Posts Tagged ‘Energy Saving Tips’

How to save water in your home


Want to know what little changes you can make to save water, energy and money in your home? Kate Humble demonstrates how easy water and energy saving measures are to implement in this short How to video. This guide focuses on two high water and energy usage areas in the home – the bathroom and kitchen. Kate will give you everyday water and energy saving tips and will also show you what water efficiency gadgets you can install for less than £25!

Combine Energy Saving Tips With the Magniwork

Combine Energy Saving Tips With the Magniwork

When I started to use the “Magniwork Generators”, I was already doing everything possible to keep my energy bills as low as possible. But somehow, things were still more than I was willing to pay -hence the Magniwork Generator Plans.

But after i began using the free energy created by teh Magniwork generator, the difference was VERY noticeable.

Save Money On Energy Bills

And I know plenty of people that ONLY use the Magniwork energy -without doing anything else to cut down there electricity bills. And they are quite happy with the results – but why stop there?

So here are some very easy -yet completely effective tips and idea’s for cutting back on our energy bills -do all these on a consistent basis, and you will not believe how much money you will save.

If you use space heaters to help heat the house in the winter time -think of unplugging one of them.See, space heaters are actually more costly then many think. Electricity is more costly than gas -so use the space heater less and you will efinitely save money right away. Replace incadescent light bulbs with the CFL light bulbs. The CFL’S are cost efficient and because they do not need to be changed NEARLY as often as the regular light bulbs -AND they use alot less energy in the process. Gigve these CFL’s a chance – many just need to take that first step , and after that everything takes care of itself. For those that take showers -which is around 90% of us – take shorter showers. I know from my own personal experience, that rarely did I actually NEED all the time in the shower that i used to take. And by only staying in the shower for the time I needed, I was able to cut down shower times from 25 all the way down to 10 minutes!And if you can helpit – DO NOT take baths -they use WAY more water. Use a programmable thermostat. This will ensure that you never use more heat than you need. I know that alot of us already have those -but if you dont, think about getting one. They are cheap and VERY EASY to install. I think the Home Depot will send out soemone to install it in need be.

These are just a few of my favorite tips for saiving money on electric bills. All of them can be done without having to sacrifice much of anything.

If you would like to find out how the Magniwork Generator can cut your bills in half by itself -follow the link below:

Energy Saving Tips – Refrigerating and Freezing

In recent years, the efficiency of refrigerators has increased substantially. Manufacturers have:

• Improved compressors and motors
• Introduced better door seals and compartmentation
• Increased insulation standards

Even though there have been improvements, most fridges and freezers still operate a long way short of the maximum potential efficiency. Average running costs could be cut by half without serious difficulties, as we can see when we realise that the most efficient existing appliances are 50% more effi¬cient than the average. Although a refrigerator uses a relatively small amount of power in use, it is the fact that it is working 24 hours a day 365 days a year, often in the hottest room of the house, that causes it to be one of the highest energy users.

Choosing a new energy-saving triage or freezer:
• Unless you use a large amount of frozen food it makes the most sense to buy a combined fridge-freezer model. The most efficient place for the freezer compartment is at the top so that it can facilitate cooling below.
• If you do buy a separate freezer, then buy a well-insulated chest type which loses far less cold air when opened than an upright.
• Work out carefully the optimum size you need. Both fridges and freezers operate best when at least three-quarters full.
• Automatic defrost models consume far more energy than the manual defrost models. This is because they contain heaters. The fridge is thus working against itself when defrosting and if the fridge is being used inefficiently the energy used can be increased by a further 50%.
• Find a fridge that is well insulated and look for energy efficiency labels.

Energy saving in use
• Energy saving microelectronics have been developed for refrigerators: they help to match the real load on the motor and save up to 20% of energy. These electronics have been incorporated into a special plug called a saverplug which is well worth installing.
• Locate a refrigerator or freezer away from sources of heat such as a stove or direct sunlight. If you have a fridge that is not well insulated you can provide some extra insu¬lation yourself on the top and sides.
• Check the temperature inside the main refriger¬ator compartment and freezer. They should be between 3° to 5°C and -18°to-15°C respectively. If the temperature is outside these ranges then energy is being wasted and the temperature control needs to be adjusted. Fridge and freezer thermometers are well worth buying and placing in your fridge for the occasional check.
• The back of a fridge is a notoriously difficult place to clean. However the coils or fins tend to become sticky and dusty—this acts as an insulant forcing the motor to work harder and waste more energy. Clean with soap and water.
• If you have a manual or partial automatic defrost facility then defrost regularly.
• Test the door seal and check that it is tight. This is equivalent to draught-proofing your fridge. If there is an air leak it can not only lose energy unnecessarily but will require more frequent defrosting.
• Dispose of your fridge where the CFCs can be salvaged. Enquire at your local council to find out where you can take it.

