How are you conserving energy?

[texastoast]

I'm just too pissed at prices not to do tiny little things that save energy. I get laughed at a lot, but I'm used to being told that what I do doesn't make any difference. :7

Oh yeah? I got paper recycling programs started in the 1990s in two of the 50+-story buildings in downtown Houston. But it wasn't because I listened to the heap about "not making a difference." I embraced my nerdism and talked up recycling until it got done.

Now, I see that I'm having to work on my own family. We are in the "I don't WANT to change" phase, and we are making progress.

1. Organizing shopping, errands, and other running around to try to get more accomplished during one trip instead of several.

2. Turning off the lights, TV, and computers when we leave a room (God, I have turned into my dad!).

3. Drying sheets, towels, comforters, etc., on a makeshift clothes line.

4. Riding our bikes to the corner store.

5. Public transportation whenever possible.

6. Turning off "energy-sucking" chargers we don't need and plugging them in only when we do.

7. Asking my son's guests to participate.

These are a few of the additional things we've really started working on. How about you? What things do you do to cut back on CONSUMPTION, CONSUMPTION, CONSUMPTION?

[KyndCulture]

1. I don't have a car. I walk everywhere.

[TechBear_Seattle]

9. Likewise

And when I need a car... http://www.flexcar.com (pardon the plug, but its a great program.)

Also:

* I rarely run the heaters during the winter; I bundle up in sweater and sweats.

* Do laundry only when I have a full load.

* Do dishes by hand rather than use the dishwasher.

* Cook using a hibachi during the summer (no electricity, and no extra cooling for my apartment.)

[AuntiBush]

2. Are You Kidding...

Barely go anywhere as it is.

Bought tiny car, great on gas and don't take long trips.

Pull plugs on almost everything nightly.

And only get what I have to, in just about one trip.

[benburch]

3. By not taking out the trash...

Oh... You meant a different kind of energy.

;)

[texastoast]

4. You might be onto something

You could even generate methane if it gets deep enough. P-U, though.

[Nicole]

5. The same things you do

except I don't line dry anything. Since I only do laundry for one, it's not that big of a deal to me.

[bluerum]

6. I work at home and drive as little as possible. I do use the AC in

the summer and heat in the winter though - all electric.

[oldtime dfl_er]

7. I walk to work

and take an electric bus home. Don't even own a car. My failing is in the kitchen - I don't recycle cans. But I want to, so somebody give me a swift kick and tell me how important that is!

[JuniperLea]

8. Here ya go!

No extra running around at all... short shopping trips on my way home from work mostly.

Turn off all lights that aren't being used (habitually since I was a kid... thanks, Pops!)

Only wash full loads of clothes (the washer uses electricity to turn the drum, spin, etc. May as well be full.)

Turning off "stand-by" appliances.

We bundled up and only turned the heater on a handful of times all winter.


Probably the biggest thing is the way I drive. Light on the acellerator... give yourself plenty of time to slow down before stopping (this actually saves brakes and tires as well! I got 75,000 on my last set of tires and I still have the same brakes that were new with the first set of tires!)

I think some people think their car is bad on mileage, when in reality, it's their driving habits! I get better gas mileage than the sticker said I would.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

10. Switched to a tiny refrigerator

I used to have a very small refrigerator at my office at work and put it in the garage when my office closed. I'm now cramming as much as I can into it and I've completely shut off the larger fridge in the kitchen. And the savings in electricity are quite noticeable. I tried public transportation last summer when gas prices peaked. I gave up after 2 months of riding the bus. It was taking 3 1/2 hours either way and much of that time was waiting for buses to arrive when transferring. Southern California is no place to be a public transportation commuter, unfortunately.

[lovuian]

11. We put solar screens on our windows to block 90% of UV light

live in the South and guess what it works on dropping the temperature in a room to help reduce airconditioning ...

[Ilsa]

12. Alot of your plus being careful about vehicle speed.

No point in running the pig up to 45 and then slamming on the brakes for a stop light. No need to race.

A/C turned slightly warmer. Changing air filters at start of every month.

Turning off electrical devices and lights and lamps.

Re-installing the clithes line in the garage. The birds poop on too much stuff outside.

Running errands on my bicycle.

[NoPasaran]

13. Watch TV by candlelight

[sendero]

14. I've always been interested..

... in energy usage and conservation. All of your ideas/actions are good.

I like to put all my "wall warts"/"phantom power" devices (wall warts=chargers and such, phantom power=vcrs, tvs, microwaves, anything with a microprocessor and/or a clock) on power strips (you can get cheap ones for about $4 each) so it's easy to "disconnect" stuff.

Also, anyone interested in electricity usage should consider getting a Kill-A-Watt meter. This $35 device will let you see, instantly and over time (for things like refrigerators that cycle) how much electricity anything you can plug into it uses.

We have 2 refrigerators and it came as a total shock to me that one of them (only slightly larger, but a few years older) uses twice as much juice as the other.

Also, everyone should be migrating away from incandescent bulbs, the Compact Flourescents are cheap, reliable and run on about 1/4 the electricity :)

Like it or not we are all going to have to learn to get by on less gasoline and electricity. The sooner one confronts the issue, the better.

