What are the most effective yet simple ways people can save energy ?

Answer 1

1. Insulate your water heater and regularly drain the sediment out of the bottom.

2. When possible, hang your wash out to dry, or at least clean your lint trap after every load.

3. Unless clothes are really soiled, wash in cold water and adjust your water level to accommodate the load. Cut back on the amount of detergent you use, most of us put in too much.

4. Change your light bulbs! Although these bulbs cost more initially, they use a lot less energy, last much longer (less going to the landfills) and will save you money on your electric bill.

5. Try switching to solar lighting outdoors.

6. Adjust your thermostat to be a couple degrees cooler in winter and a couple warmer in summer. It won’t change your level of comfort but will save energy; lots if everyone did this!

7. If there is empty space in your freezer, fill it with water-filled Tupperware so less energy is used to keep the compartment at freezing temperature. Vacuum the coils of your frig regularly.

8. Insulate your windows. Replace any that are loose or cracked. Use window covers that filter the light in summer, but let more in during winter.

9. Whenever it comes time to replace an appliance, look for one that is energy efficient.

10. Paper or plastic? Neither! Buy some washable canvas totes and take them whenever/wherever you shop. They are stronger, deeper, have substantial handles and can be used for ages before needing to be replaced. Plastic takes eons to deteriorate and paper causes more trees to be cut down. Or if you’re buying just an item or two, tell the cashier you don’t need a bag.

11. No need to buy costly, bio-friendly cleaners, you probably have the ingredients right at home for concocting your own. Lemon juice, vinegar, baking soda, etc. can be mixed and used in spray bottles for cleaning many things. ‘Mrs. Stewart’s’ liquid bluing is eco-friendly and bio-degradable and can be used in place of bleach. They have a website with a number of cleaning tips. www.mrsstewarts.com Other websites can tell you how to mix your own ‘natural household cleaners’.

12. Keep your car tuned and your tires properly inflated. Try to multi-task to reduce driving. Also, changing your driving habits can save fuel. When stopped at a RR crossing, shut your car off. Coast down hills in neutral. If the light up ahead is red, take your foot off the gas and coast up to the light. No sense in driving up fast only to have to step on the brakes.

13. It cost nothing to join www.freecycle.com. This is a great place where (for free) people post items they no longer want or use, or you can post what you are looking for. It’s like a big swap meet and many great things show up on there. Furniture, computers, landscaping material, bird/dog cages, clothes, you name it! If it’s not in your community, you can easily start it up by using the aforementioned site. Caution: Woman should NOT be alone when picking something up or having someone coming over to pick something up.

14. Try to incorporate more landscaping if you have a yard. More trees and shrubs mean less area to cut, same with groundcovers. Think evergreens and fruit trees to supply food and shelter for wildlife.

15. Take either shorter or cooler showers; preferably both.

16. FORGET bottled water! Due to there being almost no regulations much of the water you buy is nothing more than bottled tap water! You can buy a couple of reusable, durable water bottles and use these over and over again using your own tap water. Less money, much less plastic going to the landfills. If you’re still leery, you can buy a filtering system to help purify your own tap water.

17. Use washable cloth napkins and hand towels.

18. Even when an appliance isn’t being used, it is still drawing energy if it’s plugged in. Unplug these or get some convenient power strips where you can shut off multi appliance with one switch. IE: toaster, can opener, microwave.

19. Set your computer to going into ‘sleep’ or ‘hibernate’ mode if you’re going to be away from it for 10 minutes or more. Screen savers are NOT energy savers.

20. Buy items in bulk, or items that use little packing material to reduce the amount that is going to landfills.

There are many more great tips on web sites that are easy to find. Education is key to making a difference. Lead by example.

Answer 2

For your house you can buy motion detecting light switches, high efficient light bulbs, turn down the heat as much as you comfortably can, buy energy star appliances, as well as install or pay someone to install insulation in your house and water heater, buy a solar hot water heater for your house and replace your windows with double glass ones if your replacing them anyway.
Some states have rebates on a lot of this stuff and some have it so you can sign up for green energy on your electric bill for a little bit more money and some have free home energy audits.

