#savingenergy

[ltslean]

5 Ways to Conserve Energy with Good Maintenance

Learn how to save energy effectively with these five maintenance strategies, optimizing equipment and reducing energy waste.

Read More: https://cmmssoftware.leantransitionsolutions.com/software-blogs-details/5-Ways-to-Conserve-Energy-with-Good-Maintenance

[quoclinhecovillageretreat]

Gặp là cứ vui

———

Quốc Linh Eco Village Retreat

Hotline: 0903 553 115 - 0983 155 287

Tổ 4 thôn Thanh Nhì, xã Cẩm Thanh, Hội An, Tỉnh Quảng Nam.

———

#Quoclinhecovillage #Retreat #meditation #mindfulness #vegan #zerowaste #savingenergy #healthylife #organic #loveandcompassion #Hoian #Vietnam

https://maps.app.goo.gl/GtWvAgiDtyyAzhhAA

[vancityappliance]

Appliance Repair Services To Maintain Their Performance

In most homes, homeowners are dependent onbetween 10 and 20 devices on any given day. You use it for everything: from heating water to taking a shower, from shopping to heating or cooling your home. Equipment is a major investment that must be maintained to maintain performance and prevent breakdown. Investing in real estate is a good option if you want to protect your equipment purchase.

Benefits of Preventive Maintenance Equipment

Equipment should be maintained regularlyto ensure proper operation. While you can’t 100% preventrepairs on your device, maintenance can certainly help reduce the frequency of repairs and associated costs. Proper Washing Machine Repair North Vancouverby a professional appliance repair specialist is crucial to your life. It is well maintained when equipment needs to be replaced more frequently.

Environmental benefits include:

· Improves overall equipment performance.

· Reduce energy costs.

· Extendsoverall equipment life.

· Improves our ability to serve you better.

· Optimizing the performance of your appliances

You want the appliances in your home to be as efficient as possible. When the equipment works properly, it produces the desired product by savingenergy and without overdoing it. Energy efficiency is alsoenvironmentally friendly, leading to increased efficiency and savings on energy bills.

If you run a business, owning and maintaining new, energy-efficient equipment will lead to long-term savings. Having your equipment serviced by a trained technician can also save youunnecessary money.

Furthermore, home appliance repair service is a cost-effective way to help yourepair electrical appliances in top condition in your home. Repairinghome appliances can be a good option in the long run andcan save youmore money than you think.

Power tools, washing machines, refrigerators, microwave ovens, kettles, toasters, and even vacuum cleaners are among the various electrical appliances used in modern homes. When one of these devices malfunctions, you have two options: repair or replace.

Appliance Repair Services To Maintain Their Performance

Convenience is one of the top three benefits of Home Appliance Repair Vancouverservices. The convenience of using home appliance repair servicesis incredible. There’s nothing better than fixing anything without having to carry heavy equipment.

Just call the company that provides this service and experts willcome to your home within twenty-four hours. You don’t have to worry about taking your Refrigerator miles to a store and leaving it there for weeks. It’s usually the day that Refrigerator Repair Surreydo this too.

Make sure that the team and the professional dotheir best to give your equipmentthe care it deserves. Call now to request a maintenance schedule forappliance repair technicians.

Appliance Repair Services To Maintain Their Performance

[sowdenbuildingsolutions]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nick Sowden (@sowdenbuilding)

#balmainbuilder #builderbalmain #hempcrete #passivhaus #passivehouse #builderinnerwest #sustainablebuilder #masterbuilder #greenbuilder #hempcretebuilder #hempcreteworkshop #sydneybuilder #passivesolar #birchgrovebuilder #warmhouse #coolhouse #savingenergy #solarenergy #solarpanels #heatpump #renovation #nontoxic #childfriendly (at Balmain, New South Wales, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CD3hyLWFz4V/?igshid=szktlhbrfudl

[brokestminimalist]

Broke Heating, part I

This is a topic near and dear to our hearts.  We love saving electricity.  Also, we love figuring out how generations past got along without modern amenities like central heat and on-demand hot water. Maybe we’re just history nerds, maybe we have too much morbid curiosity.  Anyway. 

We here at Brokest Minimalist are not about deprivation.  However, we are about 1) simplifying life 2) saving the earth and 3) helping out our fellow peeps.  We’re too broke to help anyone out financially, however we are here today to give you the benefit of our experience.

