Save money or throw away money..What do you do?
By raydene
@raydene (9871)
United States
February 13, 2008 12:52pm CST
This info was sent to my from the cooperative extension asking me to share will everyone I can so here we go.
Save Energy, Save Dollars
Check out these Savings!
1.Replace one 75 watt bulb with a new 20 watt high efficiency bulb:
$74 over life of bulb
2.Reduce TV on-time by 6 hours a day:
$34 per year
3.Replace electrically-heated waterbed with conventional mattress:
$202 per year
4.Reduce computer on-time by 6 hours per day:
$78 per year
5.Wash 5 loads a week in cold water instead of hot
(electrically-heated water):
$172 per year
6.Replace a 60-watt all night bulb with a 4 watt night light:
$19 per year
7.Unplug a second old frost-free freezer (in use in heated area)
$202 per year
8.Reduce electric space heater use by 6 hours a day:
$48 per month
9.Replace 300 Watt halogen torchiere with 65-watt fluorescent lamp:
$46 per year
10.Reduce swimming pool pump run time from 24 hours per day to 12 hours:
$63 per month
Savings are based on average wattage, current cost of electricity ($0.135 per KWh) and in some cases, cycling time
of appliances. Appliance models vary in usage—keep in mind that these are only “ball park” estimates.
What have I done
1. replaced my bulbs some time ago
2. Tv is off now most of the time.
3. n/a
4. My computer goes to sleep when I close it.
5. Do all my laundry in cold water
6. don't use all night lighting
7. don't use second freezer
8.9.10. N/A
How did you do?
3 people like this
10 responses
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
8 Mar 08
I've actually managed to convince the family to start switching to CFL bulbs a few months ago so as lights blow we are making the switch. It seems we are seeing a bit of improvement on the bill, but with one specific person in the house never turning off anything electric, it's hard to tell. We want to, or at least really need to unplug a few freezers because what is in it needs to be thrown out, so there is no use in keeping it going. Just wasting more money than we have.
@Sillychick (3275)
• United States
14 Feb 08
I do or have done most of these things. I replaced about half of the lightbulbs in my home with flourescent bulbs. My husband doesn't like them as well, so I delayed replacing the rest until he gets used to these. I'm hoping in time he will not mind them so much. I wash all of my laundry in cold water. I rarely use a space heater.
Other things I do are turn down the thermostat when we leave the house, open blinds and turn off lights during the day, unplug appliances that are not being used, keep a jug of water in the refrigerator instead of letting water run until it gets cold.
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
14 Feb 08
Hi raydene! Those are good tips for energy and money saving. I have replaced all my bulbs a long time ago and have been using 20 and 10 watt bulbs. I have been using fluorescent lamp but it is very rare that we get to turn it on. TV is not really a problem because we only watched for 3 -4 hours a day. And we have been washing clothes with tap water and not electrically heated water. And all lights are off when we sleep. We don't have a pool so there is no problem with that. hehe.. The computer is off when we are not using it. We really have to save money because life is really getting difficult here and tips like this are very helpful. Thanks. Take care and have a nice day! :)
@siZidni (1860)
• Indonesia
14 Feb 08
this is very good topic. align with global warning to people around the globe for the effect of global warming.
what i have done in my family is. limit our use of electricity. use napkin instead of tissue papers. reducing plastic bag by using stronger & more permanent bag instead of plasctic bag from store. open curtains during the day. so i don't need to switch on the lamp.
@emmasmomma (340)
• Canada
14 Feb 08
Thanks for the great ideas! Everyone could always use ideas on how to save money. Even if the figures are only "ball park"s, the amounts are still very substantial. We all need to do a little to reduce our energy consumption anyways!
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
13 Feb 08
I have been replacing my bulbs in my big old house for a long time. I think they pretty much are all the new ones, now. I buy energy star appliances if I need new ones. I watch very little TV and have an energy saving sleep mode on computer. I wash cold, it saves the fabric as well. If I get the chance, things hang outside to dry. I have a mattress pad warmer and instead of heating all the upstairs bedrooms, we turn on our bedwarmer about an hour before bed. It is toasty, we are toasty, and that saves a full half of our upstairs heating bill. If we need a night light, we run a string of Christmas tree lights and it is safe, pretty, not disturbing to our sleep, as well as inexpensive. No swimming pool, no halogen, no space heaters. I will use a small space heater rather than heating an entire floor, for instance, if I am doing crafts in one room. Let's not forget to wear layered clothing, do full loads in dishwasher and washing machine.
@wisedragon (2325)
• Philippines
13 Feb 08
My commitment is simple: Whenever I see an electrical appliance or a light that's not being used I switch it off.
I am unable to reduce my computer time because it has become so essential nowadays not just for recreation but as a source of income as well.
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
14 Feb 08
1. Most of my lightbulbs are replaced, those that aren't will be when they burn out.
2. of the 3 tvs, mine is off most of the time, maybe 12 hours a week...
3. the roommate can't sleep on a regular mattress, but the thing isn't set really high, was actually unplugged for a while
4. My monitor goes to sleep, the roommate turns her monitor off and they do go dormant when not in use.
5. My washer tends to run at whatever temp it thinks optimal for the cycle selected.... fancy smancy thing - my water heater is gas
6. My all night bulb is one of the coil florescent
- I need more than a little nightlight to see the floor clearly so I don't step on anything/one
7. I only have 1 freezer, but it is frost free, I do have 2 fridges & 2 mini fridges and we use them all!
8 & 9 N/A
10. Well, I have a hot tub, I need to do some work on the chemicals so I can use it again.
@bcote212 (1112)
• United States
13 Feb 08
These sound like great idea's. I dont know though how much good they would do me. I live in a High Rise building in Baltimore, and all of the utility costs for the entire building are allocated amoung all of the people living in the building. Basically if my neighbor runs the heater at 90* all day and night all of us in the building are paying for it. Though this is my first month living here I hear that the costs for all utilities are usually pretty low. Ill let you all know.
