Las Vegas
Why should we save electricity?
Whenever we use electricity, we help put greenhouse gases into the air. By turning off lights, the television, and the computer when you are through with them, you can help a lot.
All the information above came from: http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/difference.html
How can you help save ENERGY?
1. Wash clothes in cold water. You
might guess that most of the energy used by a washing machine goes into
vigorously swishing the clothes around. In fact, about 90 percent of it is spent
elsewhere, heating the water for the load. You can save substantially by washing
and rinsing at cooler temperatures. Warm water helps the suds to get at the
dirt, but cold-water detergents will work effectively for just about everything
in the hamper.
2. Hang it up. Clotheslines aren't just a bit of backyard nostalgia. They
really work, given a stretch of decent weather. You spare the energy a dryer
would use, and your clothes will smell as fresh as all outdoors without the
perfumes in fabric softeners and dryer sheets. You'll also get more useful life
out of clothes dried on indoor or outdoor clotheslines--after all, dryer lint is
nothing but your wardrobe in the process of wearing out.
3. Don't over dry your laundry. Clothes will need less ironing and hold
up better if you remove them from the dryer while they're still just a bit damp.
If you are in the market for a dryer, look for one with a moisture sensor; it
will be less likely than thermostat-equipped models to run too long.
4. Let the dishwasher do the work. Don't bother prerinsing dishes with
the idea that your dishwasher will work less hard. Consumer Reports has
found that this added step can waste 20 gallons of heated water a day. All you
need to do is scrape off leftover food. Enzyme-based detergents will help make
sure the dishes emerge spotless.
5. Put your PC to sleep. Keep your computer and its monitor in sleep mode
rather than leaving them on around the clock. You stand to use 80 percent less
electricity, which over the course of a year could have the effect of cutting
CO2 emissions by up to 1,250 pounds, according to EPA estimates.
6. Turn down the heat in the winter, and turn down the cool in the summer.
Lower the thermostat 5° to 10° F when you're sleeping or are out of the house.
"A 10° decrease can cut your heating bill by as much as 20 percent,"
says Jim Nanni, manager of the appliance and home-improvement testing department
of Consumer Reports. And before you put on a cotton sweater to ward off a
slight chill from the AC in summer, consider that for every degree you raise the
thermostat setting, you can expect to cut your cooling costs by at least 3
percent.
7. A cold hearth for a warmer house. A conventional fireplace draws a
small gale out of the room and sends it up the chimney. Assuming the indoor air
has been warmed by your central heating system, that means your energy dollars
are going up the chimney, too. Instead, consider a direct-vent,
sealed-combustion gas fireplace. Consumer Reports has found that those
units have an energy efficiency of about 70 percent--and the sight of the flames
is a lot more warming than staring at a radiator.
8. Lower the shades and raise the windows. Not at the same time, of
course, but your windows and shades are great tools to help moderate
temperatures in the home. Because of central air conditioning, we tend to forget
these time-tested, traditional ways of making the house comfortable. Shades are
particularly helpful in blocking the sun from west-facing rooms in the
afternoon. At night, if the forecast calls for cooler temperatures and low
humidity, give the AC a rest. Open windows upstairs and down, and use window
fans or a whole-house fan.
9. Put a spin on home cooling. You can operate a couple of fans with a
fraction of the electricity needed for air conditioning, and their cooling
effect may make it possible to cut back on AC use.
10. Take care of your air conditioner, and it will take care of you. Your
air conditioner will run more efficiently if you clean or replace its filter
every other week during heaviest use. Keep leaves and other debris away from the
central air's exterior condenser, and keep the condenser coils clean.
11. Spend less for hot water. Set the hot water heater at 120° F (or the
"low" setting), which is hot enough for most needs. If the tank feels
warm to the touch, consider wrapping it with conventional insulation or a
blanket made for that purpose. To help conserve the water's heat on its way to
the faucets, insulate the plumbing with pipe sleeves; with these, you can raise
the end-use temperature by 2 to 4 degrees F.
12. Think twice before turning on the oven. Heating food in the microwave
uses only 20 percent of the energy required by a full-sized oven. And while the
second-hand heat from the oven may be welcome in winter, it can put an added
load on your air conditioner in warmer months.
13. Use the right pan. When cooking on the stovetop, pick your pan, then
put it on an element or burner that's roughly the same size. You'll use much
less energy than you would with a mismatched burner and pan. Steam foods instead
of boiling. If you do boil, be sure to put a lid on the pot to make the water
come to a boil faster.
14. Read the label. The EnergyGuide label, that is. When you shop for a
new appliance, look for the label that gives an estimate of annual energy
consumption. To help you make sense of that statistic, the label also states the
highest and lowest figures for similar models.
15. Dust off the Crock-Pot. Slow cooking in a Crock-Pot uses a lot less
energy than simmering on the stove.
16. Clean the coils on your refrigerator using a tapered appliance brush. Your
fridge's motor won't have to run as long or as often. In addition to saving
energy dollars, you'll prolong the life of the appliance.
17. Drive steadily--and a bit slower. Hard acceleration and abrupt
braking will use more fuel than if you start and slow more moderately. Keeping
down your overall speed matters, too, because aerodynamic drag increases
dramatically as you drive faster. If you travel at 65 mph instead of 55, you are
penalized by lowering your mileage 12.5 percent. If you get your vehicle up to
75 mph, you're losing 25 percent compared with mileage at 55 mph.
18. Roof racks are a drag. Most cars are reasonably streamlined, but you
work against their slipperiness if you carry things on the roof. A loaded roof
rack can decrease an SUV's fuel efficiency by 5 percent, and that of a more
aerodynamic car by 15 percent or more. Even driving with empty ski racks wastes
gas.
19. Stick with regular. If your car's manufacturer specifies regular gas,
don't buy premium with the thought of going faster or operating more
efficiently. You'd be spending more with no benefit. Most cars have built-in
sensors that adjust the engine timing to the gas in the tank. Even if the
owner's manual recommends high-octane gas, ask the dealership about switching to
regular.
20. No loitering. Don't let the engine run at idle any longer than
necessary. After starting the car in the morning, begin driving right away;
don't let it sit and "warm up" for several minutes. An engine actually
warms up faster while driving. With most gasoline engines, it's more efficient
to turn off the engine than to idle longer than 30 seconds.
All of the information above came
from: http://www.greenerchoices.org/products.cfm?product=20%20free%20ways&pcat=homegarden
*** For Environmentally Safe products buy ENERGY STAR Qualified Products!