British Gas Electricity Tariffs and Energy Saving Tips ? For lowest energy bills

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You could always go for British Gas electricity offers and enjoy paying almost cheapest electricity tariffs. If you are truly cost conscious and wish to lower your energy bills even further, it is time you adapt to a whole bunch of energy saving habits.

 

Begin with availing and installing an energy monitoring meter which records your meter readings and offers detailed consumption patterns as well. Through the electricity meter reading you can easily understand which appliance uses how many electricity units and therefore adjust its use accordingly.

 

Always bear in mind most electrical appliances such as air conditioners, water heaters, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers and refrigerators consume maximum electrical energy which means you have to use them in full capacity or nearly full capacity. Using them below full capacity means you are increasing your electricity consumption to a great extent.

 

Avoid leaving appliances such as TVs, music systems, videos, play stations etc in standby mode for they still consumer 90% of the power in that condition as well. It would be even better if you could go for an appliance which switches off the power after a certain period of being in stand by mode.

 

Switching over to energy efficient CFL bulbs and LED spotlights is another energy saving tip which you can afford to adapt.

 

Use sunlight to dry clothes which helps you to save a lot of electricity otherwise consumed by running a spin dryer or a tumble dryer

 

Plan your cooking meals, so that you can take most advantage of a hot oven which reduces the energy spent on reheating oven a couple of times over during the day.

 

Microwave heating is advised for heating small portions of food. This saves upon lot of energy and heats the food in shortest possible time.

 

 

Reduce the heating system thermostat and reduce you electricity bill by up to 5% because for every degree you lower between 60° and 70° F. It would be great if you could lower individual radiators in occasionally used rooms while switch off radiators in rooms which are not at all used and save electricity.

 

Cleaning the condenser coils below the refrigerator’s freezer to remove the accumulated dust increases its efficiency by 25%

 

Your refrigerator could be kept quite full but make sure you do not overload it as it will then consume extra energy. Always cover liquids when you store them in the refrigerator.

 

By adapting these energy efficient tips, you can reduce your electricity consumption and lower you energy bills to a great extent. If you are a British Gas customer you could always approach them for availing energy efficient tips. You could also opt for installing the EnergySmart energy meter which allows you to monitor your electricity consumption.

Energy Saving Tips: Light up the World

The world seems to be all about efficiency and ways to protect the environment. You want to conserve energy, but sometimes it is hard to know if products are more hype than anything or if they are really worth the investment. You hear about energy efficient lights all the time, you see them in the store right next to the cheap light bulbs that you always buy. The light bulbs that claim to be energy efficient are more expensive so you pass them by but this is actually costing you money!!

Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) bulbs do help the environment, conserve energy and save money in the long run. These energy efficient bulbs use an incredible sixty five to eighty percent LESS energy than the incandescent bulbs you usually buy. This means that switching to CFL bulbs instead of the less efficient bulbs that many of us use, you can actually save up to 7% off your energy bill each month. These bulbs also last much longer than a regular bulb and so while you pay more for one initially you save money because they can last longer than regular bulbs which you would have to replace two or three times (or more).

Compact Fluorescent Lamp bulbs work differently than regular light bulbs. Regular bulbs use most of the electricity to heat up the filament inside of them which in turn lights up. Only about 2% of the electricity used by these light bulbs is actually used to produce light, the rest is used to create heat. A Compact Fluorescent bulb passes the electrical current through a mercury vapour which in turn creates an ultraviolet light. The light created is then absorbed by the phosphorescent coating that is on the light bulb which produces a glowing effect.

