Basic things that can be done or bought to help save money and energy. It's the little changes that can effect the dollar.
First off. Lights: during the day turn off all unused lights. Open up the blinds and let Mr. Sunshine in.
Take a look around your home. I am pretty sure you will find something like a clock or TV that is used rarely. Appliances that are plugged into the wall still may use energy because it is connected to power.(unplug coffee makers, toasters cell phone chargers and other appliances when not in use)
Air conditioning seems to be the best invention on a hot summer day. But having it running all day sucks up a lot of energy. If there is a way to configure the settings to have it turn on at the peak of the day when it is the hottest outside, and maybe around dinner time until bed time. (Showers/baths, pool, sprinkler, ice cream, iced tea, ice water, lemonade and more are great ways to keep cool.).
You go to the beach, restaurant, movies etc… and come back to your car and you find that the sun seemed to have cooked your seat (not literally but you have hot seats in your car.) you turn your car on and blast the air conditioning. Right now you are using a TON of energy just to get your car cool for the ride home. Buy one of those big mats that you but on the window shield it will soak up the heat so cooling your car wont be as hard any more.
Last but not least everyone's worry… GAS. I can not drive yet but I have seen many people waste gas. Example 1 that drives me nuts (lol): sitting in my car waiting to pick someone up. If you have your car on you are wasting gas even if you are just listening to the radio! Example 2 which I bet some people do but ill just put it out there: stand still traffic aww bummer! You can buy little portable radios or an extra for your Ipod for the radio. So you can now shut your car off with out missing the game. Trust me a portable radio will do the same thing as your car radio so sit back relax and save gas. And of coarse the third option is to buy a hybrid that going to be my first car I buy when I'm older.
Hey crowed please comment or press I like it if you do. I have many views and little likeness so i am kind of thinking its a bad article. I will take feedback and treat it as feedback, not criticism, so feel free to write.
#2 by Fred Farfinkle, Jun 16, 2008
Great article. My wife and I try very hard to save money, most months we can but about 20% in savings. The complaint I have, is that the information you gave is common sense. Every article I read about saving money, I am already practicing. Come up with something that is new, not a copy of every other save money article.
Thanks
#3 by CZ, Jun 16, 2008
I think it's great to see young people thinking ahead about how they are going to save gas when they start driving. You don't even need a portable radio. The radio still works with the engine turned off. The A/C doesn't, but the fan does, so at those long traffic lights, I shut off the engine and open the windows, but stay alert and get ready to start back up so you don't get honked at when it's time to go. (I live in Las Vegas and it's getting hot already.) I use a sunshade and park in the shade whenever possible. It really makes a big difference.
Don't worry about repeating tips. Some folks may not have heard them before or forgot. The more someone hears something, the more likely they will actually do it!
#4 by R J Evans, Jun 17, 2008
I would go with CZ - don't worry about repeating tips! You will come up with new stuff I am sure but the fact is we wouldnt have (as much) global warming if people already did as you advise! So, there are obviously millions of people out there who NEED to read this kind of thing!
