Want to know what you can do right now for little to no cost? Here's the top 10, in no particular order:
1. Line-dry your clothes. Dryers use loads of energy, which is why most don’t come with an “Energy Star” rating. Using a line or a drying for your clothes saves an enormous amount of energy and money. Plus, it keeps CO2 from going into the environment. Cost: $20 or less.
2. Compost your food scraps. I purchased a small, indoor composters at a garage sale. You can find very inexpensive ones and save a ton of food waste from going to the landfill. If you pay for your garbage collection, it's more costs savings for you. Cost: $40 and up.
3. Replace your light bulbs with CFL’s or LED lights. A small upfront investment can save hundreds of dollars (and energy) over the lifespan of these bulbs. Cost: CFL’s cost about $5 each.
4. Install a programmable thermostat. These allow you to set the temperature in your house automatically, which means saving more money on your utility bills. Cost: Starting at $50.
5. Install sink water aerators. These cheap little gadgets slow down the flow of water out of your faucet, saving you money and water use. Cost: $2-$3
8. Insulate your hot water heater and your water pipes. Insulating helps keep the heat in your house down (in the summer) and reduces the energy your heater needs to generate to heat your water. Cost: $50 or so.10. Run your dishwasher only when it is full. Make sure you make the best use of the water and energy needed to run a dishwasher! Cost: No more than your regular use.
I'll have another 15 tips on Thursday.Did I miss anything? Let me know!
Another thing is cheap easy is using virtual cards instead of mailing cards.
ReplyDeleteMy hanging dryer cost $12 with the shipping.
It's saved me more in my first few weeks in using it than its cost. Since our bill went up die to price increases the bill just went back to normal. I hope this month there is more savings.
Use a surge protectors to turn off electrical appliances.
Yes, these are great additions!
ReplyDeleteI also think line-drying clothes is so much gentler on clothes overall.