Saving Energy at Home, Part 2

Welcome back! As I said in the first article, "I'myour well pump and wasting energy as well as
just getting started!" So, where do we go fromshortening the life of the pump (mark this as
here?VERY EXPENSIVE to RELACE!).
In this article I have again put together a list ofMake sure that none of your faucets are dripping;
low or no cost things to do that can save youthis includes your outdoor faucets! If they are,
money. Now, each one on its own probably willFIX THEM RIGHT NOW!
not make much of a dent in your electric and/orNow lets' go to the laundry room and check out
gas bill but when combined and added to whatyour washer and dryer. Now, you can't usually
you have already done based on my previousadjust the actual temperature settings (A qualified
article:service technician can) but you can do a couple of
"Save Up to 50% or More on Your Home Electricthings starting by doing all laundry at night during
Bill Almost for Free!" (Of course, you have doneoff-peak hours. Where ever possible wash using
all of that, haven't you?) You should see acold water detergent and dry on as low a setting
substantial reduction in your monthly energy billas the fabrics will allow, also wash and dry like
the next time around.fabrics and colors together. ALWAYS make full
Ok, where do we begin?loads your goal to help cut down on electric and
Let's start in the kitchen with the dishwasher.or gas usage! And on the dryer make sure your
Your dishwasher uses very hot water to cleandryer vents are free and clear of lint, fires have
your dishes. A common fallacy is that you mustbeen known to start because of excessive lint
set your hot water heater to 145 Deg. F in orderbuildup!
for the dishwasher to function. In actuality, mostThere are two last items that I want to cover,
dishwashers built after to late '90's have built-inone is cheap, the other you will have to play with
water heaters to bring that water up to theto determine if it will work for you.
required temperature so check your waterThe first item is what I call "a no-brainer" but is
temperature and set it at no more than 125 Deg.usually overlooked by most people.
F. If it is higher, you are wasting money! Also,Your outside lighting is our next stop. You cannot
remember to run your dishwasher duringuse efficient fluorescent light bulbs in areas of the
"off-peak hours".country because they do not function below
You will need to go to the store and get a goodcertain temperatures. However, a simple little thing
thermometer, look at the inexpensive digital units.like simply reducing the wattage of the bulbs can
Once you purchase one check to make sure it ismake a big difference! Example:
accurate. You say, "how do I do that?" VeryI have 5 standard outdoor fixtures designed to
simply, take a glass and fill it half full of water anduse 60 watt bulbs. By reducing these to 40 watt
the rest with ice. Water and ice can only co-existbulbs I have lowered my usage by 100 watts and
at one temperature and that is 32 Deg. F., oryou can not see much of a difference at all! If
freezing, let it sit in the 'frig for about 5 to 10you are located in a low crime area, put a timer
minutes, put your new thermometer in the glass,on your outdoor lighting circuit. Get one that uses
it should read 32 Deg. F. Oh, by the way, this isa sensor to turn them on at dusk and off at say
not the only time we will be using the9 or 10PM (what ever works for you!), this way
thermometer so keep it handy!you will not forget to turn them off (which I
Now, where else can we make use of your newalmost always did!). Or, if not needed, LEAVE
"toy"?THEM OFF entirely when ever possible!
Lets' go back to the refrigerator, again, pulling outThe last item on this free or at least "cheap" list
your trusty "calibrated" thermometer (You didconcerns your furnace. If you have a forced hot
calibrate it, didn't you?) place it in a glass of waterair system and central air conditioning this could
that has been standing on the middle shelf of thesave you a LOT OF MONEY during the cooling
'frig for a good half hour or more. You should beseason! Now, please understand, this may not
in the range of 35 to 38 Deg. F. Any lower youwork for everyone and it will not work under
are wasting energy (Money!). CAUTION, do NOTcertain outdoor air conditions such as high humidity
set it above 38 Deg. F. trying to save moreespecially if your furnace draws fresh circulating
money! Food may spoil and food poisoning couldair from outside (Please note: this usually pertains
result.to older furnaces only!). Newer furnaces have a
Now, lets' move to the freezer section. Again,"closed circuit" in which they simply recycle the
using your thermometer, place it in the freezerindoor air while using a separate circuit for
section of your refrigerator and leave it there forcombustion air that is drawn into the furnace,
at least 15 to 30 minutes. You should have it setheated, moved across a heat exchanger and then
for between 0 Deg. F. and 5 Deg. F., any lowerexhausted to the outside, this way you retain
and you are wasting energy and money!maximum efficiency in your furnace with out
Still in the kitchen, lets' look at the faucet in thewasting what you have already heated, and
kitchen sink, and of course, it doesn't drip, does it?always remember to change the filter on a
If so, FIX IT! Hot water causes the seals toregular basis.
eventually fail causing a drip. Most newer faucetsDuring the evening hours if the outdoor air
use a simple cartridge that can be easily replaced,temperature drops below the temperature inside
DO IT NOW!the house and the humidity is relatively low you
Does your kitchen faucet have an aerator nozzlecan reduce your cooling costs considerably by
on it? If not, GET ONE! It retards the flow ofopening a few windows and turning on just the
water (saving MONEY!) and yet helps do a betterfan switch on your furnace and let it run
job of rinsing items. Again, many little grains ofconstantly at night. This will promote a cooling
sand make a beach; don't over look the smalleffect in the house without running the air
stuff!conditioning and "pre-cool" the house. In the
While we are on the subject of good old H2O,morning simply close your windows, continue to
lets' talk about usage. Do you have low-flowallow the fan to run but activate you air
shower heads in the bathrooms, if not GET THEM.conditioning.
I just bought new ones at Wal-Mart for aboutBuy doing this and setting the air temp to above
$13.00 USD! Also, get a cheap egg timer and time75 Deg. F., even 78, you should be able to save
your showers! I have it down to 2 minutes!on your air conditioning bill during the cooling
Do you have low-volume toilets? If not, don't rushseason, once set point is reached set back to
out to replace them! First, as always, make sure"auto" mode, but this is one you will have to play
that the level control is not allowing the unit towith to determine your optimal settings and,
leak through (you will hear dripping in the wateragain, it may not be for you depending where
closet if it is), if it is, FIX IT RIGHT NOW! And ifyou live.
they are not low-volume units you can simplySo there you have it, the second installment of
displace some of the water in the tank by usinghow to cut your energy bill "On The Cheap" as
bricks. Now this one you will have to play with tothey say. Again, I highly recommend getting "The
get the level right for a complete flush but in theEnergy Savings Manual", see the attached link and
end you will save water (MONEY!).stay tuned for "The Rest Of The Story", my final
If you live in the country, check to see that yourchapter before getting really serious about getting
well expansion tank has the proper amount ofyou "OFF THE GRID".
pressure in it, if not, it could be "short-cycling"