Practical Energy Saving Tips

By Author: Danny Schaaf
Total Articles: 1
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The economic and environmental issues that the world is facing today, has forced many people to come up with ingenious methods of saving energy. However, there are some simple and practical saving energy tips that do not require any invention.

The economic and environmental issues that the world is facing today, has forced many people to come up with ingenious methods of saving energy. However, there are some simple and practical saving energy tips that do not require any invention. You can utilize these tips in your house and save a lot of money on your monthly utility bills and achieve a positive impact on the environment.

First, you should always adjust the temperature settings on your thermostat for optimal performance. This will substantially reduce your heating costs. Just lowering the temperature by a couple of degrees is an energy saving method that can reduce as much as three percent on your monthly electricity bill. If you want to really maximize your savings, consider lowering the thermostat settings even more when you are not at home and at night.

Setting the correct temperature on the thermostat ...
... of your water heater is another way that you can save power. You should set the thermostat at around 60degrees Celsius. Setting a higher temperature will just force the heater to add some more cold water until the temperature is just right for your usage.

Turning off the lights is another simple energy saving method that you should consider. Always turn all your electrical appliances off completely when not in use or consider using a smart surge protector. Most appliances have a “stand-by” mode, which allows you to activate them conveniently and quickly. However, leaving your appliances on can waste up to ten percent or more of your electricity.

Never leave certain appliances plugged in. There are some appliances designed to consume electricity even when they are not in use. The microwave is a good example of this. All you need to do in order to save power is to unplug your appliances.

Optimize the power options of your computer. Instead of using a screen-saver, adjust your settings so that your monitor shuts off automatically when the computer is idle. Doing this can save power and reduce your electricity bill annually.

LCD monitors for your computer consume less electricity than conventional CRT monitors. They also require a lot less space and typically look better on your desk. Such a simple upgrade will be a good energy saving decision.

Incandescent light bulbs are ancient relics that provide way too little illumination while consuming way too much energy. Replace any incandescent bulbs with fluorescent compact bulbs, and you will be able to save power. When you are buying new appliances, look for new innovative energy saving appliances that are coming up. It is good to purchase the ones with the Energy Star logo and an Energy Efficient Ratio of 10 or more. To reap double savings, purchase appliances you can take a tax credit at the end of the year.

Simple but wise shopping decisions can help you in energy saving. Purchasing a front-loading washing machine instead of a top-loading machine is a good example of such a decision. Another laundry-related energy saving tip that you can use is to dry your clothes on a clothesline instead of using the electric dryer even in good weather.
Resource: http://www.mxenergy.com/saving-energy-t-9.html