Energy Conservation Tips
Read these 6 Energy Conservation Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Green Living tips and hundreds of other topics.
Energy Conservation Act
The energy conservation act of 2005 was designed to promote dependable, affordable and environmentally sound energy production and distribution. The energy conservation act has six main points. The first one is to promote residential efficiency. Because technology offers the option of a “zero-energy” home, bills would be introduced that allowed consumers tax credits for making their homes more energy efficient. The second point was to encourage companies to make appliances and commercial products more energy efficient. The third point of the energy conservation act was to reduce the federal government energy usage since they are the largest user of energy. A part of this included the reauthorization of the Energy Savings Performance Contract program. This program allows private contractors to help Federal agencies improve their energy efficiency. The fourth part of the program calls for modernizing the domestic energy infrastructure, which will reduce the risk of large-scale blackouts and minimize transmission bottlenecks and replace old infrastructures with new, updated infrastructures. The fifth part of the program will promote the use of renewable energy sources. Tax credits will be offered for residential solar systems as well wind and biomass energy. The bill also encourages the use of alternative fuels and promotes research and development of hydrogen technologies. The last point has to do with energy efficient vehicles. In 2006, tax credits were offered to individuals who purchased a vehicle that ran on alternative fuels. The energy conservation act final outcome will be less dependent on foreign energy sources, and fewer greenhouse gas emissions which will create a better environment.
Water Conservation Techniques.
Water conservation is cost-effective and environmentally sound. There are many areas where you can practice water conservation. One of the biggest ways to save money and water outside the home is to plant a xeriscape garden or choose native plants. These plants can provide just as much color, attract more local wildlife and are environmentally friendly. Don't water your grass as long as it springs back when you step on it and if you must water, use a hose not a sprinkler. If you must use a sprinkler be sure it is set so that it is not watering the street or other concrete areas. Set up rain buckets to catch as much rainwater as you can so when you have to water you can use rainwater instead. Another great way to save water is to replace leaking faucets and joints. Keeping your home plumbing in good shape can eliminate leaks thus saving money in the long run. While you are fixing your plumbing be sure to install water saving shower heads or flow restrictors these can save as much as eight hundred gallons of water per month. Wait for full loads of laundry and dishes before running these automatic machines. Another great way to conserve water is to turn off the hose when washing a vehicle. Instead of washing down your driveway or other cement area with a hose, use a broom. Water conservation is environmentally friendly. It is the key to our future. We need to conserve this precious resource now so there will be plenty of water for future generations.
Ways To Save Energy.
Energy usage is on the rise making it more important than ever to find ways to save energy. Even if you have installed alternative energy options such as solar power or wind power it is still important to watch your energy usage so your purchase can be cost effective. Finding ways to save energy can be as simple as replacing all of the light bulbs in your home or office with newer energy efficient light bulbs. When you wash clothes, choose cold water, because over ninety percent of the energy a washer uses goes into heating the water. During warm, sunny weather hang your clothes out on a clothesline. Not only will you save money by not running a dryer and eliminate a source of indoor heat, but you will find that the sun whitens and brightens clothes as well as saves on wear and tear. After all, dryer lint is produced by the process of your garments wearing out. Turning your computer off when it is not in use can save money and greenhouse gas emissions. The simple act of turning lights, television sets, computers and other electronic devices off when they are not in use is one of the easiest ways to save energy. Using fans, opening windows and lowering blinds is an easy way to lower your energy usage in the warm months. You can use several fans for a fraction of the amount of energy that one air conditioner uses. If you do use an air conditioner, take the time to maintenance it. Simple steps such as keeping leaves and debris away from the exterior condenser, keeping the condenser coils clean and replacing or cleaning the filter every other week can significantly reduce an air conditioner's energy usage.
Home Energy Conservation
Home energy conservation can save as much as forty percent a year on electric bill costs. Having a home that is energy efficient is healthy for the environment. If you are considering building a new home choose a home that is sun tempered super insulated. If you already own your home or are planning to buy an older home there are still ways you can practice home energy conservation. Since almost thirty-eight percent of a homes energy usage goes to heating, install some solar heat panels, or if that is not a possibility turn your thermostat down to sixty-five degrees. If that seems a bit cold to you then bundle up in blankets, wear sweaters or a house robe (just like Mom told you!) When you leave the house turn the thermostat back to fifty degrees. If you are on a set schedule it might be a good idea to purchase an automatic thermostat that will do this for you. Close off rooms that are not in use and be sure to close shades and curtains as soon as the sun begins to set. Clean or replace heating and air conditioning filters every other week. When winterizing your home be sure to caulk all leaks around windows or doors, seal holes where electrical wire, plumbing or duct work enter the house and replace old drafty windows with new ones. Teach children to turn lights or other electronic gadgets off when they leave a room and to take the time to make sure the water faucets are turned off when they finish with them. Home energy conservation should be everyone's responsibility.
Electricity Conservation Tips
Electricity conservation is the practice of decreasing our individual use of electricity. Conserving electricity not only saves resources but also saves money. There are easy ways for every homeowner to help with electricity conservation. The first way is to make sure your home is adequately insulated with the proper "R" factor. Replace old drafty windows with new ones that have low emissive or insulated glass. Check all of your doors and windows to see that they are properly fitted and that there is no missing stripping. If there is something wrong, fix it now instead of later. Replace older water heaters with a newer energy efficient model and be sure to wrap it with a special water heater wrap. Conserving water is another way to conserve electricity. Replace old showerheads with new ones or use flow restrictors. Check your plumbing for signs of leaks and if there are any leaks fix them immediately. Replace old appliances with new energy efficient models and be sure to look for the Energy Star rating. Cover all foods and liquids in your refrigerator and freezer to help avoid compressor overload. Replace all of the old light bulbs in your home or office with new energy efficient ones. Electricity conservation can be easy when you stop to think about it. Unplugging small appliances when they are not in use, turning off phantom power by unplugging electronics such as television sets when they are not in use and shutting down your computer when it is not in use are all great ways to conserve electricity.
Bike Commuting Tips
Bike commuting instead of driving a car or taking public transportation is an easy way to make your daily commute greener. Bike commuting will help improve your health and make the community you live in a better place. Bicycles do not produce pollution and don't consume fossil fuel. The exercise, plus the fact that road rage is not a concern among bicyclists, are just two of the ways a bike commute can benefit your health. You may be concerned that you cannot get where you need to go by bike commuting, but luckily that problem can be solved too. Many forms of public transportation now have bike racks on their vehicles for the convenience of their customers who wish to ride a bicycle on part of their destination. Many cities also have bike paths, allowing bicyclists a safe place to ride. Bike commuting allows you to avoid high gas prices, expensive car payments and traffic delays. When bike commuting, it is wise to relearn bicycle safety tips as well as to get safety gear such as gloves and helmets. There are even special commuter bicycles being manufactured that are specially designed for bike commuting. Bike commuting has economical advantages as well. Depending on where you live and how far you travel daily you can save up to seventy-five hundred dollars a year by riding a bicycle instead of driving. If you do own a vehicle think of the wear and tear you will save on it by riding a bicycle and saving it for those trips where you need a vehicle.
| Guru Spotlight |
| Christina Chan |