You can save water in your house with low flow toilets, shower heads, faucets, and high efficiency water conserving landscaping if your getting it re-landscaped anyway.

For your car you can keep it tuned up, keep the air filter clean, make sure the fuel filter, spark plugs and catalytic converter are clean, only fill the tank half way unless your taking a trip, take out all the extra weight from the car, keep the tires inflated to exactly what there rated for and maybe a few pounds more though the air pressure with make the ride harsher you'll get better mileage. When you buy a new or new to you car try to buy one that gets very high milage, and if all the designs for those kinds of cars suck e-mail the car companies and tell them what you think they could do to make them cooler.

Don't buy what you can happily live without and take care of the things you do have so you have to replace them less often. Try to eat food that's grown sustainably, locally and with minimal resources. Push Congress to increase the pace of the switchover to low emissions renewable green energy sources because fossil fuels are only going to become more expensive over time as they run out and renewable energy will only get cheaper over time due to technology advances. These are some of the simplest things regular people can do to conserve energy, fossil fuels, other resources and the environment.

Answer 3

Simple and effective...

Drive less aggressively, meaning, accelerate more slowly and coast up to red lights. You don't have to be pressing a peddle at all times.

Turn off lights when you're not in a room.

And of course, reduce and reuse what you can.

Answer 4

Put stuff like your computer and entertainment stuff on power strips and turn the strips off when you're not using them (keep your modem separate, it's a hassle to reboot it every time). Unplug appliances when not using them. They still suck power when not in use. turn off lights if you're not in the room. Keep the heat low in the winter. Don't us AC.

Answer 5

CFl or LED lighting, dont open your refridge alot, drive less, dont take plastic bags at the grocery store. Plant dicideous trees in front of your house. Turn off appliances if not in use

Answer 6

Don't drive a 4 x 4 vehicle just to go shopping and take the children to school.

Answer 7

hi,
We have been working on changes to cut our energy consumption, and keeping track of how much each idea costs, and how much energy it saves -- the results are here:
http://www.builditsolar.com/References/Half/Projects.htm

Some simple and cheap ones that save a lot of energy:
- Reducing electricity use by our PC's and peripherals -- 1780 KWH per year and $178 saving for 2 PC's.
http://www.builditsolar.com/References/Half/ProjectsConservation.htm#PC

- CF lights all over the house -- 1170 KWH per year and $117 saving.
http://www.builditsolar.com/References/Half/ProjectsConservation.htm#Lights

- Getting rid of "phantom" electrical loads -- 570 KWH per year and $57 per year saving.
http://www.builditsolar.com/References/Half/ProjectsConservation.htm#Phantom

- Using bubble wrap packing material to insulate windows -- 955 KWH per year and $75 saving per year.
http://www.builditsolar.com/References/Half/ProjectsConservation.htm#Bubble

All of the above cost almost nothing to do, and have lots of energy and dollar savings.

Of the larger projects, the one that saved us the most energy (but also cost the most) was getting a fuel efficient car -- 23900 KWH per year and $1880 saving in gasoline per year!
http://www.builditsolar.com/References/Half/ProjectsTransport.htm

The best way to find your own set of best energy saving ideas is to do this:
http://www.builditsolar.com/References/Half/Planning.htm

Gary

Answer 8

There are lots but for a really good breakdown you should visit this site and look at the how to help page.

http://www.ozenergy.net

Answer 9

If you are talking about just at your home then:
i guess....
1. line dry your clothes
2. don't use your ac unless you need to
3. if it uses electricity (use it less or unplug it)
4. CFL or LED light bulbs

Answer 10

there are many things
and everybody has different lives or different behaviors ,
bear with me if i give you a list ,and just tick of what applies to you or what you are prepared to do
101 Ways To Live More Ecologically

