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Making your life greener - one bite at a time.

Saving energy saves money and helps tread lightly on the environment. Everyone can make a difference. By changing the way you use energy in your home.

The first step in saving energy is to understand where you use your energy at home.  The best way to do this is to record and monitor your energy bills.The following tips to help make improvements today and this year that will contribute to your energy bottom line and make our planet healthier and cleaner!

1. Shorten Your Showers

It takes energy to heat water, so you can save energy and water by taking shorter showers or half-full baths.

Install energy-efficient showerheads to get the same-quality shower while using less hot water.

2. Wash Clothes Wisely
It takes energy to heat water for washing clothes, so make sure your clothes are really dirty before putting them into the hamper. Wash clothes in cold water and wash full loads. Again, this reduces the energy required to heat the water.

3. Turn ’em Off (at the wall)
Your computer, TV, VCR, CD or DVD player, and other small appliances use electrical energy, so be sure to turn them off when you are finished using them.

Many small appliances use energy even when they are switched off! Plug them into a power strip, and then switch the strip off when you’re finished to reduce this energy waste.

4. Turn Off the Lights

Turn off lights when you are not using them.

Consider changing over to energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) when you replace bulbs that burn out. These are cheaper to run and last longer than incandescent globes.

5. Respect the Fridge

If you find yourself staring into an open fridge for a long time to figure out what to eat, you are wasting energy. Make your choice quickly!
Make a list of the snacks and drinks you have, or keep snacks in a special section of the fridge.

Keep the fridge clean and well ventilated at the top, back and sides to shed excess heat.

6. Turn Down the Heat

Set your thermostat to the lowest temperature that still keeps you comfortable—some recommend 68°F to 70°F by day and a cool 55°F by night.
Change filters regularly—they are usually located in the heating or cooling unit or in a register at the end of a duct. Use heaters effectively and only heat the rooms you are currently using.

7. Keep Your Cool
Keep your air conditioner’s thermostat set at 76°F to 78°F to stay comfortable and use less energy. Invest in a programmable thermostat to automatically control your home’s cooling and heating cycles and save energy.

8. Use Your Windows
In winter, if windows face south, east, or west, open curtains when the sun shines through to heat your home for free. Close all window coverings at night to retain indoor heat. Do the opposite in summer to keep your home cooler.
When replacing windows, look for the most energy-efficient models you can afford.

Control the ventilation in the house and use special door and window seals, gap filler or door snakes to block draughts.

Protect your windows. Heavy lined curtains and pelmets help keep heat in during winter and keep heat out on hot summer days.

9. Shut the Door
When the heat in your home is on, prevent heat from escaping by closing doors quickly when you enter or leave the house.
Make sure the fireplace damper is closed when the heating system is on so heat doesn’t escape up the chimney.

Keep the sun out during summer using blinds, verandas or trees.

10. Be a Leak Detector
A leaky faucet wastes water, and a leaky hot water faucet wastes the energy used to heat the water as well! Replace worn-out fixtures, washers, and hose connections to correct and prevent water leaks.

11. Wash Dishes Wisely
Wait until the dishwasher is full before turning it on.

Select the Air-Dry or No-Heat Dry setting. That way, dishes dry on their own without using electricity.

12. Dryer Details
Don’t let the dryer keep running when clothes are already dry. Try a solar dryer—the clothesline!

Clean out the dryer lint filter before each load to improve airflow, save energy, and reduce fire risk.