Start Green Living with Simple Energy Saving Tips!

When it comes to saving the planet and saving some money on your energy bill, lighting can play a key role.

Lighting can account for about 30% of your energy bill, so changing your lights to more energy efficient options can save you quite a bit. Not to mention the positive impact on the environment. Here are some tips for more energy efficient lighting:

The first thing you should do is switch to compact fluorescent lighting (CFL). That's those swirly lights that have a whiter glow to them than the incandescent lights.

While these might cost a bit more than the regular incandescent lights, they use only about 25% of the electricity so they can have a big impact on your lighting bill. They last a lot longer than regular bulbs too so you won't have to replace them as often.

LED light bulbs are a newcomer to the energy efficient lighting market and have a few advantages over CFL's. They have a brighter light and don't take time to "warm up" and reach their full lighting.

They also cost less to run and last even longer than CFL's reducing your energy usage by 80-90% and lasting over 100,000 hours.

When it comes to lighting outside the home, the energy conscientious consumer might want to consider solar lighting. Lights for walkways, driveways and outside the front door can collect energy from the sun during the day and use it to power their lights during the night. A great way to light up your home without using any energy at all.

In addition to using more efficient light bulbs, there are some things you can do to help reduce the amount of energy you use for lighting. First of all, you want to be sure that you don't use lights unnecessarily.

When no one is home or when a room is empty, be sure to turn the lights off. During the daytime, open the blinds and let the sunshine in instead of using indoor lighting. Using motion sensors can help to insure lights turn on only when needed.

When it comes to lighting, you need to have the right amount for the tasks you intend to do. While you don't want to skimp or have poor lighting in important areas like the kitchen, you also want to be cognizant of when to use the lights and when to flip the switch.

Remember reducing your use of electricity helps to reduce CO2 emissions into the air since the plants that produce electricity are largely coal burning plants which can add to global warming. A little bit of prudence on your part can make a big difference in the stability of our environment.

Everyone wants to help the environment but a lot of people think that in order to do so they have to drastically change their lifestyle or fork out a lot of.

This couldn't be further from the truth and there are a lot of things you can do right now that won't cost you much, and might even save you money! While these might seem like little things, all these little things add up and if we all did just a few of them, it would have a large impact environmentally.

Here are 10 "green" things you can do that won't crimp your style or your wallet:

1. Use recyclable cloth grocery bags instead of plastic - plastic bags take eons to degrade and can be harmful to wildlife. Cloth bags only cost you $1 and some grocery stores even give you a rebate every time you use them. Not only that but they fit more groceries, can be used over and over again for anything and are easier to carry!

2. Buy reusable coffee filters - you'll never run out!

3. Put your kitchen scraps in a compost pile - you'll have great organic fertilizer for your garden and be making good use of your scraps.

4. Use cloth kitchen towels instead of paper towels.

5. Buy used items - need a new sofa or TV? Try looking at your local consignment store or in the classifieds - you can get like new items for a fraction of the price and it keeps those items out of the landfill.

6. Don't print - do you really need to print that out? Think hard before you print stuff on your computer - you'll save a ton on ink and paper.

7. Get your news online - instead of getting a newspaper delivered to your house, just go online and read your local news. Almost every newspaper has webpage these days where you can get late breaking news.

8. Work from home - if your company allows it, try to work from home 1 or 2 days a week. You'll be producing less carbon emissions and saving on gas (plus you'll probably get a lot more done without your boss staring over your shoulder!)

9. Buy local - flying and trucking food all over the world creates a lot of pollution so if you have a local farmers market, try to support your local farmers and buy as much food as you can there. It will be healthier for you and the environment.

10. Turn down your water heater - most people have their water heater up too high - turn yours down to 120 degrees and make sure you but an insulating sweater around it. This will help it run more efficiently and save you on heating your water. For even more savings, insulate the pipes coming out of the water heater.

There's plenty more you can do to help the environment but it can be overwhelming to try to implement too many things at once. Try some of the tips above and, once you have them structured into your daily routine take on more green living activities - before you know it you'll be living a fully eco-friendly lifestyle!

When it comes to green living, reducing the amount of energy you use is one of the easiest and most effective things you can do.

While electricity itself is not unfriendly to the environment, the production of it is as most of the facilities we use to generate electricity are powered by fossil fuels.

Fossil fuels are not renewable and the output from these facilities produces carbon which leads to global warming.

Luckily, there are several things you can do to reduce your energy consumption and the bonus is that you'll also save money on your utility bill!

1. If you're not using it, then unplug it. Many electronic devices today have LED's that draw energy even if the device is not powered on.

Your VCR, Coffee Maker and even your electric toothbrush all use a little bit of energy when plugged in. Those little bits can quickly add up, so when your appliances are not in use, try to get into the habit of unplugging them.

2. Shut down your computer. While it's nice to have your computer always ready for use, it also uses a lot of electricity. When you go to bed at night, power off the computer, monitor and printer.

3. Get a programmable thermostat. Getting an automatic thermostat can be a great way to reduce your heating costs, be it from oil, gas or electricity. With a programmable thermostat you can set it to the optimum temperatures and then forget about it. Set it to 68 degrees Fahrenheit for daytime use when people will be home and 55 degrees Fahrenheit when you are sleeping or at work.

4. Make your water heat more efficient. Set your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit and get an insulated sleeve for it to insure it is working as efficiently as possible.

5. Use your lighting wisely. Switch to more energy efficient lighting like LED lights or compact fluorescent lights and be sure that you don't leave lights on overnight or when no one is in the room.

