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Save Energy
Cut Your Food and Energy Costs by
30% - 50%
Energy
Large house hold items such as a stove, fridge, dishwasher, and clothes dryers are the largest energy
consumers. Replacing an old fridge with a new more energy efficient one can make a good difference in
energy cost savings but here
are a few inexpensive ways you can save and contribute to energy saving and
efficiency efforts that can also really add up to considerable savings
for you and everyone.
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (Lighting
accounts for 5%–10% of a household's total energy consumption)
CFLs consume up to 75% less power and last up to 10 times longer than conventional incandescent bulbs. For $5-$10 you can buy a package of a few of these
compact fluorescent light bulbs. It's a very simple way to participate and contribute to energy saving efforts.
If 60 million household changed 1 incandescent bulb to a compact fluorescent bulb the energy electricity savings would be able to heat 162000 households.
If
60 million households used a package of 3 fluorescent bulbs to replace
incandescent bulbs this would be equal to 486000 household heating.
If
60 million households used a package of 5 fluorescent bulbs to replace
incandescent bulbs this would be equal to 810000 household heating.
More electricity used for home heating can mean less oil used for home heating means increasing the supply of oil and possibly lowering
the cost of oil.
Main Idea:
It's a simple low cost way to participate and contribute to energy saving
efforts.
It can really add up.
Solar Lights
If you like to keep the backyard lit at night you may want to look into solar powered lights
for added energy savings. They recharge during the day and last through the night.
You can also consider solar powered lights for
Christmas.
During the winter you should keep your drapes open to maximize the Suns heating effect.
Main Idea:
Promotion and awareness of alternative energy lighting. Someone may see these for the first time in your backyard.
Electronic Thermostat Timers
Electronic Thermostats can keep a stable and even temperature
that can save up to 10%. Keep thermostats away from sources of heat or
other factors that may cause it to fluctuate.
Electronic Thermostat Timers can also be programmed to lower your heating at 10:30pm for example and bring the heating back up at 6:30am so that when you wake at 7:00am you do not
really notice the difference in temperature but saved on 8 hours of heating out of 24. If no one is
home from 9am to 5pm you can do the same for those day time hours which is another 8 hours out of 24.
So if the day time hours apply to you, that would be a potential of 16 hours of heating
per day of savings out of 24 hours. By simply lowering the
temperature by 3 Celsius for 8 hours you can save up to another 5% and up to 10%
for 16 hours.
What to keep in mind:
Buying, $20 - $40, and installing the thermostat is the hardest part. After this you program it and forget it.
Main Idea:
A potential of 8-16 hours of heating saving measures. It's a simple and low cost way to Participation and
contribution to the energy saving efforts.
Computers and Computer Monitor
If you have a computer you should configure the monitor and PC to go into sleep mode.
There are many studies that indicate that computers by themselves and as a whole, world wide,
have increased energy consumption considerably.
Try Commuting to Work with a friend or co-worker
Most people do not like commuting to work because it can reduce their schedules flexibility but most would agree it would reduce their costs significantly.
Try commuting once or twice a week like on a Wednesday or on Tuesday's and
Thursday's. Let someone else do the driving in traffic while you catch
up on your emails.
Weather Stripping, Caulking, and Plastic Window
Films
You should consider applying weather stripping to windows, electrical outlets, doors, doorframes, and garage doors. This will reduce drafts, heat, and energy loss.
Plastic film window covers are more popular and can reduce heat and energy loss from windows.
Hot water Heater, Clothes Washing Machine, and Dish Washers
Hot water uses a lot of electricity and is expensive so always keep this in mind. Use cold water when you can and full loads for you clothes washer and dish washer.
Newer models of clothes washers can use up to 50% less water and up to 50% less energy.
Install a low-flow and water efficient shower head.
You can use foam hot water pipe covers too and an insolating blanket for
your water heater.
Furnace Maintenance and Efficiency
Clean or replace the air filters of you furnace.
If you have a very old model you should consider buying or upgrading to a more efficient and energy star approved
model.
Food
Slow Cooker
If you have not invested in a slow cooker you should consider it. With a
slow cooker you can lower your food costs by buying less expensive cuts
of meat that will be tenderized by the slow cooker.
Beans (protein) - Think Bulk
Beans, like meat, are packed with protein and fiber too but are a fraction of the cost of meat.
They also keep very well in sealed plastic bags.
meat = $5 - $10 for 1 kg
Beans = $5 - $10 for 5 kg (bulk bags)
beef (round) = cal: 203 protein: 20g fat: 11g beef (tenderloin) = cal: 332 protein: 24g fat: 22g
pork (chops or roast) = cal: 285 protein: 16g fat: 22g
beans (red raw) = cal: 337 protein: 23g fat: 1g beans (navy raw) = cal: 338 protein: 20g fat: 1g beans (black raw) = cal: 341 protein: 22g fat: 1g
Beans can be used to supplement or replace meat (not advocating
the vegetarian diet but more a way to supplement and reduce costs)
Beans are normally used in chili but many people also use them in
spaghetti sauce, salads, stews, soups, and dips or pastes. You can also try them plain with salsa or your favorites
salad dressing ( caesar's, ranch, cucumber, etc).
Worried about flatulence?
Studies show that soaking beans for 12 hours or germinating them on damp paper towels for 24 hours can significantly reduce the amount of gas-producing compounds.
In fact, soaking followed by 30 minutes of pressure cooking at 15 pounds per square inch reduced the compounds by up to 90 percent in one study.
Ginger is an excellent herb that will help to reduce and even prevent flatulence.
Try the over the counter product called Beano.
A tea spoon of soda may also help.
Wheat Food Items (pasta) - Think Bulk
During periods of Economic uncertainty and instability its a always a good idea to have a small
food reserve incase of a disruption and this food item is a good idea to
have in stock. Whole wheat pasta keeps well in plastic sealed bags and
you should also think bulk. Given the fact that the wheat harvest was
recent, the cost of this item maybe lower then it will be several months
down the road. Another fact is that with ethanol legislation and the
food shortage this food item cost may remain high in spite of the recent
oil cost drop. Another fact is that Economic uncertainty and instability can cause the value of the dollar to fluctuate or other economic disruptions as already mentioned. As also stated on the home page safety measures and
precautions are a government recommendation at all times.
Check Your Flyers and Prepare Your Shopping List
Checking to see what's on special and where, collecting coupons, and buying what's in season can really add up to considerable savings at the end of the month.
Office Coffee, Junk Food, Smoking
If you pay for coffee at work and drink 5 coffees a day, you should consider bring instant coffee and using the hot water machine.
30 x $2.00 = $60.00 per month
If you can not go out without a daily chocolate bar from the vending machines, you can buy them in bulk and cut your costs in half or more.
If you have no self control and think you'll eat 5 bars when you buy in bulk, do not do it, it
would be counter productive.
If you smoke, now would be a good time to quite. I would cut a few cigarettes to start and then reduce by one cigarette
every 2
weeks. If you go out for drinks and have a more
then you planned, don't let it affect you or get discouraged, just stay on track. When you have reduced the number of cigarettes
significantly you can try the nicotine patches to help you
give up this addiction and habit for good.
Other Winter Safety Measures
With the normal emergency kit of candles and flash lights incase of power outages, if you
have a fireplace, you should also have a supply of firewood. Power
generators are also a common purchases incase of power outages.
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