Efficiency projects?

Question

With gas topping 4$ a gallon, and the amount of forclosures in this country affecting my job security. I want to know how I can strect my dollar to the max. I am looking for projects I could do around the house to save money. like using a clotheline to dry clothes, solar water heater. If you have any thoughts on projects could you let me know?

Answer 1

I need a where to start point...

What savings are you looking for immediately?  

You can start right now, by going to your water heater and turning it down 2 notches...it's heading into summer and no one showers that hot!  If you have a dish washer...stop using it. Soak dishes in cold water and dish detergent and wash all once a day.  Air dry over night.

In the winter, I dry my towels on a wood drying rack over the register in our living room.  It increases the humidity and dries the towels nicely over night.

Go out and change the air filter in your car.  Take unnecessary weight out of the car. (my daughter had 13 bags of cement mix in her car...)  Check the air pressure in you tires.  Add gas to your car in the cool of the morning...not the heat of the afternoon.

There's a world of savings ideas...you need to say what you want to start with...I'll look in again on this ? tomorrow...

Answer 2

Insulation additions, changing light bulbs to fluorescent lights, more efficient windows or adding storm windows to your existing windows.

Answer 3

You can make sure that your attic has adequate ventilation, so that the heat doesn't build up in there.  Add more insulation to the attic to get it to at least an R-30.

Use window fans at night instead of the A/C-depending on where in the country you live.  

Keep the windows and doors closed during the day when the temperature outside your house is cooler than it is outside.  Some people like to have the windows open, because of the "cooling" effect of the cross-wind.  But remember, if the air temperature outside is hotter than it is inside, you WILL heat up the house by having the windows open.  It's like trying to cool the refrigerator by opening the door and sticking a fan in front of it.

If your electric company charges more for electricity during "peak" hours, run the dishwasher at night, after you go to bed.

You can always turn the thermostat up on the A/C a couple of degrees and walk around the house naked!!!  LOL