It’s time to turn your thermostat down!  Put it on 55 and use the following tips to stay cozy.  Now, don’t get us wrong.  We like to stay warm.  But there are cheaper ways to do it than by cranking up the gas, so let’s walk through a few.  Also, these are good skills to have for times when you live in houses without central heat or are too broke to run it or, like us, your furnace has been broken for two years and you’re too damn broke to get it fixed.  BEGIN:

Get up during the day and move.  This may go without saying for most, but for those of us who suffer from depression or SAD, our sleep cycles may be out of whack.  Fix them, to the best of your ability.  You want to be up and about during the daytime, when the sun is shining. Try to be up by midmorning and moving around.  A hot shower is a great way to warm up and wake yourself up.  If you don’t have to work, at least do some chores or some exercise.  Rake some leaves, mop your floors.  Get moving, keep your circulation going.  The human body is great at warming itself if you give it a chance.

Dress in layers.  This takes some practice to not feel stiff and uncomfortable, but it’s worth doing. Buy a few sets of thermal underwear.  Spring for the big brands if you can afford it, like real Under Armour.  Cheap waffle weave thermals are scratchy and uncomfortable.  On top of that you want a t-shirt, then a fuzzy sweater.  If you’re lounging around at home, put a cozy hoodie on top of that, or even a bathrobe.  Pajama bottoms and sweatpants are great over some thermal bottoms.  Wear thick wool socks, don’t go barefoot.  Hats and scarves are things too. Fingerless gloves will help keep you cozy while browsing the web or gaming.

Open your blinds/curtains and let the sun warm your house.  That’s what they did in the days before electric heat. This one is twofold, as well. Our grandmas used to say that people who sat around in the dark got depressed, and the folk wisdom wasn’t wrong.  Vitamin D deficiency is strongly linked to depression and anxiety.  So open up those windows and let that fresh UV light into your home! When the sun goes down, cover the windows back up to avoid drafts.  You can use plastic film to cover the windows if they are old or drafty.  Even a clear shower curtain taped over it will make a difference.  Invest in heavier drapes if you can.  Those will help block out extra light in the summer, too.  Two birds, one stone.

Add insulation and weather stripping. These are fairly cheap and make a big difference.  You may think you have enough, but we’d wager that you can add more.  Check around doors and windows, check for cracks in your fireplace, gaps in your baseboards, etc.  If you have a fireplace, make sure your damper is shut tight unless you have a fire or active coals in there.  Canned spray foam is a great tool, but have a plan for it before you start spraying because it will clog up quickly if you put it down for a few minutes.  Get a roll of plastic sheeting and tape it over your windows, or buy those kits that you use to shrink wrap them with a hair dryer.  Failing that, even thrift store blankets nailed up under your curtains/blinds can knock some chill off.

Learn to light your fireplace, if you have one.  We resisted this, but you have to just buckle down and do it.  Invest in a load of well-seasoned firewood and learn to build a good hot fire for when you are home.  It’s not an efficient way to heat an entire house, but it will raise the temperature a few degrees and the coals will keep burning for hours, putting off heat.  Plus, it’s cozy and romantic.  If you’re a city kid like we are, doing it for the first time can be scary.  You might burn yourself.  You might fill your house with smoke.  Just go ahead and try it, you’ll be glad you did and you’ll have a decent backup plan in case of power outage. Plus, it smells nice.  Have your chimney cleaned by a professional yearly if you do this often.

Heat yourself, not the whole house. Use electric blankets, mattress pads, and heating pads to keep yourself warm instead of the surrounding air. Dress in layers, wear thick fuzzy socks, and learn to love your electric blanket.  Use it safely: no extension cords, unplug it when you leave the room.  These use only a few watts and can create a delicious cocoon of warmth for you even in a chilly room.  Failing that, get a hot water bottle.

Heat one room, not the whole house. Invest in a small, safe space heater and use it to heat only the room you are in.  If you have to hibernate in your bedroom for most of the winter, then do it.  Your utility bill will be much cheaper for heating just one room than for turning on the central heat and wasting heat on rooms you aren’t in.  Stick it in your bathroom 30 minutes before you shower, then bring it with you afterwards.  If you have open doorways, cover them with curtains or sheets to keep the heat in the room you are in.

Use your ceiling fans. This may seem counterintuitive, but run your ceiling fans on a low speed in a clockwise direction.  Heat rises, and you want the fan to gently move that warmer air from the ceiling back down to you.

