Small energy saving techniques we can all do...

[woxyroxme]

Originally Posted by victimofGM

Check again, most, if not all, ball floats have a screw that adjust the height of the float.

There is a screw on the valve but it does not make much difference, adjusts the level just enough to keep water from flowing into the overflow tube and it's at the lowest level already.

[victimofGM]

Originally Posted by woxyroxme

There is a screw on the valve but it does not make much difference, adjusts the level just enough to keep water from flowing into the overflow tube and it's at the lowest level already.

Changing it out with a modern flushing valve is cheap and easy DIY job. There's even a flushing valve that allows a smaller flush for urine. When I replaced mine, I used the opportunity to replace the stainless steel tubing with flexible hose.

[STT Resident]

Originally Posted by MJ7

If I lived close to a fresh market I wouldn't even own a frig, perhaps a very small one is all if anything.

You can grow a bunch of your own food in even a limited space. I have a little garden space but it's rocky, hilly and with poor shallow soil which tropical plants thrive on but is useless for anything much else. I begged a couple of wooden pallets from a local store, bought a big roll of heavy "weed guard" from Home Depot, stapled it the bottoms and sides of the pallets, placed them on the rocky little hill and filled them with a mix of purchased and local soil and compost (have a plastic composter where all my veggie cuttings, egg shells, coffee and some yard cleaning debris goes). On my deck I have a bunch of 5 gallon plastic contractor's pots, holes punched in the bottom for drainage and with the same mix of soil; and a slew of hanging containers in which I grow flowers from seeds but they can also be used for edibles. Between these set-ups I grow all sorts of herbs, chard, spinach, tomatoes, etc. "Stagger" the plantings for a steady supply.

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

You may be surprised to know that the average modern 50" LED TV uses only 195kWh a year, or about $21.
Good energy savings come from upgrading appliances if the old ones are more than 5-6 years old. In the last year we have replaced the stove, microwave, washer, dryer, freezer, and dishwasher. All use substantially less electricity (and water) than the old ones that were 10-15 years old. We are also gradually replacing the CFL bulbs with LED which use half the electricity. The payback is not good, with the high cost of all this and our electricity being only about 6 cents/kWk but we do it anyway.

Great information with which I wholeheartedly agree. I closed my restaurant a couple of years ago but my electric bill there was initially huge (not helped by the fact that the USVI boasts the highest electric rates under the US flag - right now about 0.53/kWh!). Within the first 5 years I cut my electric bill by almost half! As my appliances ('fridges, freezers, coolers, etc.) deteriorated I replaced them with energy-savers; replaced all interior and exterior lights with energy-savers, replaced the bathroom toilets with low flushers; etc.

[509]

Our in-town home and cabin run totally on clean hydro and solar power respectively.

The solar home does have the problem of fossil fuel generator back-up. Need to find someone that makes infra-red solar panels for winter electric generation.

It is my solar home that needs help.

[linicx]

Even if you turn off the power strip, unless you unplug it, there is still electricity feeding it. I replaced the old windows, light bulbs and mechanical stuff that cost the most to operate, heat, cool, etc. My outside lights are on 24/7. My September bill is $97.00.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by linicx

Even if you turn off the power strip, unless you unplug it, there is still electricity feeding it.

Not if you get the kind that have no circuit breaker or indicator light.

[pvande55]

Bike almost everywhere. There is an obvious one. Occupancy sensors instead of light switches, especially in rooms you often forget to turn off lights.

[MermaidDallas]

Here are things I've been doing more and more lately:
Use cold water in washer
Line-dry most blouses, undergarments, socks, most slacks, too. No clothesline or I'd line-dry sheets and towels, too.
To stay warm: Wear a warm hoodie jacket and fuzzy socks at home, or drink hot tea (or just hot water with a few drops of peppermint oil)
Buy smaller quantities of fresh groceries to reduce waste
Resist using washer and dishwasher until there's a full load
Don't start car until I'm ready to drive immediately (seatbelt on, all bags/stuff arranged, etc). Radio and climate control adjustments can wait until the first long red light (I always try to turn off all that stuff before I turn off car)