Holidays are busy for everyone, so “Change the World Wednesdays” is hosting a long challenge that runs through January 2010. The goal is to track your energy use, then find and apply ways to lower it.
Change the World Wednesdays
Here is the challenge over on “Reduce Footprints.”
Since this is such a busy time of year for many of us, I’ve decided to temporarily discontinue our weekly challenges … actually, I’m going to take a break from regular blogging as well. Instead, today starts a much longer challenge … it begins today and will run until the first Wednesday in January, when we’ll pick things back up. Are you intrigued?
In the next week, take a look at your energy use. You can do this by looking at your last bill or going to your provider’s website and looking at your usage history. Make a note of how many kilowatt-hours (kWh) you used in the last billing cycle. Then, between now and January 6th, put all of our energy saving ideas into play and reduce that number. In January, our first challenge will be about how much we were able to save and how we did it.
There is no second level to this challenge because, even for those who have reduced their usage as far as they believe they can go, I think we can search hard and save just a bit more. It’s worth a try, right?
Some Ideas for You to Try
There are many things you can do to save energy and lower your bills.
1) Weatherize your home. Steps can be as simple as putting string putty around your windows, or more thorough such as caulking cracks or even installing new insulation.
2) If you have a fireplace or chimney, get it cleaned and use it. Wood is a renewable resource, unlike coal or fuel oil.
3) Lower the thermostat a couple of degrees, and put on a sweater.
4) Use lighting appropriate to the task. Don’t light a whole room if you don’t need to, and don’t make it brighter than necessary.
5) ‘Tis the season to give and receive … energy-efficient appliances! Every time you replace an old, energy-hogging appliance with something better, you will save energy and money.
What are some of the ways you are saving energy?
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Liz 12.13.09 at 7:45 am
This summer we put up a clothes line, although I should use it more, it’s hard in the winter. I also have a crochet pattern for making a “Snuggle Up Throw with Sleeves”… Here’s the link:
http://www.redheart.com/FreePatterns/tabid/118/Default.aspx?tabid=118&patternid=LW1838.pdfIf you don’t have the space for a wood stove, at least get a programmable thermostat for your heating system. I also signed up for special notices from my electric company warning me when energy use is high, so I can lower my useage, which will also help lower our bills.
In the holiday season, I’d suggest fewer holiday lights, and if you have any get a timer for them and just run them from 5pm to 11pm. You don’t need to have them on all night. There are also some that are solar powered and charge up during the day.
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