Add blankets to your bed, putting a sheet on top of your bedspread.  Don’t ask us why it works, but it does.  Our guess is that the denser weave of the sheet traps more air between it and the bedspread than it would between itself and another sheet.  Wear pajamas and socks, don’t try to be one of those people who sleeps naked while it’s 10 degrees outside.  We currently have a bedspread, covered by a thermal blanket, covered by a sheet.  Combined with our electric mattress pad, we are super cozy even in the dead of winter.  This is important.  We don’t know about everyone, but we don’t fall asleep if we’re cold.

Cook or bake.  This will add some heat and moisture to your house. In fact, you can put a pot of water on the stove with a slice of lemon or a shake of ground cinnamon in it to boil and add quite a lot of warmth.  It’s a great natural air freshener.  Eat hot foods and drink hot chocolate or tea.

Keep your feet, hands and ears warm. If your feet are cold, you will feel cold.  Period.  Keep thick socks on around the house, keep your circulation going by moving around. If you’re feeling chilly, go wash your hands in hot water for two minutes; the heated blood from your hands will circulate and warm you.  Keep your ears covered by a hat.

Cover air registers you aren’t using to prevent drafts.  Tape plastic over them, or stick a piece of newspaper or cardboard behind them.  Take this off before you turn the heat on.  Please do not cover registers in unused rooms if you are going to use the heat!  Your furnace was designed to operate at a certain amount of air pressure, and covering a register can alter that and cause the unit to work harder, increasing your electrical consumption and reducing the machine’s lifespan.  Seriously, remember to take all covers off before you use your central heat.

Move your bed: Keep it away from outside walls and as far away from windows as possible.  Also, DIY yourself a canopy to help trap your body heat in.

You will acclimate, believe it or not. We haven’t used our central heat all winter, but now if the house gets over 60 degrees or so we start to feel too warm.  This was surprising, but it’s true.  Mankind has lived without benefit of electric or gas heat for most of history, relying on clothing, fire and body heat to survive winters even in the harshest of climates.  

Some of this doesn’t sound very minimalist, but minimalism isn’t all about sitting around in a white room meditating.  It’s about having the least you need to get by, and if you’re short on cash then these tips will save your electric bill and reduce your carbon footprint without you having to suffer too much.  In addition, you’ll reduce your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning by not using gas heat.  We don’t know about you, but both of those things are stress reducers for us.Please note again that minimalism isn’t about deprivation.  If you’ve done all of this and are still uncomfortable, please turn on your heat.  If you are elderly or ill and the cold exacerbates your condition, please turn on your heat.  Contact your local utility department for information on outreach programs that will help you pay your bills.  If you have a neighbor who you suspect has no heat, please check on them.  We are all on this planet together.  

Please be careful with fires and space heaters!  Keep flammable objects more than 3 feet away, do not store your firewood next to your fireplace, and never use an extension cord with a heating device.  Check the batteries in your smoke detectors and stay warm everybody!

Links: How to start a fire, and ways to winterize your home.

[sylvainlefebvreme]

Save energy by not turning clocks back in October, says expert Households could save more than £400 a year on energy bills if clocks are not put back at the end of October, according to an expert...#savingenergy #energyefficiency #sustainability

[connea]

Renewable energy is so p o w e r f u l. ♻️ DM us for a free sustainability consultation today. #solarsales #solarenergy #oregon #washington #pnw #financialfreedom #financialindependence #asset #equity #sunny #renewables #energy #farm #savemoney #savingmoney #moneysaver #savingtheearth #savingenergy #solarenergy #solar #solarpanel #garden #solarpower #renewableenergy #renewableenergy♻️ #growyourownfood #renewableenergies #sunshine #sunray #sun #sunpower https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg2YkcIhQ6m/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[primetimesolar]

Convert to solar today and start getting these benefits ! * Control over your electricity * Provides clean, renewable energy * Increases home value * Tax breaks and Cash incentives We will prepare a customized proposal for your home or business so you’ll know with certainty what your savings could be. The proposal is free, there is no obligation. So you really have nothing to lose. GET YOUR FREE QUOTE TODAY   https://solarprimetime.com/request-quote/contact@solarprimetime.com " Saving Greens   by Going Green !  " WIN MONEY WITH PRIME TIME SOLAR    - Refer Us and Win Up to $250  -   #SolarPanels #Arizona #GreenEnergy #SavingEnergy #SolarEnergy #PrimeTimeSolar

[diymechanic]

Practical Tips for All-Season Energy Savings

Replacing doors and windows is the 4th most typical home-remodeling task and professionals say it can considerably lower energy costs. Yet when it comes to selecting more energy-efficient choices, consumers might be overwhelmed by the whirlwind of technology, terms and alternatives on the market today.

