What are some ways to conserve energy in the summer?

Question

I use the Computer almost all day, there are some times where I am not and I put it on "sleep" mode. Would it be using less energy to do it this way or to shut it off when I am not using it and reboot several times a day?

Also, does running a fan constantly use a lot of energy?

What are some ways to conserve energy in the summer?

We live in a one bedroom smaller apt.

Thanks!

Answer 1

PC computers and fans don't use a lot of energy compared to the oven, microwave, AC, and dishwasher. We quit using the dishwasher. Change your AC filter every month...the leasing office might provide them for you.

We have a one bedroom. We run one fan all the time, including in the bedroom at night. The cooling effect of the breeze allows us turn the AC thermostat up a degree or two and still feel comfortable.

Every several months, I hold a match or a lit candle around the edges of each window and each door looking for air leaks. Do this on a windy day. The flame will wiggle or bend when it detects an air leak.  

We have dark curtains hanging over those windows that get direct sunlight, but there is a sheet of white material on the curtain facing outward, which reflects the sunlight back out.

We went to flourescent light bulbs...the kind that look more like daylight than the ugly bluish color. We usually have just one small lamp lit in the living room when watching TV, and most of the time, even that's turned off.

If we leave for more than 4 hours, we raise the thermostat 3 or 4 degress.

If possible, check the temperature setting on your water heater. Nudge it down a couple of degrees, then test it when you shower. Keep lowering it until the water is too cool when showering.

Answer 2

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Turn off everything you’re not using; lights, TVs, computers, etc. Use dimmers, timers and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor lighting.

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Set a programmable thermostat to your daily and weekend schedule. Raising your thermostat from 73 to 78 degrees can save you as much as 15% in cooling costs during the summer.

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Close blinds, shades and draperies facing the sun to keep the sun’s heat out and help fans and air conditioners cool more efficiently.

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Check the weather-stripping and caulking around doors and windows. Eliminate air leaks between window air conditioners and windows with foam insulation or weather-stripping.

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Close doors leading to uncooled parts of your home. With central air, close off vents to unused rooms.

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Use fans to draw cooler air inside during the night and circulate air during the day. Even if you have air conditioning, ceiling and other fans provide additional cooling and better circulation so you can raise the thermostat and contain air conditioning costs.

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Delay heat-producing tasks such as washing and drying laundry or dishes until later in the day, and wait until loads are full.

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Refrain from using nonessential appliances. Unplug or use only when necessary an extra refrigerator in your garage. A refrigerator in an uncooled space such as a garage uses more energy on hot summer days than it does during the winter.

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Replace your four most used 100-watt incandescent bulbs with four comparable 23-watt compact fluorescent bulbs. ENERGY STAR® -labeled compact fluorescents work well almost anywhere incandescent bulbs are in use, and can save you a significant amount of money over their lifetime.

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Plant shade trees close to the house on the south and west sides.

Answer 3

Open the windows at night and close them at noon.

Ordinary fans use less power than a 100W lamp.

The thermal shock to frequently turning on & off your computer may cause a premature failure; sleep mode is good.

Use light sensors to turn on lamps only when you enter a room (tho if you don't move around enough, they may turn off while you're still in there).

Answer 4

open the windows because running the fan all day uses a lot of energy.

you should probably shut your computer down, and reboot it when you need it.

don't use the air conditioning all day.

don't run water when you don't need it and take shorter showers if possible.

turn off the lights when you are not using them (during the day use natural light)

you can also use those energy saving light bulbs - they save a lot of money and they last longer

Answer 5

Your apartment has blinds? if it does, try and close them from 11:00-5:00. Thats what i do. And instead of running the fan and air-conditioner running all day, try to minimize activity. If you work out or some kind of active sport, use them for when you're burning up. Other wise, try to just squirt your self with warm water every now and then. I'm on the same energy crisis too. Hope that helps!

Answer 6

Are you running factory, or big office of the computers? Is it hurt your wallet to run computer and fan? No? Then forget about conserving energy. In the big picture of planet, etc. (tree hugger stuff) your energy consumption means nothing and conservation helps nothing. Use as much as you need. Look at these big tree huggers like Al Gore. He is using 10000 times more then you are and still doesn’t care. He wants you do conserve :).

Answer 7

I would shut the computer down at night, unplug it too and you won't have to worry about a power surge during a storm. Keep your curtains closed to help keep out heat. I would only use the fan when there is someone there that needs to be cool, unless it gets really hot and takes a long time to get cool again. Use a microwave instead of the stove for boiling water and whenever else you can. It will keep things cooler and uses less electricity.

Answer 8

shut it all the way down when you aren't using it.

we do. it saves almost 300 a year doing that

unplug anything that you don't need during the day. lamps, cell chargers, microwave ovens etc.

they all suck when not in use lol

fans don't take much energy but if you can turn them off when not in the room or home it will save you.

open windows when at all possible. keep the ac up near 75 or 77. the higher it is the less you will need to run it and the more it will save you.

Answer 9

simple...

1. factories start developing solar panels

2. use less water

3. plant trees for more oxygen in the air for less heat suffocation

4. don't use air conditioning too much

5. I wouldn't think a running fan should becausing I think they were meant for long periods of time so they should probably use less energy... I think this factor might also affect the price of the fan

6. It definately uses less energy to shut the computor down, but if you use the computor a lot... it is better to keep it in sleep mode but shut it down occassionally.

I hope the following was useful

Skigibora