What do you do to save energy?

Question

...if anything? Includes gas, electricity, etc. A lot of people have been cutting back-- what are you folks doing?

Answer 1

i try to walk more. i keep the lights off during the day.

Answer 2

Build your own wind power generator - You can generate useable energy with a home made windmill for under $200!

Answer 3

I sit down a lot

try not to walk to much

get other people to do as much of the work as possible

I save a lot of energy

I use a washer woman instead of a washing machine

she does it in the river

and i do not get tired at all

>i p in the garden to save water.

if i want to go some where I do not take my car ,but go with somebody else

so i save petrol as well .

Answer 4

Low energy light bulbs - double or triple glazing - roof insulation .  

Answer 5

Turn water heater on for 1 hr a day, then turn off.   It will keep water warm over 24 hrs.

My bike is getting a workout again.

Only have one or two lights on at a time at home.   Use a LED flashlight if grabbing something out of the back room for a second.   It will run on batteries people throw out along the road.

Checking craigslist and freecycle for packing peanuts since my house aparently doesn't have any insulation.   Dump it in the attic and walls.

Sit under a tree on a hot day instead of turning AC on.

Answer 6

make sure your windows are insulated

Answer 7

sit around on the couch :)  

Answer 8

We've added insulation pads in the outlets on outside walls and made sure all windows are  properly sealed.  We turn off lights when we leave a room and unplug appliances that are used infrequently, and use hand powered tools and appliances when we can.  We make sure chargers are unplugged when not in use.  We've purchased a new, energy efficient water heater.  Since we have electric heat, we only heat up one room (daughter's bedroom over the garage), and leave our bedroom door closed so the water-bed heats up the room.  We have purchased (and LOVE) a pellet-burning stove to heat our home.  We have replaced almost every light bulb in our home with the new energy-efficient mercury bulbs.  Also since everything in our house is electric, we try to barbecue as much as possible, especially of course in the spring, summer and fall.  We also use solar power for outdoor lighting.  I also make sure to have full loads before washing and use cold water for everything but whites, and I try to line-dry when possible.

Answer 9

Use less water, less electricity (lights & appliances), use an electric car instead of regular car to go to get the mail. Use a microwave instead of cooking or heating things up on or in stove or oven. Try to take shorter showers, read by sunlight when possible.

Answer 10

Dont participate in drive thru's @ bank or food places

Don't use a dishwasher

Wash delicate clothes by hand and use cold water in machine and hang to dry.

I tossed out my blow dryer and staightening iron. I tried to just stop and keep them put away but I kept going back to them once in a while so I decided to trash them so I wouldn't be tempted - so now my hair is "green" and much healthier!

Collect rainwater for plants

Walk or ride my bike to work every day. Actually I have been doing it for about 5 years.

Open blinds insatead of using lights during the day

Unplug anything that is not absolutely neccesary.

Answer 11

There are many things I do to try to help save energy:

~Buy energy saving light bulbs

~Take shorter showers

~Turn off lights whenever possible

~Use cold water to wash clothes (Tide Cold water works great)

~On a nice day, I turn off the air/heat and open some windows. I save on the cost, get a nice fresh breeze, and help the environment.

~Planted trees around my house to shade and save on using more air conditioning

~Changed the setting on my sprinklers to use less water

~Walk or ride a bike wherever possible

~Carpool if possible

Answer 12

I use laptops (instead of bulky desktops), plus I cycle to work, walk when I can, and yes, I recycle often.

All in a day's work.

Answer 13

I recycle, drive a relatively fuel-efficient vehicle, and reduce my gas usage by avoiding unnecessary trips and combining multiple errands into one trip. I keep my thermostat around 80 to 82 degrees in the summer to use less electricity.  I don't buy bottled water; I have a filter on my faucet that makes my tap water taste just as good as any bottled water.

[edit]

I forgot to mention that I've been replacing my light bulbs with CFLs too.

Answer 14

Hey there.

For electricity -  We have the air conditioner set at 85, but the thermostat sits behind the TV set - so it comes on as it gets warm back there.  We turn the air off at about 11:00pm and use electric fans the rest of the night.  We turn the air back on at around 10:00 am so it does not run for 11 hours.  This is really saving on our bill as well as the electricity.

For water - we fill up gallon water jugs everyday for basic bathroom use.   We fill the sink for washing hands or face when we need that and fill a cup of water for brushing teeth.  This way the water does not run and get wasted each time we need some.  We also fill water containers for drinking water and store them in the refrigerator.  This saves money and we don't have the bottled water containers to throw away into the land fills.

We use freezer bags or storage bags several times.  When we use use food we have stored from the bags,  we turn them inside out and wash with soap and warm water.  We hang to dry and then reuse them.    We usually use them until the zipper no longer seals.   This really saves money.

We keep the lights out and use open windows for light.  

We drink Skim milk.... which stays fresh longer than 2 or 4 percent milk as there is no fat in it to spoil.  This way there is no waste.

For gas - we drive by using stepping on the accelerator up to a certain speed and then release.    Accelerate for the count of 10 and release for the count of 10.  It works to save 1/2 of the amount of gas your are using.  We are also driving less and instead of shopping, we stay home and find things we need to be doing.

Answer 15

Hang the clothes out to dry on the clothesline, wash clothes in cold water (using cold water soap), I don't use the dishwasher, Shut lights out when leaving the room, I use energy saving light bulbs, use the grill outside as mush as possible to cut back on the use of the oven, and I make a list of places I have to go to instead of just driving around back and forth to save on gas.  

Answer 16

I recycle as much as possible.  I'm switching to CFL's, and I try to use as little elctricity, gas, and water around the house as possible.  Keep lights turned off, unplug appliances, insulate doors and windows.  Oh and don't forget, keep your tires inflated =)