Conserving energy in your home

You may want to conserve energy in your home for a variety of reasons.  It will save money and of course, that is something that is very important in today’s weak economy but beyond that, conserving energy helps to minimize your carbon footprint and that is a very good thing. There are many simple ways that you can do to conserve energy, you just have to look around you.

For many people, the biggest obstacle is knowing where to begin. Mom wasn’t far off the mark, it is important to turn off any electric lights and appliances when not in use. You should even unplug anything you are not using because it requires electricity just to stay ready to use. Referred to as vampires, these appliances are sucking electricity and raising your electric bill.

Check the energy rating of your major appliances. If they need to be replaced, look for the energy star rating. What about older appliances? With the dishwasher, washing machine and dryer only operate when you have a full load. If you have a freezer, it should be full enough to justify the cost of keeping it operating. Another suggestion is, don’t stand in front of the refrigerator with the door open making up your mind, especially in the warm weather. This wastes electricity.

With the rising cost of fuel, you may want to reconsider a few of the old ways of doing household chores. Why not wash dishes in the sink once or twice a week. Electric clothes dryers are a wonderful convenience but if you want to conserve energy and save money, it is worth considering drying the laundry on a line like your mothers and grandmothers did. It does make the laundry smell really good and it doesn’t have to be every load to save money.

Have your furnace cleaned yearly so that it is running at maximum efficiency. Check your windows for any leaks and caulk and repair any windows that are allowing heat or cold to escape. If your windows aren’t thermal panes, cover them with plastic over the winter. These are easy to apply and inexpensive.

Cooking on the gas or charcoal grill not only keeps the house cooler during the summer but saves money to boot. Everything from pizza to steak can be cooked on the grill. Using a toaster oven or a crock pot can also result in big savings on electricity and the heat produced by the oven.

One big way to save is to convert your light bulbs to compact florescent bulbs. They use 75 percent less energy than normal light bulbs. When you consider your whole house, the saving can be quite significant.

Most of all, get the whole family involved in the effort to conserve energy in your home. This is something that everyone can do together to improve not only your own lives but the lives of all those who will be coming after you. The legacy that you are leaving to your children can be a small carbon footprint.