CFL bulbs turn over 20% of the energy they use into light so they require much less energy to produce the same brightness as a regular bulb. These bulbs can be used in your existing light fixtures and lamps so there is no extra cost to convert to them above the initial cost of the bulbs, which as stated above is made up for in energy savings and longer lasting bulbs.

Another choice for energy efficient lighting is to use LED ((Light Emitting Diode) bulbs. Light emitting diode bulbs are by far the most energy efficient bulbs available. These bulbs do not generate heat and do not have a filament. They very rarely need replacing and last longer than any other option. They are one of the safest choices as well because they do not generate heat there is not a concern of being burned or a fire occurring because of the bulb. Light Emitting Diode bulbs do require the initial investment and you may need to change the fixtures.

The return on your investment by the immense saving on energy bills and almost never needing to replace the bulbs is above and beyond any amount that you spend at first. You also have the knowledge that you are saving tonnes of greenhouse gases from harming the environment. LED lighting is becoming more affordable every day with the growing demand for energy efficient lighting and is most definitely the way of lighting the future for years to come.Energy efficient lighting is not only smart but is one way to cut down on your carbon footprint, save the environment and keep money in your pocket rather than the electric company’s.

Energy-Saving Tips Anyone Can Do

Saving energy saves you money on your electrical bills. But how do you do that? Bill Lutz, an electrician with Generation 3 Electric in Philadelphia, shows some simple steps you can take today to save electricity.

Use “Green Outlets”: These are outlets designed for entertainment equipment and home theater systems. You might not be aware of it, but almost all appliances use electricity while they are plugged in – even if they are turned “off.” This is what is known as a “vampire load.” According to the U.S. Department of Energy, vampire loads are responsible for sucking up to 20% of the energy used in most homes. Appliances like HDTVs often have a “standby” mode that they go into when they are switched “off” which still drains lots of electricity. Lots of other appliances can drain energy as well, even if they are entirely powered down, just by being plugged in. Special “Green Outlets” can detect appliances that are draining power and cut off the flow to them, greatly reducing the energy you are wasting as well as the numbers on your utility bill. Some advanced models can detect how much power is being used when appliances are on and off and display those readings on a small screen for you to read and adjust accordingly.

Install Fluorescent Lights: While for some people this is not as aesthetically as desirable a light, there are always places such as utility closets and bathrooms that it are certainly worth it to install these energy-saving bulbs. You can also design your home style around energy-saving lighting rather than more expensive and wasteful halogen and incandescent bulbs. In America, we often design our homes around warm, yellow (and energy-wasting) lights. That is why we tend to use browns, maroons and wooden colors in our living rooms. Because our aesthetics are designed around these tones, it seems that in many rooms fluorescent lights don’t vibe well with the decor. However, in Europe they design their interiors around energy-saving fluorescent and the home decor in European countries often have starker colors and fabrics to match the lighting better. For example, compare European company’s Ikea’s material look to American company’s Ethan Allen’s warmer shades.

Unplug Chargers: Cell phones chargers are a major vampire of electricity. They continue to suck electricity simply by being plugged into the wall, wasting it by putting pumping into nothings. These little devils continue to drain quite a bit of power even when your phone is not plugged into them, so be sure to unplug your chargers if you are not actively using them to juice up your devices.

Use a Surge Strip: Unplugging to reduce vampire loads does not just apply to chargers. When possible, keep as many appliances as possible unplugged when they are not in use. The easiest way to do this is to purchase surge strips and keep many appliances plugged into that one strip. This way, you can safely and effectively “unplug” an array of devices with the simple flick of a switch. But be careful as not all surge strips are equal. We buy quality ones for electricians. The ones in the stores are rated in Jules and the cheap ones are not usually a great way to protect against actual surges – these cheaper models are more of a fancy outlet splitter than a true surge protector. Turning them off should still cut power to entire strip, but be sure to read the fine print to see if it is indeed a complete cutoff.

Turn Your Lights Off: There used to be a debate about turning lights on and off. A lot of people thought that the electricity used to activate and deactivate the light was more than the steady power used when the light burns continuously. This is incorrect and not true. While it does take some energy to power up your bulb, it is still worth it to turn off your lights. As a general rule: If the light will remain on for over two minutes, you will save money by turning it off.