6. Energy efficient laundry. Even doing laundry can be an opportunity to save on energy. Make sure you always clean the lint basket after each load and be sure to set the appropriate water level in your washer. Doing these will help your washer and dryer run more efficiently.

7. Set the right temps in your fridge. Your refrigerator should be set to around 40 degrees Fahrenheit and your freezer between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit for most efficient use. Also, make sure you clean out all the dust bunnies behind and underneath the fridge.

8. Don't run the dishwasher until it is full. Make sure there is a full load in the dishwasher before you run it and use the energy saving cycle.

9. Buy energy efficient appliance. Using energy efficient appliances can help reduce energy usage as well as your electric bill so the next time you are in the market for a new appliance, make sure you look at the energy star rating and buy the most efficient model you can afford.

All of the appliances employed at home contain the so-called switch wherein there are the on and off indicators.

To run the home appliances, they need to be switched on. On the other hand, when they are no longer in use, they must be switched off. There is this fact which most homeowners do not realize though.

The appliances, although they are not switched on and they are not in use, still consume electricity. Yes, you've read it just right. The pattern of the electricity's outflow still continues although the appliances are in the off mode.

They are termed as the "phantom loads" and they do consume some great amount of electricity. Thus, you end up finding your electrical bills in surmounting rates at the end of the billing period.

Now if you are quite interested to know how these "phantom loads" can be relatively stopped so that you will be able to save on your energy costs, better learn the advantage of the home energy saving devices.

The equipment that contain phantom loads are typically recognized since there are these lights or clocks that continuously operate although the appliance has already been switched off.

Among the appliances that are gifted with timers that do operate at a pace of 24 hours in a day are the stereo systems, VCRs, stoves, and microwave ovens.

Devices used at home that are remote control operated also consume energy all around the clock. These equipment need to be ready all over to be prompted by the remote control governing them.

Although that state of readiness consumes lesser electricity, imagine the twenty-four-hour time frame and the energy consumed can be relatively higher. Among the other devices that generate phantom loads include the wall warts or DC converters, cordless phones, recharging devices, and modems.

So how do you save on the home energy consumed in each day? How will you be able to lessen the phantom power created by these devices?

One of the easiest ways that you can commit to is the plugging of the devices into the switchable six-way outlets. In this manner, when the appliances have been turned off, you can easily turn off also the power supply that runs through the outlet.

The switchable outlets are of enough importance for those wall warts or DC converters. These home energy saving devices run at approximately 60 up to 80% of efficiency rate.

To make the explanation simple and clear, these home energy saving devices will allow you to save a minimum of six percent on the entire monthly bill that you will have to pay for.

Updating your home with the use of home energy saving devices will definitely lessen the amount of electrical power that you consume and therefore reduce the amount of your electrical bills.

So as to save enough energy consumption, you can likewise improve the insulation of your home.

Insulation may be enhanced in the floors, the walls, or the ceilings. Windows and doors which are all efficient can entirely make a difference.

You must be cautious though. Before you purchase any home energy saving devices, you've got to test them first. Most people happen to just buy whatever they come across with. It is not enough.

You don't want to end up realizing that you failed with your decision as you discover that the thing you've paid for is not worth investing on. In truth, home energy saving devices come in various brand names and are widely available.

They are also simple to utilize as you just have to insert the device in between the wall outlet and the plug of the appliance.

You must be aware that there are two classifications of home energy saving devices marketed in the stores. The first is that which corrects the lag that gets in when a motor load is prompted on the power supply.

The second is that which operates simply by the use of the on and off switches in a way that the average voltage is indeed reduced by the device.

Whichever home energy saving device you wish to purchase is, just make sure that what you pay for is something which is reliable. This is an investment and you do not want to fail in this endeavor for sure.

Everyone knows that cars cause a lot of pollution and with gas getting more expensive, adding some "green" to your driving can help keep the green in your wallet as well as benefit the environment.

Here are some tips for greener driving that you can easily implement into your daily life:

1. Drive A Gas Efficient Vehicle - it stands to reason that the more efficient your car is on gas, the less emissions and the less you have to pay at the pump. Today, there are many options in hybrid vehicles so if you are in the market for a new car, make the gas efficiency one of your main concerns.

2. Tire Pressure - make sure your tires are neither overinflated or underinflated as both of these can affect your fuel efficiency. Make sure to check the tire pressure regularly and adjust as needed.

3. Car Maintenance - needless to say, if your car is not maintained properly, it will not be running at peak performance. Be sure to have the oil changed as recommended as well as the other suggested maintenance. Making sure your engine is running efficiently can improve your gas mileage up to 40%. It might cost a bit to have these things done, but you will save money with better fuel efficiency and a longer lasting car.

4. Air Conditioning - You want to use your AC sparingly, but it's actually more efficient to use air conditioning than it is to roll the windows down. So, if you must cool off, be sure to set the AC on low and turn it off when the car is cooled - make sure you have the windows tightly rolled up so none of that cool air can get out.

5. Heated Seats - heated seats use a lot of energy so the next time you want your tushy all warm and comfy, think about the impact to your gas bill and the environment.

6. Drive Consistently - try to drive at a consistent speed, or better yet, use the cruise control. Keeping your speed consistent will improve your gas mileage and lessen your CO2 impact. Also, try to keep it under 60 MPH as anything over that really decreases your gas mileage.

7. Commute - Consider commuting with co-workers or, if your company allows it, working from home. Even if you do these just a couple of days a week, you will be doing a lot to lower carbon emissions and you'll be saving a bundle on gas too!

Keeping your car in good condition and being aware of some of these fuel efficiency tips isn't that difficult and it makes good sense especially when it comes to the longevity of your car. Your efforts will be rewarded with a fuller wallet and a healthier environment!