House owners require to be equipped with precise details in order to make the very best choices about the lots of readily available options. That's particularly real as energy expenses continue to climb up. The Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program estimates that the cost savings from changing single-pane with Energy Star-qualified windows varies from $125 to $340 a year for a common house.

Given that this is the time of year when many house owners embark on renovating projects, here are some fundamental tips for picking the most energy effective doors and windows for your house.

Use Low-E glass

Select windows with Low-E glass, which manages the quantity of heat moved through the window and avoids heat loss in the winter season. Jeld-Wen, a doors and window producer, now uses Low-E glass as a standard for its wood and clothed wood windows and as an upgrade choice for its vinyl windows.

Update technology

Replace older single-pane windows with dual-pane systems, which insulate the house from both cold and hot weather. Using both Low-E glass and insulating glass systems will reduce home energy costs.

Dual-pane, Low-E glass assists ensure that they will be weathertight and energy efficient. Research studies show that over time, steel doors made with polystyrene maintain energy scores much better than doors made with polyurethane.

Understand the requirements

Performance scores are based on U-factor, which is the quantity of heat circulation through a product. The lower the U-factor, the more effective the item. Effectiveness likewise is determined by Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), which suggests the ability to obstruct heat generated by sunlight. The lower the SHGC, the better. Professionals examine Visible Light Transmission, which is the percentage of sunshine that is able to penetrate a window or door. Higher percentages indicate more light will go into through the glass.

Focus on performance, not whistles and bells

Makers achieve efficiency in different ways. No matter what innovation is utilized, among the simplest ways to recognize the most energy-efficient products is to simply search for the Energy Star label.

The Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program estimates that the savings from replacing single-pane with Energy Star-qualified windows varies from $125 to $340 a year for a normal house.

Summary

Using both Low-E glass and insulating glass systems will reduce home energy costs. Choose doors with energy-efficient cores, sills and frames that provide a barrier to energy exchange. Dual-pane, Low-E glass helps ensure that they will be weathertight and energy effective. Studies show that over time, steel doors made with polystyrene keep energy scores much better than doors made with polyurethane.

[4kadstv]

In Canada, heating and electricity make up 45% of greenhouse gas emissions. That’s why it’s worth considering the environment when making your next home purchase or thinking about renovations. With new technologies, there are many ways homeowners can reduce carbon emissions and also save on monthly expenses. ☀️ Solar Panels // Look for financing and loan options to make sustainable choices more accessible. 🔥 Energy-Efficient Appliances // Prioritize your purchases based on impact. A tankless water heater can be a big money saver in the long run. 🌧️ Rain Water Harvesting // A unique solution to high water consumption that makes the most of those wet Canadian seasons. #seasons #energy #solar-powered #savingenergy #realestateinvestment #realtorlife #remaxagents #remaxMillennium #construction Reposted from @realtorsunitasaini https://www.instagram.com/p/CVyv7YZNYu2/?utm_medium=tumblr

[local-electrician4you]

WOW ! What a difference these @ansell_lighting led panels have made to this office block. Energy efficiency. Brighter. Cleaner looking and the microwave sensors in the walkways are another added energy saving system. No more wasted lighting with switches being left turned on. #electrician4you improving your buildings one office block at a time 👌#sthelens #savingmoney #savingenergy https://www.instagram.com/p/CVYfFjUrq4v/?utm_medium=tumblr

[quoclinhecovillageretreat]

Đến với nhau cũng là nhân duyên đủ đầy

Cám ơn vũ trụ đã sắp xếp

#quoclinhecovillage

#Retreat

#Veganfood

#mindfulness

#zerowaste

#savingenergy

———————————————————

Quốc Linh Eco Village

Tổ 4 thôn Thanh Nhì, Xã Cẩm Thanh- TP Hội An, Tỉnh Quảng Nam.