1. Avoid disposable in favor of reusable
items.
2. Avoid drying rags in a clothes dryer.
3. Avoid power appliances when handpower works.
4. Avoid highly processed foods.
5. Avoid using styrofoam—it can't be recycled.
6. Avoid watering driveways and sidewalks.
7. Be responsible and creative with leftover foods.
8. Buy in bulk goods to reduce wasted packaging.
9. Buy energy efficient electric appliances.
10. Buy foods without additives.
11. Buy foods without preservatives.
12. Buy food and goods from sources you trust
13. Buy large quantities to reduce shopping trips.
14. Buy living Christmas trees.
15. Buy locally grown food and produce.
16. Buy organic, pesticide-free foods.
17. Compost your food scraps.
18. Discover and protect watersheds in your area,
19. Don't burn trash or other smoky materials.
20. Drain cooking grease onto paper bags, not paper towels.
21. Drive a fuel-efficient car.
22. Drive less: walk, bicycle, carpooland use public transportation.

23. Eat foods low on the food chain; avoid meat.
24. Eat more natural, nutritious foods.
25. Educate elected representatives on ecology.
26. Exercise regularly.
27. Explore and learn about your bioregion.
28. Grow your own food, even a small amount.
29. Hang dry some or all of your clothes.
30. Heat your home less and wear warmer clothes.
31. Heat your home more with renewable energies.
32. Hold a potluck dinner to discuss local ecology.
33. If you use a dishwasher, turn off the drying cycle.
34. Install a water-conserving device in your toilets.
35. Install a water-conserving showerhead.
36. Insulate your home to maximum efficiency.
37. Invest for social responsibility as well as profit.
38. Invest in solar power, where practical.
39. Invest in well-made, long-lived clothing.
40. Keep hazardous chemicals in safe containers.
41. Keep appliance motors well adjusted for efficiency.
42. Mend and repair rather than discard and replace.
43. Oppose meddling in ecological balance.
44. Oppose private development of special areas.
45. Oppose roadside use of defoliants.
46. Organize or join a neighborhood toy exchange.

47. Pick up litter along streets and highways.
48. Plant native trees and shrubs around your home.
49. Plant trees throughout your community.
50. Plant your living Christmas tree.
51. Practice preventive health care.
52. Practice responsible family planning.
53. Prepare only as much food as will be eaten.
54. Protect your favorite distinctive natural areas.
55. Purchase goods in reusable/recyclable containers.
56. Put a catalytic converter on your wood stove.
57. Put toxic substances out of reach of children.
58. Recycle aluminum.
59. Recycle glass.
60. Recycle newspaper.
61. Recycle old clothes.
62. Recycle plastic.
63. Recycle used motor oil.
64. Recycle your unneeded items.
65. Re-use paper bags.
66. Re-use plastic bags for storage and waste.
67. Save up for full loads in clothes washers.
68. Save up for full loads in dishwasher.
69. Shop by phone, then go pick up your purchases.
70. Speak out about your values in community groups.
71. Support efficient energy sources in your bioregion.
72. Support elected representatives on ecological issues.
73. Support energy conservation in your bioregion.

74. Support global ecological improvement efforts.
75. Support local credit unions.
76. Support local merchants before large chains.
77. Support neighborhood food cooperatives.
78. Support proper waste water and sewage treatment.
79. Support the cultural diversity in your bioregion.
80. Support the plants and animals in your community.
81. Take shorter showers.
82. Teach your children ecological wisdom.
83. Turn down the thermostat on your water heater.
84. Turn off the lights when not needed.
85. Turn off the water while you brush your teeth.
86. Use biodegradable soaps and detergents.
87. Use cloth diapers.
88. Use cloth table napkins.
89. Use less tapwater whenever possible.
90. Use non-toxic pest control.
91. Use only medications you trust/understand.
92. Use rags or towels instead of paper.
93. Use rechargeable batteries.
94. Use the second side of paper for scratch paper.
95. Use water from cooking vegetables to make soup.
96. Volunteer for work in a community garden.
97. Volunteer to maintain local parks and wilderness.
98. Wash clothes in cold water.
99. Wash dishes in still, not running water.
100. Weather-seal your home.
101. Work to unlearn poor ecological habits.

http://www.lib.niu.edu/ipo/1996/ip960321.html