10 EASY STEPS TO
REDUCING ENERGY IN YOUR HOME
1. Change all your light bulbs from old style to new CFL (compact fluorescent lights) – this is one of the easiest things to do with all the choices we have now in the stores, for every kind of light fixture imaginable. Not only will you be reducing your energy, you’ll be cutting down your costs in the long run because of the life expectancy of the low usage lights. These new lights last anywhere from 4-10 times longer than the old ones.
2. Turn the Lights Off – don’t forget to turn lights off when you go to bed at night and leave for work during the day. Use the natural sunlight that comes in your windows and helps to heat up your home at different times of the year when the leaves are not on the trees … You’d be surprised how much natural light there is and all you really need, once your lose the habit of turning all the lights on!
3. Turn the Heat down – it’s as easy at simple that … when you go to bed, turn the thermostat down. And when you leave the house, turn it down as well. Just those few extra degrees during the hours you are not there will make a difference. Close the shades to keep the heat in when it starts to cool down and light disappears for the day. When the days get warmer, close the shades in the late morning to keep the house cooler from the warm afternoon sun.
4. Cell phone charger – once your cell phone is charged in a couple of hours, unplug the charger to stop the use of unnecessary power.
5. Unplug small appliances – once again, things such as your coffee machine, toaster or any other small appliance that may sit on your counter day after day, “sucks” the energy whether it’s being used or not. Try to make it a habit to unplug these items and only plug them in when you are actually using them.
6. Putting your electronics on power bars – plugging your TV/stereo/DVD player, etc into one power bar that can be turned off whenever not in use can help reduce the “vampire” power that is still being drawn by them when not in use. You can do the same for your computer/printer/scanner as well; turn off when not home or in use.
7. Hang to Dry – just like our mothers used to do … whether using a laundry lift in your laundry room, a clothesline outside or using the door knobs around the house, you can greatly reduce the energy use of your dryer, which is by far one of the biggest energy pigs in your household.
8. Cold Water Washing – with all the products out in the stores now, it’s easy to find one that will allow you to use cold water to do the majority of your laundry. Most of us don’t wear our clothes hard enough or long enough to get them that dirty on a daily basis, so switching to cold water will reduce your energy costs for hot water very quickly.
9. Purchase Energy Star appliances – with the costs of new appliances having come down in the last few years, picking up an Energy Star appliance is the same as one that isn’t ..but the savings will be considerable. Presently Manitoba Hydro offers rebates on front load washing machines. Not only do they save on water and energy costs, but also on laundry soap. You will use 1/3 of the soap, accommodate a larger load of clothes and use 1/3 of the water than a top loader. For your first few loads of laundry in the new front loader, don’t use any soap! You’d be surprised how much soap is still in your clothes from using the old appliance.
10. Outdoor Yard Lights – change to solar lights that are not only easier to install (no more wires and digging!) but come in many different styles, shapes, sizes and it’s free energy!
REMEMBER – it takes doing something at least 12 times to form a new habit … don’t give up too quickly … it’s not you, it’s just a fact of life!