Hotline : 0903.553.115

0983.155.287

[misschiga]

✨Freedom day 80✨ Lazy Thursday 😴💤💤💤💤💤 #sleepy #ollieisthebestcat #lazy #savingenergy #強運 #自由 #眠い (at Manhattan, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSyCka1s2X-/?utm_medium=tumblr

[sowdenbuildingsolutions]

The Annandale Passivhaus Studio had its preliminary blower door test and came in at 0.51ACH. Very happy on such a tiny build, approx 75m3. #balmainbuilder #builderbalmain #hempcrete #passivhaus #passivehouse #builderinnerwest #sustainablebuilder #masterbuilder #greenbuilder #hempcretebuilder #hempcreteworkshop #sydneybuilder #passivesolar #birchgrovebuilder #warmhouse #coolhouse #savingenergy #solarenergy #solarpanels #heatpump #renovation #nontoxic #childfriendly #teslapowerwall #daikinaustralia #passivehousebuilder (at Annandale, New South Wales, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CiPdPzhv7hR/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[khanuindia]

KHANU Save Smart Scheme! Terms & Conditions

The KHANU Schemes Purchase Plan (hereinafter “KHANU” or the “Plan”) offered by KHANU IT Distributor facilitates Customers to purchase KHANU IT Distributor by making payments for the same over a ten-month period and the Customers will be entitled to avail certain discounts subject to these Terms and Conditions.

Under this Plan, the Customer has to pay 10 (Ten) fixed monthly instalments of a minimum of Rs. 1,000/- (Rupees Two Thousand) & maximum of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand. During the course of the 10 (Ten) months, the Customer has to pay one instalment every month. More than one instalment in a single month will not be accepted.

Customer will have to make the payment of the instalment on the Due Date. For the purpose of this Plan, the Due Date shall be same date as the Enrolment Date for the subsequent months. However, the Customer shall be provided with a grace period of 7 (Seven) days in a month for payment of the instalment. In the event the Customer fails to pay the instalment within the grace period, the proportionate discount as offered herein shall be reduced.

The Plan will mature after 366 (Three Hundred and Sixty-Six) days from the Enrolment Date and the Customers will be eligible to redeem by purchase of IT Products from the Company at the KHANU IT Distributor shop. For the purpose of this Plan, the date of payment of first instalment shall be deemed as the Enrolment Date. The Customer is mandatorily required to redeem his/her account before the completion of 400 days from the Enrolment Date.

The Customers would be eligible for a discount of 75% (Seventy Five percent) of one month’s instalment upon redemption, after the completion of 366 days from the Enrolment Date subject to the Customers having made the payment of all ten monthly instalments. If a customer redeems before the completion of 366 (three hundred and sixty-six) days but after the completion of 300 (Three Hundred) days, the Customer will be eligible for a discount ranging between 55% (Fifty Five percent) to 75% (Seventy Five percent) of one month instalment based on the number of days, and subject to the Customers having made the payment of all ten monthly instalments. For redemption after completion of 180 (One Hundred and Eighty) days but before completion of 300 (Three Hundred) days, Customer will be eligible for such prorated discount calculated based on the one-month instalment, the number of days and the number of monthly instalments paid.

The Customer will have the option to pre-close the Plan only if the Customer has paid a minimum of six monthly instalments and after completion of 180 days from the Enrolment Date. In the event of such pre-closure, customer may purchase IT Products at the KHANU equal to the value of the instalments accumulated in his/her account as on that day. Alternatively, Customer may seek refund of the amount aggregating to the instalments paid by the Customer until the date of refund. The Customer will be provided with prorated discount voucher that the Customer can utilize to purchase IT Products from the Company for full value of the instalments paid. However, in the event the Customer has not paid the requisite minimum six monthly instalments, the Customer will not be eligible for any discount/discount voucher.

In case the Customer does not redeem within 400 days, he/she will be refunded with the aggregate instalment amount paid by the Customer until the date of the refund. A discount voucher for the applicable discount amount will be provided which can be utilized only to purchase IT products from the Company of a value that is equal to or greater than the full value of instalments paid.

Only individuals can enroll in to the Plan and enrolment is not permissible for other entities like companies, partnership firms or proprietorship concerns or trusts or Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) or NRI Customers. Minors may enroll only through their natural guardians.

The Customer is required to provide a copy of his/her photo identity and address proof documents like Driving License/Voter ID/ Passport /Ration Card/PAN Card/any other document issued by the Government, bank account details, etc. at the time of enrolment.

At the time of enrolment, the Customer should ensure that, the KHANU Enrolment Form is signed in the space provided, physically or electronically, as the case may be, accepting these terms and conditions.