Electric Heat Can Be Good: Usually, electric space heaters are a a huge waste of energy. They are an inefficient way to heat a house and also can be a fire hazard. However, there are instances where using an electric heater, preferably a built-in unit such as electric baseboard heater, is a good idea. If you have a large house and are usually just in one or two rooms (like a living room or an office), it is better to just heat those rooms than the entire vacant house. Another place where space heaters might come in handy is the bathroom. Though you may like to keep your house slightly chilly to save electricity and money, a space heater can keep your bathroom toasty so you don’t have to step shivering out of the shower.

Try Timers: Timers might be a good idea in many places in your home. They might be a good choice for your basement where you only go to do laundry or on outdoor lights that you will only need at night. Timers are not only great for saving energy but also for security. Lights turning off and on when you are on vacation are an effective deterrent against break-ins as they fool criminals into thinking someone is at home.

Energy Saving Tips for Air Conditioning

It costs you more money and uses more energy to heat and cool your home than any other system in your home. Typically, 44% to 50% of your utility bills pays for heating and cooling your home. Regardless of the type of home comfort systems you have in your house, you can save money and increase comfort by properly maintaining and upgrading your equipment.

Keep in mind that an energy efficient air conditioner alone will not have as great an impact on your energy bills as using an approach that involves the entire house. If you combine proper equipment maintenance and upgrades with appropriate insulation, weatherisation and thermostat settings, you can reduce your energy bills by up to 50%.

General Cooling Tips:

Use house fans. House fans help cool your home by circulating cool air throughout the house. They are most effective when the outside air temperature is cooler than the inside and when operated at night. An attic fan can blow away hot air that accumulates in the attic. This can go a long way to help the efficiency of your air conditioning system. Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible. By maintaining a minimum difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures, you’ll lower your overall cooling bill. Don’t reduce your thermostat setting to a colder temperature than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. This will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and unnecessary expense. Set the fan speed on high, except in humid weather. When it’s humid, set the fan speed on low. Consider ceiling fans to help spread the cooled air more effectively through your home without greatly increasing your power use. Keep lamps and TV sets away from your air conditioning thermostat. Shade air-conditioning units by planting trees or shrubs, but make sure you do not block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses up to 10% less electricity than one operating in the sun. Close shades or curtains on east, south, and west-facing windows during the hours when the sun’s intensity is at its peak. Open curtains and windows during early morning and overnight hours when the air outside the home is cooler. Turn off the air conditioner if the house (or air-conditioned rooms) will be unoccupied for an extended period. Use a programmable thermostat (link to product page) to turn Air off and on automatically when you know the house will be unoccupied.

Here are a few more steps you can take to substantially improve your home’s energy efficiency.

Take a Holistic Approach to Total Home Energy Conservation
To achieve the maximum in total home comfort and energy savings, we recommend that you step back and look at the big picture of energy consumption in your villa. The fact is, your total home comfort and efficiency is the product of many systems: heating, cooling, lighting & electrical, plumbing and possibly others working together. It is the interplay between these systems, combined with the size, age, physical features and location of your home, and even your lifestyle, that combine to produce the total energy efficiency of your home. Changing or upgrading one system, without considering the other factors will usually result in some improvement, but may not deliver the maximum possible benefit.

If you’re building a new villa, or considering a major remodel or system upgrade, consider an Integrated Systems approach. It may cost a little more now, but will undoubtedly save you a bundle over time. Skilled engineers and technicians will look at the big picture when designing a solution for your home.

Conduct a Home Energy Audit
The place to begin when evaluating your home’s overall energy efficiency and deciding how to reduce consumption and costs is with a Home Energy Audit. This takes into consideration much more than just your heating and cooling systems, and will give you a benchmark from which to make decisions and measure your energy saving progress.

Here are some of the heating & cooling factors your audit should take into consideration:

Insulation in walls, floors, and attic. Vapor Barriers in walls Quality of Windows — Single or double pane Heat loss around doors and windows Quality of insulation in doors Integrity of ductwork “— Any leaks Cleanliness of ductwork Use of “passive” solar energy Use of curtains and other window coverings to prevent heat loss Efficiency of heating and cooling systems — Condition of filters, etc.

Consider Purchasing an Annual Maintenance Agreement
You’ve heard the old adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it?” Well that doesn’t apply to your air conditioner any more than it does to your automobile. However, when your system is operating properly, it is easy to forget. Regular maintenance will save you the time money and headaches of premature system failures and major repairs. It will ensure that your system is always working at peak efficiency and help you avoid excessive energy costs.

