Think Green – Cost Cutting and Energy Conservation
Heating is the single biggest energy use and cost in a home, air conditioners give off CFC’s that are destructive to the ozone layer and lets not forget how high the gas and electricity bills sky rocket during times of weather extremes. When you save energy, you’re not only saving money, but you’re also helping to reduce the demand for fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas). The following are some quick tips to help you save some extra cash as well as do something great for our environment.
Weatherize your apartment by using caulk and weather stripping to plug air leaks around doors and windows.
In the winter, don’t forget to put up your storm windows as they will help protect against cold wind chills. They can reduce heating costs by as much as 15% by also preventing warm air from escaping. If you’ve moved into your apartment in warmer weather and don’t know where the storm windows are, call your building management.
Open the blinds and curtains over windows that face direct sunlight. The sun rays will help heat the room and the extra light will eliminate the need to turn on lamps. Alternatively, keep blinds and curtains closed at night or on overcast days to keep the warmth inside.
Keep your home humid! Dry air makes you feel colder than most air at the same temperature. You can either get a humidifier, or simply place shallow pans of water near radiator tops or close to warm air vents.
In hot weather, do your baking, cooking and laundry (activities when appliances that throw warmth, oven, dryer, hair dryer, steamer, etc., are used) in the early morning or later at night when the weather is cooler. You won’t feel the need to crank up your air conditioning so high.
Get a timer for your thermostat. There’s no need to run up high energy bills when no one is home. Set the timer to shut on about 30 minutes before you get home so that your place is cooler or heated to your comfort level. In the winter, turn your thermostat down during the night and opt for a down comforter instead.
Fans use only about 1/10 the electricity of a typical air conditioner unit. During moderate heat, try using a ceiling or freestanding fan instead of turning on your air.
Drying your clothes on a high heat not only uses a good chunk of energy, but you’re also making your home hotter than it needs to be (in the summer, your air conditioning will need to work harder to cool your rooms). Plus, for some fabrics, heated drying shortens the lifespan of the garment. Line drying also eliminates static cling! You’ll be able to conserve energy and save some money by line drying some of your clothing items. Don’t have a yard? No worries. There are many size indoor drying racks and lines available. And you could always just throw your clothing over the shower rod…
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