Payment of monthly instalment(s) may be made by cash, credit / debit cards, NEFT/ RTGS, local cheques in Favour of “KHANU IT Distributor” payable in the city in where the KHANU in which the account was opened is located, Standing Instruction or Automated Clearing House. International card for online payment will not be accepted. In case of cheque dishonor, the bank charges shall be borne by the Customers. KHANU shall not be responsible for any online payment failure and money being debited from the Customer’s account. Customers are requested to check with their banks or other service providers for such payment failures. It is the responsibility of the account holder to enter details correctly.

The Customer may ask for a computerized receipt, from any KHANU.

The Company or the KHANU will not be responsible or liable to send reminders for payments.

The transfer of account can be made only in the name of the original account holder as mentioned in the Enrolment Form and valid photo identity proof of such account holder should be produced at the transferee store. The Company reserves the right to satisfy the identity of the Customer in any manner it deems fit.

At the time of purchase of IT Products, the account holder has to personally come and should produce a valid photo identity proof and PAN Card, if required under applicable law, and effect the redemption of the instalments paid towards purchase of IT Products. The Company reserves the right to satisfy the identity of the Customer in any manner it deems fit.

The Customer will have to purchase the IT Products for the total instalment amount paid and partial purchase is not allowed.

The Customer may appoint a nominee at the time of enrolment upon submission of relevant documentation. In the event of death of the account holder, the amount is transferable by the Company only to the person(s) whose nomination has been filled by the account holder in the Enrolment Form at the time of opening the account subject to such nominee producing identity and address proof.

In case the account holder does not nominate any person, any claim(s) made by any other person(s) on behalf of the account holder will not be entertained unless such person being a legal heir/duly authorized person claiming the benefits under the Plan, shall produce below documents to the Company:

Death certificate of the deceased.

Succession Certificate.

NOC from other surviving legal heir for redemption.

Indemnity undertaking to indemnify KHANU from claims.

Will (if any)

Along with all other supporting documents and clarifications

However, the decision of the Company shall be final on sufficiency of any document in all such cases above and the same shall be binding upon the claimants.

The Company reserves the right to alter, amend, add or delete part or whole of the privileges of the Plan without prior notice to the account holder, as long as the same is not detrimental to the interests of the account holder.

The Company is the operator of this Plan and reserves the right to suspend the Plan at any time. In any such event, the account holder may purchase any item at the KHANU Store equal to the value of the instalments accumulated in his/her KHANU account along with discounts accumulated, as on that day.

Any conditions that are not explicitly covered above would be the discretion of the Company at the time of transaction/redemption. The decision of the Company in this regard would be deemed as irrevocable and final.

Disputes if any will be subject to the Courts in Coimbatore jurisdiction only, to the exclusion of any other court's jurisdiction.

In case of any change in existing laws, rules, Acts, etc. by any regulatory authority, the Company reserves the right to make such modifications/change/suspend/discontinue the Plan suitable to the change of law and necessary requirements as per the same have to be complied with by the account holder.

[brokestminimalist]

Saving Electricity

This is a project we've been working on for five years or so: reducing our electricity usage.  This reduces our bill, first and foremost.  It also reduces our carbon footprint, saving the earth a little bit. There is no downside to conserving electricity.  There is literally no reason not to. It's a great minimalist activity.  It's also kind of fun.  We are always waiting with anticipation to see our newest bill, to see if we're winning or not.  We judge winning based on our electric bill for the same month in the previous year.  For example, if our electric usage for January 2018 is less than it was for January 2017, we're winning.  You don't have to keep old bills to do this.  Your electricity company probably has a website where you can log in and see your past usage for a certain number of years.  Ours goes back to 2012, so we can see graphs of our usage over the 12 month period and compare it to what's current.  Look yours up and see what it's like.  Have you been using more energy recently, or less?

This is an ongoing project with a lot of little details.  Looking over this long list won't seem very minimalist, but a lot of these are one-time tasks that you'll never have to do again unless you move to a new house.  Once they're done, they're done.  Others are once-a-year tasks, while a few are behavior modifications (like turning off light switches or taking shorter showers).  You can't do them all at once unless you're not broke, so take a look over the list and see which ones you can mark off right now.  Then, come back to this post in a few weeks and see what else you can accomplish. Keep an eye on your bill, so you'll see the immediate benefits.

Turn off the lights: This one is an easy behavior modification.  Turn off the lights when you leave a room.  Turn off the lights when you leave the house.  Yes, even the porch light.  It might give you the illusion of security, but trust me: if a burglar wants to get into your house, a porch light won't stop them.  Turn it off.  If you really feel unsafe without it, get a solar motion-sensor light. Sleep your computer, too.  If you aren't already in the habit, start today.  Turn lights off.

