Ways to cut down on electricity - Page 2

[SleeplessMommy]

* smart strip - great idea for tv, computer and stereo stack! - turning off XBOX or similar games when not is use is so important! XBOX, PS3 or a gaming PC all burn about 200 W during gaming :-( Wii "burns" 18W. In "idle" mode, an average gaming PC uses 145 W, XBOX 157W, PS3 177W http://www.hardcoreware.net/reviews/review-356-2.htm
* get a kill-a-watt and test your fridge (and major appliances)
* timers or motion sensors for outdoor lighting ... especially "on all night" lights.
* attic insulation to reduce AC usage during the summer.
* shut down computer overnight
* eliminate secondary fridges and freezers.
* with electric hot water: turn down the hot water thermostat, install pipe insulation and low flow shower head. run washer on cold (except for diapers.)

If you are low income, check out your states weatherization program.... even if you are a renter!

[canadiangranola]

a few things we've done or are trying to do...

turn the heat way down at night and when we leave the house. We keep ours low anyway (people are cold when they visit us)...but I wear slippers and a hoodie all the time in the winter, and pile lots of extra blankets on the bed.

you can turn the oven off a bit before stuff is done cooking and as long as you aren't opening it, the heat will stay in for awhile (say the last 5-10 minutes). Same with pasta (boil it, cover it and let it sit for awhile)

only boil the amount of water you need (if you're making a cup of tea, boil one cup of water, not 6-8)

we set our computer to go to sleep after a few minutes of disuse, and we turn it off if we won't be using it for a couple hours, and every night. I find this helps me a better mom anyway b/c I'm not rushing to the computer first thing in the morning to check email, etc.

let the dishwasher airdry, and never run it unless it's absolutely full.

wait until you have a full sink of dishes to wash them (only takes one sink of water instead of 2-3/day)

rewear clothes unless they are truly dirty (usually two days for each item, except undies)

unthread some of the lights in a fixture (in our bathroom, there are five bulbs, we only use one of them)