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Please discuss the small simple energy saving techniques you implement into your everyday lives.
Recently, I started using roll-less toilet paper (no roll in the middle), stopped using the dryer to dry my cloths (instead opting for air dry indoors), put the water level all the way down in my toilets (as far down as they can operate functionally) and switched my energy provider to wind energy.
What are some techniques you have been implementing?
I'm sure there are entire books on the subject that would be more helpful than anything we could mention, but here's one funny thing I've been stuck doing. I'm having some problems with my television turning off, so when I'm done watching, I have to unplug the whole stupid thing. I also use this as a ploy to watch less television. Anyway, since the instant on-off uses energy at all times, I must be saving quite a bit of electricity.
I imagine the best thing most people could do would be to drive less.
South Louisiana. Installed heat reflective window tint & solar screens on all Windows. As my incandescent bulbs died, I replaced them with CFL. Only two incandescent bulbs left in most infrequently used lights. As CFL bulbs go out, I replace them with LED bulbs. Lowered water heater thermostat. Used refrigerator thermometer to find the best food safe setting for refrigerator without making it colder than needed. As old TV's broke, we replaced them with LED models which generate less heat. Though my wife stays home all day with thermostat at 72, our summer electric bill is around $120 in our all electric home.
Forgot to add, when our washer/dryer was dying, we replaced them with top loading He washer and matching dryer. We also use only cold water for the majority of our laundry. The dryer has an automatic setting which senses the humidity of the air leaving the dryer and gives an audio signal when dry. This means the dryer runs only as long as necessary.
Rather than plug and unplug things that have a phantom load... the trickle of electricity that keeps digital displays lit up, and sensors for remote controls active, I use switchable plug strips that do not have indicator lights. This saves wear and tear on the wall outlets and plugs, which can be expensive to replace. And who really cares if the clock on the microwave oven is always wrong?
I have all CFLs and LEDs except one long life incandescent in a very high place which will take a tall ladder to reach whenever it finally burns out. But even before conversion I trained myself to turn off lights that I'm not actually using. I no longer leave the kitchen light on all evening in case I might want a glass of iced tea. In my parent's era all the lights were on all the time until we went to bed. Now it seems to me that's just a very wasteful practice. I turn lights on and off as I really need them.
We have a store nearby that sells commercial rolls of toilet paper and huge rolls
of continuous paper towels $3.00 each. (we tear off whatever we need and 4 rolls
lasts a year. Check out a local source.
I have my TV, stereo and computer all on one power strip.
When I go to sleep at night I just turn off the power strip...
No vampire power wasters...
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