Home Energy Saving Tips

Energy Saving Tips 

• Landscaping Water Use Takes Up About HALF Of All Household Water Use!
  
  - Use Xeriscaping methods in your lawn ( plants that can thrive on very little water) You would be surprised at how good this can look in your yard.
  
  -Water your lawns and plants at night time
  
  -Minimize run-off
  
  -Regularly check sprinkler systems to eliminate leaks and problems
  
  -Plant low water use plants
  
  -Plant in the fall when water is more plentiful and temps are cooler
  
  Xeriscaping a front yard can look great!
• Easy Tips for Home Water Conservation
  
  -Turn off the sink when shaving. Fill up the sink a portion of the way with very hot water, use that to rinse your razor as you shave
  
  -Wash vegetables in a bowl of water rather than keeping the sink running
  
  -Only run dishwasher and washing machine with FULL loads
  
  -store drinking water in fridge rather than running the tap. Use a Brita water filter to store your drinking water in the fridge
  
  -take short showers
  
  -Install low flow sink aerators. They can be as cheap as $5, look exactly like normal aerators, can save up to 75% of the water that comes out of your sink, typically use 1.5 gallons per minute as apposed to 2.5 gallons per minute with an average aerator. ***one of the most effective ways to save water at home***
  
  -Install low flow shower aerators. Save deal as the sink aerators
  
  -don't keep the water running while brushing your teeth
  
  -Fill up multiple buckets of water when you wash your car. do not leave the hose running the whole time
  
  -Routinely check for toilet leaks
  
  -Buy low flow toilets. You could cut your water use with toilets by 75%. That's a lot of money saved
  
  -Install pool and spa covers to reduce evaporation
  
  -Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveway and walk ways
  
  -Collect water used to clean fruits and veggies and reuse it to water plants
  
  -Install rain sensor irrigation controller so system doesn't run while raining
  
  -Use commercial car washes (they recycle water)
  
  -Drop your tissue in the trash, not in the toilet to save a flush
  
  -Reuse towels to save a load of laundry
• Easy Tips For Home Electricity Conservation
  
  -Unplug!! Unplug all chargers you are not using. When you leave your cell phone charger plugged into the wall, its using the same amount of energy to charge a phone to sit there doing nothing.
  
  -Use power strips. Plug things you use regularly like tv's, lamps, etc into power strips so when your done using them at night or when your at work, they can easily be unplugged. Simply shutting them off does not mean they are not using electricity.
  
  -Set computers to "hibernate" if you must leave them on. This mode saves energy
  
  -Use sunlight wisely. During the heating season, leave shades and blinds open on sunny days, but close them at night to reduce the amount of heat lost through windows. Close shades and blinds during the summer or when the air conditioner is in use or will be in use later in the day
  
  -Set the thermostat on your water heater between 120 and 130 degrees. Lower temperatures can save more energy, but you might run out of hot water or end up using extra electricity to boost the hot water temperature in your dishwasher
  
  -Don't preheat or "peek" inside the oven more than necessary. Check the seal on the oven door, and use a microwave oven for cooking or reheating small items
  
  -Remember to turn off the lights when they are not in use. This is something that everyone forgets!
  
  -Use energy conserving light bulbs. They really do work!