energy-saving

I found an article about saving energy in a magazine. There was this energy-saving checklist in the article, and while it is some of it is too expensive for us to follow at this point, it is still interesting and something that we can work towards.

-Instead of setting your thermostat to 70 degrees in the winter, set it to 65 degrees. (save $80-$100 per year)

-Instead of setting your water heater to 130 degrees, set it to 120 degrees. (save $15 per year)

-Instead of using a 75-watt incandescent lightbulb, use an 18-watt CFL lightbulb. (save 4 cents/hr, or about $88 per year if bulb is lit for 6 hrs perday)
-Instead of using a traditional computer monitor, use an LCD monitor. (save $20 per year)

-Instead of washing clothes on a hot/warm cycle, switch to a warm/cold cycle- or better yet, cold/cold cycle. (save 10 cents a load)

-Instead of washing several times a week, wash and dry your clothes back to back in one stint. (save $1 a session, or $52 per year)

-Instead of using a top-loading clothes washer, use a front-loading washer.(save as much as 40 cents a load)

-Instead of using a pre-1993 refrigerator, use a new Energy-Star rated refrigerator. (save $120 per year)

-Instead of rinsing dishes before placing them in the dishwasher, load dishes into the dishwasher as they are. (save 6,500 gallons of water or $30 per year on average)

-Instead of leaving gaps in your ductwork, seal your loose house "shell." (save $300 per year)

There are obviously so many more things than are on this list, but I just thought it was interesting, and can you imagine if everyone made an effort...how much energy and- not to mention- money would be saved?

We went camping this past weekend. It was cold. But it was a great time.