Make sure your Air Conditioner is properly sized
Bigger Is Not Necessarily Better – A bigger room air-conditioning unit won’t necessarily make you feel more comfortable during the hot summer months and will most likely perform less efficiently and less effectively than a smaller, properly sized unit. Room units work better if they run for relatively long periods of time as opposed to being constantly switched on and off. The longer running time an air conditioner is allowed to maintain, the easier it is for the unit to hold a more constant room temperature. Running longer also allows air conditioning units to remove more moisture from the air, which reduces humidity and increases the comfort level in the room. Check specifications carefully when choosing the right air conditioner for your space. Central air-conditioning systems also require proper sizing. Professionals, however, should perform the sizing of your central air system. Also, do not use the system’s central fan to provide circulation. Instead, use circulating fans in individual rooms. Make sure you set the fan of your central air system to shut off at the same time of your cooling unit (compressor).

Use an Air Conditioner with a high Efficiency Rating
Select a room air conditioner that has an A rating or 10 or higher.

Energy Saving Tips for Your Appliances

Major appliances account for approximately 40% of our household monthly utility bills. Appliances that are older than 10 years may account for an even larger percentage than that. Energy Star appliances are the most energy efficient appliances available on the market today and can help to bring those monthly costs down substantially. But what if new appliances are not in your budget?

Today’s economy does not lend itself well to major new purchases. Most household finances are already stretched to their limit. Even if you can’t afford a new appliance right now, you can use these energy saving tips to save money on each appliance in your home. This should help keep a few dollars in your pocket and ease up on your strained cash flow.

Refrigerator:

· Leave at least one inch between the wall and the back of the refrigerator. This will help air to circulate, control the temperature and avoid over-heating.

· Radiators, heat ducts, vents, stoves, and even sunlight can cause your refrigerator to use more power than necessary so try not to place your refrigerator adjacent to any of these heat sources.

· Check the temperature of your fridge and freezer regularly. The temperature of the fridge should be between 35 and 38 degrees and your freezer at 0 degrees for optimal performance.


Dishwasher:

· Wash full loads of dishes.

· Do not use the pre-rinse, heat-dry or rinse-hold features, they use extra energy.

Clothes Washer:

· Wash full loads

· Only do warm or hot water washes when necessary.

Dehumidifier:

· Close all windows and doors when your dehumidifier is on.

· Change your filters regularly. A build up of dirt causes the unit to use more energy.

· Keep your dehumidifier away from walls, furniture or dusty areas.

Household Air Conditioner:

· Close all windows and doors when your air conditioner is on.

· Set the timer for temperature control.

· Pick the right unit for the size of your room.

Investing in Energy Star appliances is a great long-term solution to lower your utility bills but if you can’t afford to buy new appliances right now, you can still do your best to reduce your current expenses.

Energy Saving Tips That Save You Money

We all know that our planets resources are running out at an ever increasing rate, but did you know that there are some small, simple energy saving tips that you can follow that can save you a lot of money over a year, as well as help save the environment. If you follow all, or even some, of the tips below, you can actually see a real difference to your utility bills.

In a typical modern house, electrical appliances and electronics, such as TV’s and computers, make up about 20% of total energy use.

The first tip is to look for Energy Star labels when you are buying new appliances. Energy Star labels are strict guidelines created by your local governing body which rate the appliance for energy efficiency. You can be assured that appliances which carry this label are as energy efficient as you can get.

Turn Off all Appliances Not in Use: The simplest, and most obvious piece of advice I can give you, but often the most overlooked. Turn off all lights, computers, and electronics when they are not in use. Never use standby mode overnight as it still uses up to 25% of the energy that the appliance consumes when its switched on. Standby mode can also create a fire hazard!

Light bulbs: Use energy saving bulbs instead of the conventional light bulbs. Although energy saving bulbs cost 3-5 times as much as the standard light bulb, they only use one-quarter of the electricity and lasts many times longer. Remember though, that each energy saving bulb contains 5mg of mercury so you will have an extra item to sort in the recycling bin.

