Thinking About Solar Power?
If you are going to take the solar or wind power
plunge, you should lower your energy consumption first. I'm aware that there are
dozens of "101 Ways to Save on Electricity" lists on the web, but I'd be remiss
if I didn't have my own here on EcoSwap. I looked over a dozen or so of these lists, and here are the better, more standard electricity saving methods:
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Replace your refrigerator if it's more than a couple of years old. Newer refrigerators are extremely energy efficient compared to older ones. The electricity savings will pay for the new fridge in 1-3 years. Not so long ago, the fridge was the biggest energy pig in the average U.S. home. Many
local appliance dealers (and the big box retailers) will haul your old fridge away when you purchase a new one.
You can also find appliance and scrap metal haulers in your local weekly paper's classified section.
Many of these folks will remove your old appliances free of charge, as they make
money on the scrap value of the old units. Don't stick the old one in your garage because you think it's worth keeping - it isn't. Get rid of it. Take the door off of it before it gets hauled away so some poor neighborhood kid doesn't play "hide 'n seek" in it. Look for Energy Star certified refrigerators. Or, get really crazy, and take a look at propane powered refrigerators.
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While you're at it, upgrade your window-mount air conditioning unit. Big improvements have been made to A/C units in recent years where energy usage is concerned. Make sure your new A/C unit is Energy Star certified.
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Unplug appliances that aren't used often. Plug them in when you need them.
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Replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent (CF), or "swirly" bulbs. Even if you don't care about saving electricity, CF bulbs last for years - wouldn't you rather change a bulb every six years rather than every six months? Lower wattage CF bulbs will put out as much light as higher wattage incandescent bulbs; check the CF bulb packaging for more information. All the
big retailers carry the swirly bulbs these days. Some communities give them away for free to encourage energy conservation - check your town's website or call your city hall.
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Some electric heaters will simply swap what you save on your gas heating bill by upping your electric bill in the colder months. You'll have to figure out what the best trade offs are with respect to your utility bills. Obviously, newer electric heaters will be more efficient (and much safer) than older ones. In fact, if you have an old space heater - pitch
it. It's probably ugly as well as dangerous.
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Change out the filter regularly on your central air conditioning system. This is easy enough. In the meantime: I stumbled across something about cleaning the coils on your central A/C unit, but having never done this myself - since I grew up in the Great White North - I can't comment on the inner workings of central air systems. Call an expert or visit The User Manual Site to find the manual for your central air system.
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At some point, you will need to consider purchasing appliances that run on DC current, or install an inverter. More on that here. In the meantime, you have my permission to use this wonderful name idea that I came up with for a rock band: "AC/DC". Wow! Has a pretty cool
ring to it, don't ya think? I know, I know - I'm so clever.
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Turn off the TV / DVD / PlayStation / PlayTaser*, and go take a walk. Judging from the shear numbers of folks in the U.S. who waddle as opposed to walk, this might be the best idea of all.
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Become Amish! Ok, not really. Horses and buggies have their own sets of problems...
*No, there is no such thing. Yet. Just making sure you're paying attention.