[slackmaster]

15. Contemplating going photovoltaic for my home electricity

With the tax breaks and SDG&E's Net Metering program, the numbers are looking better than ever before. I have plenty of equity in my home, so putting out the cash for the system would be easy.

[DoYouEverWonder]

16. We just painted

the exterior of our business with insulating beads. They're made by a company called Hy-Tech.



http://www.hytechsales.com/insulating_paint_additives.html

We also had to do a new roof, so we did sprayed foam. So between the two we'll see if it makes a difference. Ask me in July.

[Ksec]

17. I walk more

and I drive less. Ive cut back on those little trips that arent necessary and instead plan ahead and take care of all my various chores in one trip. (instead of one a day)

I keep my furnace filters new, (once a month) I do lots of preventive maintenence such as changing the gaskets on spiggots before they start leaking. I keep the heat thermostat down as low as I can (just high enough to keep wife and kids from all out revolt)

But lately Ive become real conscience of driving less. My daughter has softball games we attend and some are pretty far away. Yesterday we drove about 38 miles one way to get to her scrimmage. I have to figure something out, here. Maybe car pool with other parents??

[jedr]

18. Was once told by an electrican who was putting in a new entry,

into our old farmhouse, that once the electric company has a one year history that they will get you for a certain amount regardless of how much you conserve. I know that my wife was on a mission to cut the bill and turned off everything that wasn't in use for months and it had little effect. This may be an "old electrician's tail"...don't know...any thoughts. BTW. we cut out going for ice cream on saturday night to save gas...ouch!!!!!(see what an exciting life I lead)

[Beaverhausen]

19. Here's what I do

I drive my Prius like an old person for the best milage.

I recycle everything that I can.

I bring my own bags to the store or reuse the ones I get.

I turn off lights everywhere I go.

I want to get a bike so I can save even more gas.

[Ksec]

20. Oh I forgot

I bought those light bulbs with the five yr guaruntee and they use way less energy.... (that snake around in circles) I think theyre flourescent. Ive got them in every fixture now. I havent seen a new bill since I installed them so I dont know if Im saving or not.

[Ksec]

21. I want a Prius damnit.

Gimme yers...

:)

[Beaverhausen]

22. I love mine!!!

I got it last year. My old car was a 92 Civic with 158,000 miles on it.

save your pennies and you too can get a Prius!!!

:hi:

[corporate_mike]

23. I drive a Prius

[Blue Diadem]

24. We switched over from incadescent bulbs to the more efficient ones

We always make our trips for groceries and other shopping/errands in one trip. We keep our tires properly inflated and try not to go over the speed limit..which is mostly 50-55 on the rural roads. No jack rabbit starts and we coast up to stop signs. (easier to do on rural roads..in high traffic areas that would tick somebody off)

We recycle.

We don't have central air..we have one large unit downstairs that runs during the day..turned off at night. The rooms upstairs each have their own unit and are only run during the sleeping hours. We use insulated drapes and room darkening shades to prevent the sun from heating the rooms in the summer but keep them open in the winter to let the sun warm things.
We also have one large fan that is put in each year to exhaust heat and draw cool air through the house when air conditioning isn't necessary.

This past winter we set the heat to 66-67degrees. It would have been lower but my daughter and granddaughter also live here and with having a little one we didn't want it too cold for her.

I utilize small appliances to cook whenever I can. Crockpots are so much better than using the oven. I'll also cook large batches and freeze a portion for additional meals to be easily heated in the microwave. I'm hoping this summer to build a solar oven for use outside..it'd be a great way to spend the day in the yard and have a meal cooking for free.

We recycle bags we get from the grocery stores..utilize them in smaller garbage cans for the bathroom or bedrooms. We also share them with an elderly lady so she doesn't have to purchase garbage bags.

We took down our clothes line when my granddaughters swing set was put in. I'll be purchasing an umbrella style unit so I can once again use a clothes line.

[Beaverhausen]

25. Dr. Weil's Tips - from Saturday

2006-04-22

Daily Tip
Four Tips to Help Celebrate Earth Day – All Year!


Today is Earth Day, a time to celebrate and pay respect to our planet. This year’s message is one that impacts us all: climate change due to global warming. If you want to join the millions of people around the world who are making small but significant changes to help sustain our ecosystem, try these tips, courtesy of www.earthday.net:

Use energy efficient light bulbs, which emit less carbon dioxide (CO2) than regular light bulbs

Consider a hybrid car, drive less, and get regular tune-ups – all can reduce CO2 levels and improve fuel efficiency

Eat locally farmed foods that are grown organically, free of pesticides and less harmful to the earth

Buy recycled products – and recycle your trash. In addition, try to purchase products that use minimal packaging


Small steps and individual responsibility can make a huge difference all over the world – get started today, and encourage others to do the same!


http://www.drweil.com/u/DT/DailyTip3181/

[titoresque]

26. I'm near Phx. haven't used my

air conditioning yet. We removed all the carpet last year and now have polished concrete (brown)......looks nicer than it sounds. Seems to keep it alot cooler in here. If the temp stays about the same for a couple more weeks I won't need to use the air :)
Also hanging clothes on the line and keeping most everything turned off during the day.
We also use M-power which is pay-as-you-go electricity, so I can really keep an eye on our usage a lot closer. I've learned over the years to really make it stretch!

[TahitiNut]

27. We're using shorter candles.

:dunce: