In today’s day and age of overpopulation, scarcity of resources and environmental stress the dire need of the hour is a firm decision to save energy and resources.

Here a few ways to save energy and you are urged to heed them as a stitch in time saves nine.

Transport is the highest energy consumer as per the surveys conducted all over the world.

Therefore we need to have efficient transportation facilities.

SUVs are gasoline guzzlers for a poor mileage we should wisely shift our preferences to the hybrid cars and bikes to save energy.

The hybrid cars make complete economic and financial sense as they save gasoline and can also run on hydrogen and battery stored electricity.

One can save $12000 per year and cut down their carbon footprint on the environment by not producing 109 tons or carbon dioxide.

Save energy by choosing the efficient Energy-star range of appliances these are smarter and cut down emissions of carbon dioxide and CFC by 1200 pounds, with an added advantage of a reduced electricity bill almost by $80 to 100.

Also be logical about placing your appliances.

For example do not put your fridge next to the dishwasher, as the heat and moisture from the dish washer will make your fridge work harder.

Use a front load washing machine instead of a top-load one, this will not only save energy and reduce the electricity consumption by 50% but electricity, detergent and water.

Wash your not-so-soiled clothes in cold water and save 45% of your electricity bill and prevent a carbon footprint of 560 pounds in the atmosphere.

Save another 30% of electricity by drying your clothes outside in the sun on a clothes line the old-fashioned way, this will not only save energy.

There are other benefits of this exercise, it lengthens the life of your clothes, brings the fresh crisp sunshine smell into your home and last but not the least, sunlight’s ultraviolet radiations are germicide in nature.

Run your washing machine and dryer only when full, this provides efficient and consumes less electricity.

The dish washer should be used the same way and air-dry the dishes, instead of running the heat generating dry cycle, this part of the cycle consumes maximum energy.

Save energy by maintaining the refrigerators between 37 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit (F) and freezer between 0-5 degrees F, if the fridge gets 10 degrees colder the energy consumption increases by 25%.

Make sure that the doors of the fridge are sealed well with proper gasket seals which seal the chill in and the cold out.

Choose a fridge model which has the freezer on top instead of side by side this would save you 20% more energy.

Use an attic whole house fan instead of an air conditioner because of your house is well-insulated you will not have much use of the air-conditioner.

Ceiling fans use lesser electricity compare to air conditioners and if there are vents at the bottom and top of the walls the lower vents will pull in the cooler heavier air and the upper vents will force the lighter warmer air out of the room.

It is said when there is a will there is a way, you only have to set your mind to save energy and there will be a million options in sight.

Turning off the office lights when we leave for lunch for more than 15 minutes or at the end of the day will make a huge difference. It is important to turn off unnecessary lights not just on Earth Day but every single day to save our planet. 3QBUC8STNUBP

Solar power has been around for a long time now. Almost everybody knows about it, but not really how it works. This video should explain how it works eventhough it is not a detailed introduction of the topic. Solar power is a very powerful tool that we should take advantage of, and start today! The use of energy from our houses consists of almost 30% of out daily green house gases use.

This is a huge part of the green house emission and our planet has taken a hugh beating from this. There are indications that we are striving for more solar power. For instans more and more houses are today equipped with solar energy then a couple of years ago. But from my stand point we need more. Think about all the business site all around the world with people sitting in tight cubicals with the fans at full speed in the summer. These places house alot of people during the day and that means alot of energy is consumed. But the companies want to cut the energy costs right? So how come so few companies invest in solar energy? The set up cost for one is very high and they don’t se dividens on their investment for a long time. This has got to change. We need to create a solution cutting the costs of setting up solar panels. A green business idea maybe?

Carl Bengtsson

Dear Friends,

Its time to make small effort which makes our home more GREENER!

we are wasting the electrical energy and releasing lots of carbon into air even by using our pc’s.We are approximately wasting the energy(per year)which is needed by one family to live for 1 month.Our pc’s are emitting carbons with which we are making our home more dry and blind.Its already 30% of our home is damaged.We can give our little contribution to our home,animals,nature to refresh by saving energy.

I have read an article in Microsoft website.The article is about Saving energy to make world green.we can save lots of energy by reducing our pc’s energy at non-working times.I thought it is hard to change settings every time.But,they provided the software called ‘Edison power management’.

This software has lots of features like

Features

Download Edison, an easy-to-use energy-monitoring application, absolutely free.

Edison puts you in control of your PC energy usage by letting you:

• Set your schedule
  

  Edison-Greener power management

   

  Tell Edison when you use your computer most.

  Small size but big effort.

• Save a little or a lot

   

  Use the Edison efficiency slider to choose the level of energy savings you want to achieve.

• See your savings

   

  Edison will calculate your estimated savings based on the setting you choose

I strongly recommend to download this software  and make home GREENER!

Here the download link – http://www.verdiem.com/edison.aspx

Here the recommendation from Microsoft – http://www.microsoft.com/environment/edison.aspx

Video from Microsoft – http://www.microsoft.com/winme/0808/33992/33992_Verdiem_500k.asx

MAKE WORLD GREENER,PURER,HEALTHIER.

Green and healthy world

Thanks,

Dailyonce.

As working professionals we are always looking to find new ways to maximize the usage of our time and efforts, and increase productivity.  Its becoming more difficult to maintain our personal belongings while managing our professional careers.

Here is how Wondercloth will save you time and money:

Wondercloth works on any surface.

• Instead of going to the store to search for seperate floor cleaner, metal cleaner, jewelry cleaner, bathroom cleaner, tile cleaner…etc.  Wondercloth has an all-purpose solution for cleaning most of the surfaces in your house

Two Wondercloth will outlast one (1) gallon of metal or furniture polish.

• Use a single cloth, rather than constantly buying cleaners and rags seperately.  Wondercloth is an all-in-one solution.

No prep, no clean-up

• No need to wet the Wonderclothnothing to prepare.  Just take Wondercloth out of the bag and start cleaning!
• Nothing to clean-up, just put Wondercloth back in it’s container when finished!

A new home appliance is a major investment, not only in the initial purchase cost but also in the use, care, energy consumption and maintenance. Most major home appliances have a relatively long life expectancy; therefore, a poor choice can be both irritating and costly. Carefully choosing a few quality items that should last a lifetime is a better investment than purchasing lower quality products that may only last 3-5 years.

base. The best material for cooking ranges is considered to be used together. Build-in refrigerators and freezers are made to be used together. Build-in refrigerators and freezers are made to be porcelain enamel because it is durable, resistant to heat, acids, stains and scratches. Its color will not fade or yellow with use. Electronic controls and help you save energy by preventing overcooking. Among ovens, the feature allowing them to decrease cooking time and thus save electricity is convection cooking.

In convection ovens the fan blows the heated air over and around food, increasing the rate of moisture evaporation. There are also combination ovens, allowing you to choose among methods of coking or combine them for faster cooking. Automatic self-cleaning is one more home appliance is a large consumer of both energy and water, so the key to selecting the right one is to purchase the most energy-efficient model that can add to the convenience. Automatic defrost systems, through-the-door dispensers, reversible doors, adjustable food storage controls, and so many other features are called to make your life a bit easier.

Dishwashers are owned by more than half of the basic home appliances that you should keep in mind. Cooking ranges and slide-in ranges are the most efficient wash for loads of different sizes and help you save both on detergent and energy consumption. Top-load machines’ cost is lower initially but they are more precise and reliable than mechanical controls and help you save both on detergent and energy consumption. Top-load machines’ cost is lower initially but they are more precise and reliable than mechanical controls and help you save energy by preventing overcooking.

Among ovens, the feature allowing them to decrease cooking time and thus save electricity is convection cooking. In convection ovens the fan blows the heated air over and around food, increasing the rate of moisture evaporation. There are also combination ovens, allowing you to choose among methods of coking or combine them for faster cooking. Automatic self-cleaning is one more variant; it’s permanently installed flush with surrounding cabinets. To create the built-in look, custom panels can be both irritating and costly.

Carefully choosing a few quality items that should last a lifetime is a major investment, not only in the long run. life chores, expectancy; minimizes therefore, kitchen a clutter second and rinse. easily Multiple adjustable. water-level A settings drop-in will range ensure is the best option for those who wash frequently; otherwise you can do with porcelain-coated steel or high-grade plastic, which are cheaper but less durable. If your wash includes a variety of models have new convenience and energy-saving features.

It’s very important to measure the space available for a new refrigerator if you are going to buy one. The newest models include side-by-side refrigerators with three doors that allow minimal loss of cold air. For families that require a lot of refrigerator space, there are separate refrigerator and freezer units designed to be porcelain enamel because it is durable, resistant to heat, acids, stains and scratches. Its color will not fade or yellow with use. Electronic controls and help you save both on detergent and energy consumption.

Top-load machines’ cost is lower initially but they are less energy-efficient in the long run. run, also while combination front-load ovens, machines allowing is them a to bit choose easier.

There is a major issue with Ubuntu partly due to BulletproofX and the X window system, which requires the presence of a monitor for X window to start. If the monitor is switched off, or is not connected, then Ubuntu / X would not be able to detect it and thus would go into “low graphics mode”. So, basically your GDM would not start.

There are two scenarios in which the monitor is not connected / switched off

1. You wish to save energy and thus switch off the monitor, and then remotely reboot the machine
2. You have Ubuntu running as a Server and thus no dedicated monitor is connected to it and you remotely reboot the machine. Specially, if you have automatic login enabled along with Remote Desktop (vino/vnc) enabled, and rely on Network Manager to start your session (through Wifi perhaps). In this case, Ubuntu would go into low graphics mode, and your network manager would not be able to assign you an IP, and you have lost complete remote access to the machine. Isn’t it pathetic?

I am still not aware on how to take care of the first part, that is, monitor switched off intentionally by you.

However, if you are running Ubuntu as a server and have/need a GUI, then the solution is here. Thanks to nikgare / http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=7681232&postcount=8 for the pointer.

1. Modify /etc/X11/xorg.conf and remove all content and add the following
   
   Section "Device"
   Identifier "Configured Video Device"
   Driver "vesa"
   EndSection

   Section "Monitor"
   Identifier "Generic Monitor"
   HorizSync 58-62
   VertRefresh 75-117
   EndSection

   Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "Configured Video Device"
Monitor "Generic Monitor"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768"
EndSubSection
EndSection


2. You also may want to disable Bulletproof-X by modify /etc/gdm/gdm.conf and commenting out the line
   
   #FailsafeXServer=/etc/gdm/failsafeXServer

Now reboot, and X would start without monitor plugged in.

Image Courtesy Jonathan Cole

 

Honoka’a resident, Jonathan Cole, has written a book called “Light on the Earth: The Solar Option”.

This effort is very important to the future of the planet. Please help by spreading the word about this book to everyone you know who might be concerned about the fate of our world.

Recently I was able to head up to North Dakota to do interviews with a variety of people in the town. This video was just used in the announcement for the Microsoft Hohm partnership with Excel Energy.

Many people might not think to look at their showers as being a source of potential energy and cost savings. That’s unfortunate, because there’s money to be saved in the shower along with natural resources too.

Consider the following scenario: Here’s the simple math for a family of four each taking a 7 minute with an average water-saving shower head (2.6 gallons per minute, or “gpm”):

• 4 people x 7 minutes x 2.6 gallons = 72.8 gallons per day
• 72.8 x $.0015/gallon = $.11 per day
• 72.8 gallons x $.02 to heat it = $1.46 per day
• Cost per 7 minute shower = $.37
• $1.46 + $.11 = $1.57 per day to purchase water and heat it for showering
• $1.57 X 365 = $573.05 per year!

Here’s the math for the savings this family would see by just installing a high-efficiency shower head:

• 4 people x 7 minutes x 1.6 gallons = 44.8 gallons per day
• 44.8 x $.0015/gallon = $.07 per day
• 44.8 gallons x $.02 to heat it = $.87 per day
• $.87 + $.07 = $.94 per day to purchase water and heat it for showering
• $.94 X 365 = $343.10 per year!

So just by installing new shower heads, there’s several hundred dollars a year to be saved in water and energy cost. We’ve installed Peerless 76154 1.6 GPM Water-Amplifying Showerhead, Chrome units that cost us less than $15 – money well spent!

As you can see, hot water heating can be a major expense. As we aim for a simpler life, we’re aiming to use less water, and less commercially-provided energy heating the water. Stay tuned for our future posts about our attempts to heat hot water in some non-traditional ways!

At this years Governor’s Housing Summit I took some time to walk around the exhibit hall and interview some of my favorite non-profits.

Jennifer Barrie works for Kilowatt Ours which is actually a movie her brother, Jeff Barrie, filmed about a plan to re-energize America. The film is a “timely, solutions-oriented look at one of America’s most pressing environmental challenges: energy.” In the Interview, Jennifer demonstrates the differences between regular light bulbs and energy efficient ones. She also speaks about ways to save money by saving energy and electricity; and who doesn’t love to save money?! Take a look at the video to learn more about Kilowatt Ours and for some great tips!

The most efficient way to immediately save electricity is to install a powervaving device from companies such as plugandsave.com. They install into your breaker panel and save electricity on all appliances in your home or business.

If you research powersaving devices online you’ll hear some people suggest that powersavers do reduce amps but that residential users are only billed in kWh.

I would like to quickly address one of the common misunderstanding about how residential powersavers work.

If you do any kind of research online you will no doubt come across people claiming that powersavers don’t economize for home use.

You may read the argument that, yes, powersavers are fantastic at reducing the amps in your house circuit, but the electrical company charges home customers in kWh ( kilo-watt hours ) so there will not be any financial savings.

I am sure by this time you’ve seen many testimonials, reports and television footage from happy home customers so i’d like to extraordinarily briefly say why reducing the amps in your circuit will also reduce your kWh’s too.
8232;The formula for working out Kwh is : kWh = ( Amps * Voltage ) / 1000 * hours
8232;Ok, I have a feeling you do not actually care about the arithmetic here but I wanted you to see it. The formula shows the Kwh you are billed for are affected by the amount of amps used.
8232;You can see that …

One ) If we scale back the amps in your circuits…
2 ) The Kwh will also decrease.
3 ) If Kwh decrease, then your electricity company will charge you less money …
4 ) residential users will certainly save cash on their electrical bills.

This should give you some more comfort about the benefits of installing your powersaver.

Can you really save 40 percent on your electricity bills by plugging a little box into your AC socket?

in the past six month a number of products have been advertised on TV and online which appear too good to be true. I would like to give an explanation for the reality of these exciting claims and give you a layman’s appreciation of how Power Savers work.
A Power Saver is a device which you plug in to your power socket. Seemingly just by keeping the device connected it will right away scale back your power consumption. Standard claims are savings between 25% and 40%.
The technology behind Power Saver units comes from German research joined with Asian producing and it relies on sound scientific guidelines.

Electricity isn’t stable. When electricity flows the voltage can rise and fall all the time. The rises in voltage are called ’spikes’ and they can’t be utilised by your appliances in the slightest. All these spikes do is waste your electricity. These power spikes also convert electric energy into heat energy which leaks power from your circuit. Not just that but the heat will also do long-term danage to your wiring and to your appliances.

There are a few Power Saver models on the market but all of them work along the same principle. They store the electricity within it using a system of capacitors and they release it in a smoother way to standard without the spikes. The systems also automatically remove carbon from the circuit which also inspires a smoother electrical flow. This means that you will have less power spikes. More of the electricity flowing around your circuit can be used to power your appliances than previously.

There are many factors which do affect the efficiency of your Power Saver. The device works straight after plugging it in even though it can take as long as 8 days before it has altered itself for peak performance. The rate of savings will depend on what sort of appliances you have connected. All appliances are different but expect savings of almost 25% on lights, 30 percent on air-conditioning units and up to 35% on other appliances.
The highest savings will be in areas where voltage supply is less stable. Locations close to shops, cafes and light industries have a tendency to gain additional savings from Power Saver devices.
So how can you be sure that your Power Saver is working correctly?

most frequently Power Savers come fitted with a light to point out that it is working. If you’ve got access to an electricity meter then you need to see it instantly slowing down. Assuming that the light is on and you leave the device unattended you can expect savings straight away. Bear in mind that regularly electricity companies won’t take meter readings every month. Often bills are figured out on monthly averages which self-correct over time so please be aware of that in using your bill as a guide to how you save electricity.

eventually, it is highly suggested to order your Power Savers from companies offering one hundred pc guarantees for more time than 30 days. Remember that 30 days may not be sufficient time to truly know if the device is working as effectively as you expect. Attempt to work with companies that extend their guarantee dates to at least 60 day which gives you a much longer period to appraise the benefits.

Source: Chicago Tribue | November 6, 2009

New Homes in Roseville | The Cedar at Arbor Grove in WestPark

The terms “indoor air quality” and “energy-efficiency” are common in today’s builder-buyer conversation, but they are relatively new concerns. Comb the fine print of a 1960s advertisement for a development of “luxurious” new houses in Naperville, for example, and the closest you come is “fully insulated.” And, that was an amenity worth bragging about then.

Home buyers today expect a better new house, and they get it. Gone are drafty windows, indoor pollutants and the rot and mold that were once considered natural consequences of a house’s aging process. Responding is a new breed of home builders who put microscopes to every building product they consider.

[Read this article]

Foldaway wooden laundry rack. Image is author's own

Here are some tips:

• Smooth wrinkles before hanging.
• Pop towels and shirts into the dryer for a few minutes to fluff and de-wrinkle.
• Hang clothes to dry away from direct sunlight to preserve colors (airflow is more important than light when drying laundry). Turn clothes inside out to avoid uneven fading.
• Always lay sweaters flat to dry to avoid stretching them.
• If you must use the dryer, do several loads, back-to-back while it is still hot.

Location, Location, Location
Set up a line inside where there is good airflow. I’ve got a foldaway wooden hanger that can be tucked away when not in use. Plus, it adds moisture to our home, which my lungs and sinuses appreciate. Watch for dripping sap or birds’ nests if you will be hanging your line outside.

Simplify, Simplify
My favorite laundry detergent is “Charlies Soap.” No fabric softener needed. No fragrances or dyes. Just an 1/8 of a cup per load is all you need (and if you have a stackable compact washer/dryer combo like I do that only fits one sock and a pair of pants, you can use a little less detergent). I was skeptical about the whole cold-water-no-fabric-softener-thing at first so I tried different experiments designed to disprove it (residual programming from my Chemical Engineering studies). I used hot water. I added more soap than it called for. I did a cold water soak followed by extensive “gwhoosh-gwhoosh” action. Finally I came to the conclusion that even the grimy, sweaty work clothes emerged fresh and static-free after their cold-cold bath. Life is complicated enough. Who wants to think about sorting laundry according to hot-cold, tepid-warm or frigid-lukewarm water cycles? I prefer to just set it on cold, put in a little detergent and hang’em to dry. Simple. No fabric softeners to add before the wash cycle ends, no perfumes or dyes, no dryer settings (“Is this load ‘Normal,’ ‘Perm-press,’ ‘Timed’ or ‘Air-fluff?’”). Think about this: fabric softeners leave a wax-like residue on your clothing. Wax is sticky so your clothes will actually attract dirt requiring more washing, which will break down the fibers sooner.

Saving Energy = Saving $
You hear a lot about Energy Star^® rated appliances. Visit their website to find out about the best clothes washers and rebates. Dryers do not get a rebate because the energy consumed in all models is about the same. People have saved as much as $25 a month by simply hanging clothes to dry. You won’t be replacing worn out clothes as often, so you will also save money by shopping for clothes less frequently. And when your jeans do wear out, they can be turned into insulation (learn more here). That’s a terrific example of “Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle.”

Energy consumption is a major contributor to the overall household expenditure.One can save a considerable amount of money if  the energy consumption is cut down.

With the world crying hoarse over depleting energy sources and its effect on global warming, everyone is talking about measures to conserve energy on large scale. However, as they say, “Charity starts at home.” Taking some simple steps in saving electrical energy at home is very helpful in bringing about a major change.

Read more about saving energy.

We are getting ready to have a page dedicated to making your business green.  We all want  to do what we can to save but also to conserve energy.  As a a business there are numerous things you can do to help even with just a few simple things.  We will also have some great sites and articles for you to check out.  So make sure to check back at our site soon for the new page!  And of course we will give you a heads up when it’s ready Visit us at www.businessbeware.biz

Here is a great article to start off with on SmallBiz.com

Quick Tips: Turning Your Office Green…

Most people understand the basics of green living – turn off the lights, don’t let the water run while brushing your teeth, reuse plastic carrier bags, etc. However, we can always go further to protect the planet.

Your kitchen is undoubtedly the most energy consuming area in the house with its constant heating, cooling, washing and drying. Did you know that all of our electric hobs, ovens, kettles and microwaves use as much electricity in a year as British street lighting does in six years?

So how can we make our kitchens more environmentally friendly?

I’ve scoured the web looking for the most helpful hints for a green kitchen and compiled the top 10 for you to peruse and follow at your leisure. None of them will cost you anything and some are so glaringly obvious I don’t know how I didn’t think of them before!

1. Cover pans while cooking to prevent heat loss.

2. Freeze leftover food – don’t throw it away (if safe to do so, some foods should not be reheated).

3. Try meals which can be made in one pan e.g. soups, stews, stir fries and casseroles so you don’t have the hob, grill and oven glaring out heat all at once.

4. Use seasonal ingredients, preferably locally produced.

5. Cook the same meal for your entire household – people coming and going, cooking what they want at different times wastes energy (yes, this could be a tough one with teenagers).

6. Stop over-boiling food. A gentle simmer uses less energy and often means your food tastes better.

7. When preparing a meal get all the ingredients out of the fridge at once, don’t open and shut the door repeatedly.

8. Wash fruit and vegetables in a bowl rather than under the tap.

9. Got a big burner on your kitchen hob? Use a big pan. Heat and energy escapes if your pan is too small to cover the burner.

10. Never put warm food in the fridge. You’re asking it to work harder to maintain the proper temperature, leading to increased energy usage.

So there are my top ten tips. Do you have some? Let me know.

Be Green To Save Green: Proven Tips to Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

When you live somewhere that has sub-zero temperatures 6 months out of the year, utility bills tend to be pretty expensive if you don’t take steps to be efficient. This becomes even more important when you consider that the planet is also paying for your energy inefficiency. In 2006, 77% of Canadian power production and usage came from non-renewable resources (coal, oil, petroleum, or natural gas); pumping millions of tons of pollutants and greenhouse gases into our land, water, and atmosphere.

Even more shocking is how much of this power isn’t used: it is simply wasted by the many inefficient appliances and electronics in our homes. In fact, all of the appliances we use and enjoy in our homes are electrical couch potatoes, draining unnecessary power from the grid.

But there’s a lot we can do to trim our electrical waistlines and get our homes ready for the winter energy marathon. Read further for some suggestions to get your power-hungry appliances into shape.

HEATING

Heat pumps, furnaces, and boilers are the most energy-taxing units we have in our homes today, accounting for roughly 40-60% of our monthly energy usage. This percentage can add up to hundreds of dollars annually, especially if you live in a remote region. Here are a few tips to drop your heating costs.

1)      Seal in the heat – Poor insulation can cause rapid heat loss in the house, which will increase the amount of energy your heater needs to keep the house at a reasonable temperature. Proper insulation can result in up to a 50% decrease in the amount of energy you’re using on heat, and is a relatively cheap fix when compared to replacing your furnace.