Replace all your bulbs with LED bulbs: this is an investment up front, but with a potentially significant payoff.  As your incandescent or CFL bulbs begin to die, go ahead and replace them one at a time with good quality LED light bulbs.  They use a fraction of the electricity and will last for years and years.  You'll save on bulb replacements and on electricity usage.  Now, that doesn't mean you can leave them on all the time. Continue turning off lights when you leave the room, even if they are LED ones.

Take shorter showers: you are paying to heat that water.  Don't empty the tank every time you shower.  Five minutes is all you need. You'll save water, too.

Insulate everything: This is the one that will make the most difference, as climate control is the biggest energy drain in almost every house. Add weather stripping, caulk and insulation to every nook and cranny you can find.  This will keep your house cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, reducing A/C costs year round.  Be creative with canned spray foam.  Use paintable caulk to fill in cracks and then hide them.  Buy some cheap light switch/outlet gaskets, they only cost a few cents each and pay for themselves. Get a fiberglass blanket for your water heater.  Inspect your windows carefully and eliminate any gaps.  If you have a nice financial windfall and you own your house, replacing windows can make a huge difference to your bills.

Cover your windows: Even if you have newish windows, and especially if you don't, invest in heavy thermal curtains or blackout curtains. These will block UV light in summer, keeping your house a few degrees cooler. You can still open them to let light in, but keep the ones on the side of the house the sun is shining on closed.  In winter, they are heavy enough to block out some of the cold. Open them during the day to let sunlight warm your house, then shut them tight when the sun goes down.  Get some window kits and cover your windows with the plastic.  If you can't find any, get some cheap clear shower curtains from the dollar store and nail them up underneath your curtains. Tape the edges with masking tape.  This will trap the cold air away, and you can take them down in the spring.

Maintain your appliances: Have your furnace and a/c inspected and tuned up annually.  Clean your fridge coils.  If you use your dryer, and you shouldn't if you can help it, make sure the lint trap and vent hose are clear.  An appliance that isn't running efficiently uses more electricity than necessary and can even be a fire hazard.  Invest in the most energy efficient ones you can afford.  If you're broke like us, keep using the ones you have until they just won't go anymore.

Don't use your dryer: Clothes dryers, as we've said, are a frivolous waste of electricity.  Air dries things for free.  Hang your clothes out in the sun, or in your house if it's rainy or below freezing outside.  This will be a not-insignificant savings.  You'll probably see a drop of 20 bucks on your bill if you stop completely.

Use ceiling fans properly: In summer, ceiling fans should rotate counterclockwise on a high speed.  Fans don't cool the air, but they make us feel cooler by the process of evaporation.  In the summer, use them to full advantage.  In the winter, they should run clockwise on the lowest setting.  Hot air rises, so this will gently blow the warmer air down to your level.  If you aren't in a room, turn the ceiling fan off just as you would a light.

Use electric blankets in winter: These only use a few watts and you’ll stay super cozy.  Or at least, your dog will when he steals it.

Air dry your dishes: just like the clothes dryer, letting your dishwasher dry your dishes is wasteful.  If you use the dishwasher, put it on air dry.  If yours is a bajillion years old and doesn't have that setting, just stop it after the wash cycle and open the door so your dishes can dry.

Check your thermostat:  In the summer, keep it as warm as you possibly can stand.  For us this is about 78 degrees.  Yes, really.  You won't die.  Wear some shorts, use your ceiling fans.  Take a cool shower. You'll be fine.  In winter avoid using your furnace unless it's very cold.  We had planned to keep ours set to around 60 degrees, until we figured out that it was broken.  Instead we are using electric space heaters to heat only the room we are in at the time.  If you do use your furnace, keep it set as cool as you can stand and bundle up against the chill.  Use electric blankets on your bed to stay toasty at night, they use only a few watts and will keep you warmer than if you try to heat the surrounding air anyway.

Find energy vampires: these are devices that use standby power when they are off. The clock on your microwave, for example.  Unplug that shit.  That's wasted money.  Your cable box, tv and dvd player probably do too; put those on a power strip and turn it off when you're done watching. We actually unplug all our crap.  Our washer and dryer are unplugged right now.  So are the tv and Fire Stick, the microwave, the crock pot, and the lamp in the living room.  You don't have to be crazy like us, but if you think a device is using power when it's off, even if it's just to keep a little blinking light on, unplug it.