Dishes: Always run your dishwasher on a full load – anything less is simply wasting water and energy as it takes the same amount to wash a single plate as it does a full load. Air-dry your dishes instead of using a dryer.

Laundry: Set your wash program to use 40 degree was or less if you can. Instead of using a dryer, air-dry or hang your clothes on a clothes line. As with dishwashers, don’t use the dryer unless you can fill it up.

Refrigerators: Think of what you want to take out before you open the refrigerator. Leaving the door open will waste extra energy.

Take more Showers and fewer Baths: Taking showers instead of baths will reduce water usage and also lower your heating bill. Of course, it’s always great fun to share a bath if you have a willing partner.
Insulate your windows And Doors: Check windows and doors for air leaks. Air leaks can be sealed by caulking or weather-stripping. By securing the leaks in your home, hot and cool air will be kept in your home longer. Less heating and cooling will help you save on energy costs.

Lag your loft and insulate your walls. If your home will allow it you should immediately lag your loft with good quality fibreglass insulation. Almost 80% of the heat lost from a house is lost by convection through the roof space. Loft insulation is the single most effective way to reduce your heating costs – a significant part of your overall energy bill. If you have cavity walls, you should also seek to insulate them using a specialist service. Again, like loft insulation, although this can be a bit expensive, the long term savings will more than pay for the cost of the work.

Energy Saving Tips To Lower Your Heating, Cooling, Water and Electic Bills

When temperatures fall, wallets leak! The leaky drip is your energy dollars flying right out the window or door or roof. If you think you can’t do anything to lower your electric, gas, oil and water bills, take a look at these easy energy saving tips:

Clean Boilers:
When heating system boilers are not kept clean, mineral and combustion deposits build up. The built-up deposits reduce the ability of a natural gas or oil flame to heat your water. The result? It takes much more energy and money for you to get hot water. To make sure you get all the energy you pay for, have the boiler professionally cleaned at least once a year. Shortened run time, also means lower electric bills as the system won’t need to run as long to heat your house.

Drafty Ducts:
If you have a forced air system, examine all the ducts for air leaks at the seams. Leaks in unheated areas, like the attic, basement or crawlspace are especially wasteful. If you find a drafty seam in the duct, fix it by wrapping the seam with high quality duct tape to lower heating bills. The wide metal duct tape is best; it’s a little more expensive than cloth or plastic tape, but it won’t dry out and fall off any ducts during the heating season.

Trickling Toilets:
Toilets are one of the most used and least understood home appliances. They basically have only two moving parts: the flush valve, which lets water out of the tank and down the drain; and the fill valve, which lets the toilet fill up after the flush cycle is complete. Small leaks in these valves can cost thousands of gallons of water per year. Here’s how to tell if your valves are leaking:

Flush Valves:
Open the top of the tank and pour a small amount of food coloring in the water. Close the tank. After an hour, check the toilet bowl. If you see any colored water in the bowl, the flush valve is leaking and should be replaced. Fill Valves:
Open the top of the toilet tank and find the hollow plastic pipe which sticks up from the bottom of the toilet tank. The water level should be about one inch below the top of the pipe. If the water level is even with the top, the fill valve may be leaking or improperly adjusted and should be repaired or replaced. Next, flush the toilet and watch the top of the valve. If any water squirts up, you may have a leaky seal which also means you need a new fill valve.

The good news is flush valves and fill valves are easy to replace and cost less than $10 each. They are available at most hardware stores and home centers. Fluidmaster makes good replacement valves with clear instructions that teach you how to replace the toilet valves. Replacing leaky fill and flush valves is a quick and easy way to lower water bills.

Worn Out Windows:
Did you know that every 15 minutes all the heated air in your home can wind up outside? Known as “air changes per hour,” a drafty home can have four or more air changes every 60 minutes. That’s why tight windows are essential. If you have older windows without storm windows, get storm windows or consider vinyl replacement windows.

Thanks to new technology, installing replacement windows is not the huge construction project it used to be. However, be careful with window contractors. Every year a number of folks wind up paying far too much for poor or average quality windows. Do some research for quality windows, think before you buy, and don’t feel pressured by salesmen who won’t leave before you sign on the dotted line.

