10 easy ways to cut energy consumption

JayHMorrison

http://www.mtpc.org/2004dev/cleanenergy/ten.htm

1) Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water
2) Install Compact Fluorescents
3) Use the Microwave
4) Weatherstrip and Caulk
5) Pull the Plug on appliances when not using them
6) Switch the Showerhead
7) Adjust the Thermostat
Cool

Get Rid of that Halogen Torchiere
9) Turn Off the Computer (and unplug it)
10) Choose Efficient Appliances

If someone were to do all 10 of these items, it would reduce energy consumption by approximately 60% in the average household.

JayHMorrison · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 2:32 pm Post subject:

If your energy consumption were reduced by 60%, it makes the concept of solar panels meeting your household energy use a more achievable target.

Aaron · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 3:24 pm Post subject:

http://www.utilitieskingston.com/electric/appliance.html
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smiley · Fission Joined: Apr 16, 2004 Posts: 2144 Location: Europe

Good list, but I think the 60% number is exaggerated. Since the energy prices started rising here 10 years ago we started to look at our usage and how we could improve it.

I find our energy usage very low at the moment, but we've never been able to get to a 60% reduction. It's more like 10-15%, which is still worth the effort.

It's probably because we were never that excessive in our energy usage anyway. I mean I've never owned an electric toothbrush, knife or canopener (never knew these existed). I still hang my clothes to dry in the garden and do my dishes by hand.

I think that this kind of energy spillage (60%) can only be found in housholds which have too much money to spare and don't have to think about conservation.

I doubt that these kind of measures could result in reduction of more than a few percent nationwide.

JayHMorrison · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 5:20 pm Post subject:

My last electric bill was $104. My goal is to have my electric bill be $50 next year this month. I will institute each of those recommendations on the list.

I just went out and bought enough light bulbs for the entire house.

I got the energy saver / long life bulbs.

Light output: 950 lumens (compared to 1700 lumens for standard bulbs)
Energy used: 15 watts (compared to 60 watts for standard bulbs)
Life: 8000 hours (compared to 750 hours for standard bulbs)

The bulbs were more expensive than standard bulbs, but are projected to pay for the extra costs within 1 year.

JayHMorrison · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 5:36 pm Post subject:

JayHMorrison · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 6:31 pm Post subject:

http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/saving_energy/

In the Bathroom
Wasting water wastes electricity. Why? Because the biggest use of electricity in most cities is supplying water and cleaning it up after it's been used!

About 75 percent of the water we use in our homes is used in the bathroom. Unless you have a low flush toilet, for example, you use about five gallons to seven gallons of water with every flush! A leaky toilet can waste more than 10,000 gallons of water a year. Wow!

Drippy faucets are bad, too. A faucet that leaks enough water to fill a soda bottle every 30 minutes will waste 2,192 gallons of water a year.

Another simple way to save water AND energy is to take shorter showers. You'll use less hot water - and water heaters account for nearly 1/4 of your home's energy use.

PhilBiker · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Jun 30, 2004 Posts: 1326

My wife and I recently got a new house. It's one of the things that depresses me when thinking about peak oil - our huge mortgage and this big house that we don't need. However, there are some good things about it: It's in a TND (Traditional Neighborhood Development - look up New Urbanism), and it's fairly efficient. We've got programmable thermostats and they are set up to cool the house only when we're there and awake and only so far. I put all compact fluorescent bulbs in, they are fantastic ($10 for a set of 8 at Costco). Many of our appliances say "Energy Star" including our front load washing machine. I always use cold water for washing, and sometimes hang dry. I'm trying to be as efficient as possible and the new well insulated tight house really helps. ALl our new appliances are efficient - solar is something we're considering. Even in the heat of summer our monthly bill is under 1Kwthrs. - that's doable.

Falconoffury · Expert Joined: May 25, 2004 Posts: 1471

If you turn off your water heater completely and live off cold showers, you could save a lot of money.
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