Get rid of hair dryers and curling irons: your hair will dry.  These things waste energy and are also fire and burn hazards.  We remember having our grandma burn the crap out of our head with a big old 70's hair dryer when we were a kid (in the 90's, btw).  We'd complain that it was too hot, she'd ignore us, and two days later our scalp would start peeling.  These things are dangerous.  If you want curly hair, get a set of sponge curlers.  They were good enough for grandma and they're good enough for you.  

Use the microwave: as much as possible, cook things in the microwave instead of on the stove or in the oven.  The microwave uses the least electricity of these.

Get rid of scented plug ins: throw that crap away.  Get some scented candles.  Done.

Open your blinds and curtains during the day: the sun provides plenty of light, so you shouldn't need to turn on lights until after dark. Open up your blinds to let the sunlight in so you can see, and so it can warm your house in winter.  In summer, close the blinds/curtains on the side of the house where the sun is, to block out the extra heat.

Open your windows in the evening in the summer: When it's hot during the day, keep the windows shut and the curtains pulled, at least on the side where the sun is shining in.  After the sun goes down, if it's cooler outside than inside, open your windows and doors to let the cool night air in.  Shut them before the sun comes up and trap the nice cool air inside.  It'll stay cool for a few hours before you have to turn the A/C on.  We do not recommend sleeping with your door open, ftr.  If you've got mosquitoes, get screens.  

Trap your desired temperature: If you've got open doorways between rooms where there aren't actual doors, hang curtains or blankets there to keep your climate controlled air from escaping into other parts of the house.  We use clear shower curtains in winter to trap heat in our living room.  We don't need to heat the kitchen if we aren't in the kitchen, right?  You can do this with air conditioning too if you've got a window unit.  If you aren't using central but you still have air registers in your house, cover them with plastic.  Do not cover air registers in unused rooms if you are using the central, this is bad for your unit and duct work. Just let them blow.

Dress for the season: if it's 90 degrees outside, wear shorts and a tank top and put your thermostat on 78.  If it's 10 degrees outside, bundle up in layers and wool socks and put your thermostat on 60. You will be fine.  You will acclimate, even. We promise.

Wash your clothes in cold water: heating water uses electricity. Unless you're washing something that's very greasy, use cold water.  

Use the eco settings on everything: Your computer probably has this, so does your tv.  Use this setting on every device that offers it.

Shade your roof: with deciduous trees.  That is, ones that lose their leaves in the winter.  You gain a lot of heat from the sun shining directly on your roof in the summer, so you want it to be shaded by trees so your house stays a little cooler.   In winter you want that extra warmth hitting your house, though.  If you don't already have trees growing this can be a very long-term project.  If you own the property, do some research on the subject and plant some good, hardy trees in strategic locations.

Shade your A/C: air conditioning is by far the biggest energy hog in your house.  It'll run more efficiently if it's not in direct sunlight, so plant some shade trees.

Use space heaters: Leave your furnace off and use space heaters to heat only the room you are in, rather than the whole house.  (Make sure your pipes are insulated first.) This will save lots of energy. If, however, you do need to heat the whole house, do not use space heaters to do so.  Not only will you have a ridiculous bill, you'll likely burn your house down.

(Yeah that’s our furniture-free bedroom, but that’s another post!

Turn off the furnace/air conditioner when you are away: There's a myth that says it takes more energy to heat your house up if it's gotten cold than if you just leave the heat running constantly.  This is 100% false.  If you leave, turn everything off.  Even if you're gone for eight hours for work, your house isn't likely to be freezing inside when you get back.  It'll heat back up within twenty minutes or so, and it won't use more electricity that way.  So turn it off when you leave.

Hibernate in winter: When the weather’s cold, pick one room to heat and stay in there rather than moving around.  If you’ve got a family your body heat will keep the room even warmer.  You can play board games or do puzzles.  We hibernate in our bedroom during winter and mostly abandon the rest of the house.  We venture out occasionally for food or to pee, but we come back quickly.

There are other things you can do, but these are the ones we've found that make the most difference.  We'll post results as we try new things so everyone can see.  Shaving money off our utility bill has made the most difference to our finances recently.  When we first moved here we got a $500 electric bill for August, the hottest month here.  We'd reduced that to $57 by November.  Now that it's cold and we've been using space heaters instead of the fire, we're up to $85 or so.  If we can stay under $100 for the rest of the winter that'll be significant.

You can make a difference right now.  Go turn something off.  

Links: Mr. Electricity, Reduce your carbon footprint