2)      Replace the furnace – Sometimes, the problem goes right to the core. Older heating systems are not as efficient as new models, and no amount of insulation is going to change that.   The EcoENERGY Retrofit Program helps take the initial sting out of the purchase with some great rebates on the most efficient heaters. Find out how much you can qualify for.

3)      Thermostat timers – There’s no point heating an empty house, so installing a thermostat with a timer can help you trim some wasted energy. This is also a great idea when you’re asleep; after all, why heat the living room and kitchen when you’re all cozy under the sheets? Get extra blankets and watch your bills fall.

If you’re really serious about savings, check out this link for more great ways to conserve heat.

WATER TANK

Traditional water tanks are the second most intensive factor affecting  our energy bills, and can make up more than 20% of your monthly energy usage. However, A lot of this charge goes to simply REHEATING water that you haven’t used; water tanks continually heat their reserves even when you’re at work or asleep, which is a significant waste of energy. Here are some tips that will help.

1)      Tuck it in – If you have a water tank, buying an insulating blanket will save you money fast. If your water tank is compatible with an insulating blanket (check the instructions or look your unit up on the Web), this can help you cut down your tank’s energy usage by at least 25%.

2)     Go tankless – Tankless heaters get rid of standby power usage completely. Also known as on-demand water heaters, these systems only heat water when you need it. These heaters have several benefits: reduced your energy costs, a smaller impact on the environment, and an endless hot water supply. You’ll never have to fight off your family to shower first again. Some of these also qualify for grants from the EcoENERGY Retrofit program.

3)     Regular maintenance – You can even help yourself save some money if you’re willing to put in a little elbow grease. Cleaning out and draining your current water heater and insulating the pipes are all methods that range from cheap to free and will help you save a few dollars.

Here are a few others tips you should consider as well.

REFRIGERATOR

Keeping your food fresh comes at a hefty price. Refrigerators are considered to be the most energy-intensive home appliances, as they require constant power and lose a lot of cool air every time they’re opened. Getting rid of your refrigerator entirely isn’t a reasonable solution, but there are many things you can do to make it run more efficiently.

1)      Seal it up – Ensure that your fridge is properly sealed and not leaking cool air. If it is leaking, not only does your fridge use more power to keep itself cool, but your heating system will need to use more power to keep the rest of the house warm. Here’s how to test if your fridge is still properly sealed.

2)      Clean Your Coil – A dirty coil can result in up to a 30% loss in efficiency of your fridge’s cooling power, so cleaning it twice a year can do wonders for your utility bill. Here’s how to do it.

3)      Put it out to pasture – While a new refrigerator can be a little pricey, an old fridge needs a lot more power and hence, money, to keep everything edible. Buying a new fridge can sometimes be a cost saving measure in the long run.

4)      On the rocks – A little tip to lower the cooling cost of your freezer is to fill your unused space with filled ice trays. Ice needs to absorb a lot of heat in order to melt and can help cushion the environment from repeated openings. This won’t save you a lot of cash, but it’s an effortless and free way to help out the planet.

Here are some other great tips to keep your refrigerator running as efficiently as possible.

WASHER & DRYER

Who would’ve thought that washing your clothes could be so taxing on the environment? Unfortunately, because many people are still using old and inefficient washers and dryers, getting a little mustard on your favourite shirt at the neighbourhood barbeque can be much more harmful than a little embarrassment.

Additionally, clothes dryers are the second most energy-intensive appliance in the house, behind  refrigerators. This doesn’t mean you should walk around in a suit made of aluminum foil, but there are some things you should be aware of to help you shrink that eco-footprint.

1)      Use environmentally friendly detergents – Many detergents still include phosphates and other non-biodegradable chemicals that have adverse effects on our water supply, such as eutrophication. You can purchase green or environmentally-friendly detergents at a premium, but if you want to save money and protect our planet at the same time,  you can make your own. White vinegar is also an excellent fabric softener: just as effective as the store-bought stuff and no vinegar smell.

2)      Buy a new washer and dryer – If you’re in the market for a new washer, look for one that loads from the front: it will use less water, detergent, and heat than a top-loading unit.