Add Insulation:
Your home loses about 80% of its heat through the attic, about 15% through the walls, and the remaining 5% through the floor. Adding extra insulation to the attic or walls is always a good home improvement. The cost of adding extra insulation is usually low and pay backs are quick. When insulating, be sure to wear a long sleeve shirt, gloves, and pants, and buy a dust mask to protect yourself against inhaling the fiberglass insulation particles.

The return on investment for all these energy saving tips will depend in part on the cost of energy in your local area. For example, if your home is powered solely by expensive electric heat, even a small improvement can go a long way to lower electric bills.

12 Energy Saving Tips For Driving

aa with high gas prices, any energy-saving tips are likely to be a top priority for almost any car driver. Even when it comes to the most fuel efficient cars, and provide a few dollars by reducing fuel costs and will benefit almost everyone. The following 12 tips to save energy that can help you reduce fuel costs.
Tip 1 – engine for more economical cars

If you have more than one vehicle, whenever possible, drive the one that gets less gas mileage, especially for those short trips around town. If you’re in the market to buy a new car, choose one that is more efficient in fuel consumption and energy saving.
Tip 2 – Miles Widgets

Think of ways you can reduce the miles you drive. Combining trips, such as running errands and taking the kids to the mall. The use of public transport, walking, or riding your bike, especially for short trips around the city. Another to save on the pocket book would be to join a carpool.
Tip 3 – Lower your speed

By reducing the speed will save you fuel costs. Did you know that every 5 miles per hour over 60 miles per hour that you pay, you are increasing the gas consumption of the vehicle about 5 miles to the gallon?
Tip 4 – reduce the use of your use of your car in the air conditioning unit

Instead of running your air conditioning at full speed during the summer months, and the conversion to a slower speed fan. This can reduce your fuel consumption by up to 5 miles per gallon.
Tip 5 – Remove unwanted your trunk

Get rid of the heavy elements in your trunk. For every 100 pounds of weight in your trunk, you do not pay an extra 2% for fuel.
Tip 6 – Use Cruise Control

When you open on the highway, using the control tourer can reduce fuel consumption
Tip 7 – inflate your tires

By doing something as simple as keeping your tires inflated to correct pressure, you can save up to 20 gallons of fuel a year.
Tip 8 – Keep your car maintenance

Will be regular tune-ups, oil changes and replacing air filters, and determining oxygen sensors wrong, and so forth, not only to prevent major engine problems, but will increase your fuel efficiency. Also, by using the correct oil for your car can be significantly improved gas mileage, and can be reduced as much as 30 dollars a year from your fuel expenses.
Tip 9 – become less wrong at your command

Leadership, which include speed and rapid acceleration and rapid braking, etc., all consume extra energy. In fact, can not be driving at high speeds in an irregular manner less your gas mileage as much as 3 percent.
Tip 10 – Avoid Lost your car

When possible, do not let the engine idle, especially if you work the car a bit more.
Tip 11 – Use overdrive

If your car and overdrive, and use it whenever possible. This will avoid making the engine work and the hard drive to save wear and tear, and save you money.
Tip 12 – Avoid carrying objects on the roof of the car

Carrying materials on the surface of your vehicle creates drag winds and low fuel your economy. Instead, store these materials in your trunk whenever possible.

Energy Saving Tips from Puget Sound Energy: Hot Water


The second largest energy cost in your home is heating hot water. By upgrading your water heating equipment and changing your families’ water consumption habits, you can help to save energy, money and the environment. For more information, visit PSE.com.

Electric Energy Saving Tips – Check This Right Now !

If you’re tired of wasting money and you want to find out about electric energy saving tips join the club! take a look at the following few paragraphs – you are in for a real eye opener. The general public relies on the electric company for their energy; but now it’s possible to get a system that will allow you obtain vast amounts of energy for your home at minimal cost and effort.

The skeptics among you might be doubtful, but let me assure you that even the average person can come up with enough electricity for an entire family with a simple operation, and without being ‘married’ to any local or national power company. Just imagine – no initial deposit required, and no monthly invoices, simply free and environmentally-friendly power to use as you wish.

Just before you continue your research on electric energy saving tips; it is critical that you’ll be aware of the fact that indeed there is a tried and true method used by many energy consumers in this country and even in far away countries that gives you the power to seriously decrease your power bill if not eliminate it once and for all! You are no doubt starting to wonder how this can be possible; it’s just a matter of taking advantage of existing resources – changing a naturally-occurring energy form into electricity for your home – with just two or three days of easy work, right in your own yard. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better – everyone is capable of this, even if you lack technical know how and even if the concept of electricity is a mystery to you.

