My glass tends to be half full. As such, I can’t help seeing the positive in the current energy crisis. While there is much hardship in the foreseeable future, the current state of things will lead us to smarter, healthier, more cost-effective and environmentally-friendly lifestyles in the long run.

Maybe it’s not realistic to move closer to work to save on gas, or to take public transportation, or to make home improvements that decrease your energy bill and your carbon footprint. Yet, there are some habits around the house that are easy to change and will absolutely have an impact on your budget and ultimately on the environment. Here are a few tips collected from the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Alliance to Save Energy, and the U.S. Department of Energy:

• Unplug seldom used appliances.
• Unplug chargers when not actively charging your phone and other mobile devices.
• Use power strips to switch off TVs, stereos, and home theater equipment to avoid energy consumption from standby mode.
• Enable the sleep mode feature on your computer. This uses less power during periods of inactivity.
• Configure your computer to hibernate after 30 minutes or so.
• Set summer thermostats to 78 degrees or more, using ceiling or floor fans to help cool things down (but only when you’re in the room).
• Replace your A/C filters regularly.
• Close shades, blinds, or curtains during peak sunlight hours.
• Turn the hot water temperature down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Set your refrigerator to 38 to 42 degrees Fahrenheit; your freezer to 0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Wash only full loads in dishwasher, using short cycles.
• Wash clothes in cold water when practical, and set the appropriate water level.
• Clean the lint filter in your dryer after each use.
• Turn out the lights when you leave a room.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 1st, 2008 at 9:42 am and is filed under Random Thoughts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.