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10 ways to save energy during the sizzling months of summer
Energy consumption is
on the rise, and the
depletion of fossil fuels has
become a growing problem
in the United States.
According to the United
States Department of
Energy, the U.S. uses almost
a million dollars of
electricity a minute, which is
equivalent to approximately
$525.6 billion each year.
On a smaller scale, the
average American family
spends nearly $1,500 a year
on utility bills alone, with 60
percent acquired from
electricity bills.
Chances are your
expenses may rise during the
summer months, in part
because children are home
from school and many
people relax the tight
control they had over their
utilities in the winter. The
common phrase, “reduce,
reuse, recycle” has become
synonymous with saving
energy and resources, and
the sizzling months of
summer will be more
enjoyable and affordable if
families consider these
quick and easy energy
saving ideas.
1. Vigilance is the key Be extra mindful about
turning off lights when
leaving a room and closing
windows and doors when
the air conditioner is on.
2. Monitor outdoor
water usage - Turn off
automatic lawn timers
during rainy weeks and
consider watering during the
early morning and late
afternoon hours to prevent
evaporation.
3. Monitor indoor water
usage - Take showers
instead of baths and turn off
the faucet when brushing
your teeth and doing the
dishes.
4. Control computer
settings - Computer usage
in many homes increases
during the summer, mainly
because children are home
from school.
5. Avoid cooking in the
oven - If possible, consider
cooking and re-heating
meals in the microwave or
on an outside grill rather
than in the oven.
6. Minimize appliance
usage - Large indoor
appliances such as
dishwashers, washing
machines, dryers and water
heaters generate lots of heat.
7. Wash full loads of
laundry - Use cold water for
both the wash and rinse
cycles. Laundry can be airdried
and put into the dryer
for the last five minutes to
ensure softness and save
energy.
8. Enjoy the sunshine Avoid using electric lights
during the day; open a
curtain or two to brighten a
room and enjoy the natural
light!
9. Curb aggressive
driving habits – Rapid
acceleration, extreme
braking and speeding are
not only unsafe practices,
they can increase gas
mileage greatly.
10. Carpool –
Commuting to work, school
and home can be relatively
inexpensive if sharing the
drive with fellow colleagues
and co-workers.
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