Ten Ways to Save Energy and Money Year Round. – According to the U.S. Department of Energy and Georgia Power

1. Turn your A/C on 78 degrees in the summer and heat on 68 degrees in the winter. Doing this will save you money on your power bill.
2. Use fans in the summer to supplement the A/C. This allows you to set your thermostat about 3-5 degrees higher without sacrificing too much.
3. Replace all your light bulbs with energy-efficient light bulbs. Although they cost more initially, this saves a lot of energy and money in the long run.
4. Lower your hot water thermostat ten degrees, but not lower than 120 degrees. This will save you 25 kilowatt hours a month and you’ll still have all the hot water you need.
5. While showering, plug the drain and use this leftover water for plants and washing your car.
6. Turn off computers and printers at night. Also, don’t use screensavers.
7. Make sure your weather-stripping is installed right as to reduce drafts from windows and doors.
8. Don’t put small pans on large burners. It takes extra energy to heat unneeded burner space. Putting a lid on pots also saves on energy.
9. While going on vacation, lower the thermostat to 55 degrees in the winter. It’s low enough to save on energy, but high enough to keep the pipes from bursting.
10. Only wash clothes in cold water. Also, hang them to dry.


We had the idea to have these tips hanging from a cord that is plugged into a power strip.