible. 310. Mend and repair, rather than discard and replace. 311. Re-use manila envelopes and file folders. 312. Buy a water bottle for yourself. Refill, use it, and carry it with you at all times. 313. Don't use electrical appliances for things you can easily do by hand, such as opening cans. 314. Save wire coat hangers and return them to the dry cleaners. 315. Turn off the lights, TV, or other electrical appliances when you are out of a room. 316. Flush the toilet less often. 317. Start a compost pile. 318. Plant short, dense shrubs close to your home's foundation to help insulate your home against cold. 319. Use mulch to conserve water in your garden. 320. Keep your car tuned up 321. Use public transit whenever possible. 322. On weekends, ride your bike or walk instead. 323. Buy a more fuel-efficient model (such as a hybrid or electric) when you're ready for a new car. 324. Recycle your engine oil. 325. Keep your tires properly inflated to save gas.
326. Keep your wheels properly aligned to save your tires. (It's safer too.) 327. Keep outdoor hot tubs covered when not in use. 328. Keep waterbeds covered with quilts or blankets to help retain their heat. 329. Decorate with pale colors on walls, ceilings and floors. You will use less light. 330. Get rid of spare refrigerators or freezers. 331. Inflate your tires well. This preserves the life of the tires and saves gas, which ultimately saves money.
Photo by alextoshev
332. Keep outdoor hot tubs covered when not in use. 333. Keep waterbeds covered with quilts or blankets to help retain their heat. 334. Keep the garage door closed, especially during the winter. 335. If you need a new lawn mower consider an electric model.
336. Instead of air-polluting and expensive charcoal or propane, try an electric or natural gas grill 337. Use reusable containers for food storage instead of wrapping food in foil or plastic wrap. 338. Be aware of your paint you use - Use latex paint instead of oil-based paint. Oil-based paint is highly toxic. 339. Subscribe to eco-friendly blogs like Kitchen Stewardship, Live Renewed, Simple Homemade. 340. Bring your own shopping bags to the grocery store. 341. If your purchase is small don't take any bag 342. Use small plastic bottles, filled with water or stones to displace the amount of water in toilets. 343. Use cloth diapers when you put a diaper on your child 344. Recycle toilet paper rolls to make a phone stand or pen holder. 345. Say No to paper bill. Subscribe for e-bill instead. 346. Reuse old paper, Let your child draw paintings or do some mathematical calculations on back of the paper. 347. Use renewable energy sources. Install a small solar power plant on your roof or small wind turbine on your backyard. 348. Use cloth instead of paper to clean your kitchen or to dry your hands. 349. Better walk if you need to cover a small distance. It will help keep you fit and also save energy. 350. Plant native plants rather than rare, exotic species. Plants native to your soil require less care and water. It is a good chance to reduce your cost. 351. Paint the walls of your rooms with no-VOC paint as these emit harmful gases into the air, affecting your health and surroundings.

351 Ways To Conserve Energy

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351 Ways To Conserve Energy

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351 Ways To Conserve Energy

FANS & LIGHTING

ROOM AIR CONDITINER

REFRIGERATORS & FREEZERS

BUYING NEW APPLIANCES

WASHER, DRYER & LAUNDRY

OTHER ENERGY SAVERS

262. Use solar energy to heat the swimming pool.

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