When considering a dryer, look for one that has a moisture sensor so that it won’t over-dry your laundry. You may also want to consider a gas dryer if the cost of propane in your area isn’t exorbitant; however, there are no ENERGY STAR dryers as they are all fairly similar in energy requirements.

3)      Go On Line - The best dryer you can buy is none at all: purchase an indoor drying rack or hang your clothes up on a line outside – the sun is free and doesn’t usually take days off. If you can’t hang dry your clothes, here are a few simple tips to save money and lessen your impact.

DISHWASHER

There is still a fierce debate going on as to whether or not a dishwasher may actually be better for the environment than hand washing your dishes. Pros: newer models use less water, energy, and soap than handwashing. Cons:  once you consider manufacturing and disposal, dishwashers are still major polluters and it will take a long time for those per-use benefits to offset the amount of pollution created before you even buy the thing.

However, dishwashers have come a long way in sustainability. Here are a few more tips to make sure you’re getting the most out of your dishwasher both for yourself and our planet.

1)      Full load – Make sure that you are filling your dishwasher to capacity before washing. If you’re using your dishwasher when it’s only half full, then you’re not using it efficiently. If you’re running out of plates and pans before your dishwasher is at capacity, buying a few more dishes will save you money in the long run.

2)      No more rinsing – New dishwashers can handle the marinara as long as you scrape off the spaghetti. Just make sure that the soiled surfaces face the back of the washer, larger items are placed at the back and sides, and don’t cram in more dishes than the washer is meant to hold in order to make sure the dishes come out sparkling every time.

3)      Air dry – If you generally use heat to dry your dishes, stop. Instead, either select the “no heat drying” (or equivalent) option or just open the door and let them dry on their own.

4)      Maintenance – Make sure that the filter at the bottom of the dishwasher is clean to maintain maximum efficiency.

COMPUTERS & ELECTRONICS

Computers and home entertainment systems are a growing concern for energy efficiency and greenhouse emissions. While many companies have now started taking steps to make their products more sustainable, this industry has been home to some of the biggest power hogs of the last decade, including plasma televisions, new gaming systems, and media centres.

However, there are several things you can do to reduce your emissions:

1)      Turn it off – Standby power is a big problem when considering energy efficiency. Most devices never completely turn off, and keep using power throughout the day. The best way to eliminate standby power is to use a green surge protector. They come in two different types:

1. Powers down your peripherals once you turn off your machine (ideal for home computers)
2. Comes with a remote control, just like your TV, so it can be turned on and off at will (perfect for your home theater system)

2)      Join the Clean Air Project – The Clean Air Project is a program run by the World Community Grid that allows you to donate your unused computer power to the development of renewable energy technologies. It occupies very little space on your computer and works on almost any machine with an internet connection. This is a great way to go the proverbial extra mile for the environment. The best part is that it’s completely free to participate. Join now!

GENERAL TIPS

Here are a few general tips you should keep in mind that can be applied to almost all of these appliances, as well as a few others.

1)      ENERGY STAR – ENERGY STAR is a program that tests products on their energy efficiency, granting their label to only the top energy performers on the market. ENERGY STAR appliances can help you save money on your utilities. You can also check out Eco-Rate for more detailed ratings on appliances.

2)     Energy is Money – The acronym kWh probably doesn’t mean a lot to you, but it means a lot to your utility bill. Kilowatt hour is the rating of how much energy your appliance needs to run for a full hour, which you can see on your EnerGuide label. If you multiply this number by the price of electricity (which can generally be found on your electric bill) you now know how much running that appliance for an hour costs you. Check out this general guideline to get you started.

3)      Recycle – Recycling doesn’t begin and end with the little blue bin; you can recycle almost all of your appliances and electronics too. You can also use online recycling communities such as Freecycle, which will connect you with people who actually want your old and even broken down appliances.

4)      Cash grab – Governments at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels all offer incentives for green renovation and purchases. This includes the EcoENERGY Retrofit, the Transit Pass Tax Credit, and Retire Your Ride programs. Check out this website to find out how you can save!

Also, check out our homepage at http://ec.gc.ca/education.