As you continue to research the topic of electric energy saving tips, here’s the best part of this article – using this new technology, not only are you saving the planet and saving money; as a bonus, it is possible to get paid by your power company for making your own electricity! Try to envision the ‘luxury’ of air conditioning, electric heat, washers, dryers, etc., without thinking about the next payment, and having extra money in your wallet for being good to the environment. Sounds unreal? Don’t be sorry you missed out – check it for yourself; I’ll willing to bet you will be eager to get up and running.

Energy Saving Tips #1


Becoming as energy efficient as possible is the one thing that each of us can do to help ourselves, our environment, and to ensure a future for our children.

Top 7 Compressed Air Energy Saving Tips

Would you like to reduce electrical costs related to your compressed air system? More than likely- you can.  Start by determining your annual compressed air electrical costs by using this formula:  

Brake Horse Power X 0.746 X Annual Hours of Operation X KWH Cost
                              (divided by) Motor Efficiency

NOTE:

1 CFM @ 100 PSIG FOR 8760 HOURS COST $110.00 PER YEAR IN ELECTRIAL COST

Next…follow these
Top 7 Compressed Air Energy Saving Tips: 

1.    Fix your Air Leaks
If you do nothing else – follow this one tip:  Find and fix your compressed air leaks. Air leaks are industry’s “biggest looser”! 
The average plant looses 20% to 30% it its compressed air through multiple small air leaks.  The money spent on man power and parts to find and fix these leaks is well worth it. Note ( ¼ inch  hole will flow 103 cfm @ 100 psig)

2.    Change to Synthetic Lubricants
If you are using petroleum based lubricants, you could experience up to an 8% energy savings by switching to Compressor Synthetic Lubricants.  Plus extend equipment life and save on oil changes and disposal cost.

3.    Reduce Plant Operating Pressure
If possible – reduce overall plant pressure.  Less pressure > Less CFM used > less energy consumed.

TIP:  Reduce plant pressure 2 pounds at a time, then test run for minimum 24 hours. If any equipment has issues…then increase pressure 2 pounds until running smoothly again.  For every 2 pound pressure reduction -you save 1% of the electrical cost to run the air compressor.

4.    Check Differential Pressure on Air Compressor Filters.
Start at the compressor cabinet filter then check the compressor inlet filter. 

Note: A dirty inlet filter can cost you 1% to 3 % in additional electrical costs.  Why? Because decreased air flow to the compressor inlet valve increases the compression ratios resulting in more run time.
Next check the air/oil separator differential pressure under a full load.  A new separator causes a differential pressure drop of approximately 2-3 psig.  When your pressure drop reaches 8-10 psig, then it’s time to change your separator elements.  A dirty separator element can cost you up to 5% in additional electrical cost.

Next change the control air filter element. This often over looked, but still important filter where  the controls receive their air signal. A pressure drop here causes the controls to receive the lower pressure signal loading the compressor more and using more electricity. 

5.    Reduce the Compressor Inlet Temperature
By reducing inlet air temperature 10°F below 70°F, you save 2% on electrical usage. Your benefit increases up to 8% on a 30°F degree day.  But increasing the inlet temperature 10°F above 70°F will cost you 2% in additional electrical usage for every 10°F up to 10% at 120°F. (Inlet temperature has very little affect on Lubricated screw compressors)

6.    Check Differential Pressure on Compressed Air Line Filters.
Size Compressed Air Filters to be twice (2x) your compressor CFM flow rate. This will lower your pressure drop approximately 2-3 psig and save 1% on energy costs. Elements will last twice (2x) as long and you will save on maintenance costs.

7.    Know what quality of compressed air your plant needs.
The cleaner & dryer the compressed air the more energy used. 
Check with the manufacture of your equipment to determine the quality of air needed.

 View the Air Quality Classifications ISO 8573.1 2001

Think Green
Think Green, Help Green, Live Green Welcome to Operation Green Living ! The Green Living Blog dedicated to helping the environment, Green Home Improvement Ideas, info on recycling, energy saving and hybrid cars.
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