I have been on a real electricity conservation kick lately so I'm going to write some more about it today. In May, I finished swapping out the last of my light bulbs with CFLs , I increased the temperature setting on my fridge and I started turning off all of my power vampires when I leave the house in the morning. It worked. I just got my electric bill and I have halved my electrical use and more importantly to me, I have halved the amount of my bill. Hot dog! I really don't feel like I'm depriving myself of anything --I still run my air conditioning and I don't sit in the dark. But it's incredible to me that making some small changes like the ones I've made has netted me some real results.
My beloved St. Pete Times ran the following this morning and I'm repeating it in toto here.
Put off the flat-display screen television purchase, or unplug the only you've got when it isn't always in use. Many flat-screen televisions can use as a great deal electricity as an electricity-efficient refrigerator.Change to compact fluorescent light bulbs. The energy-saving mild bulbs use approximately a 3rd of the energy of incandescents.Set your thermostat between 78 and eighty ranges, or higher in case you're cushty. When you go away the house, flip it up via 5 to 7 degrees rather than turning it off.Use ceiling and portable fans to keep air transferring. Ceiling fanatics could make a room sense 2 degrees cooler.Close drapes, blinds and shades inside the freshest part of the day.Get a clothesline. It's warm out. Let the heat dry your clothes. A dryer uses masses of energy, and adds warmness to your own home that your air conditioner has to paintings in opposition to. Florida regulation says house owners associations can't ban clotheslines.Consider "zoned" aircon systems that will let you cool best the rooms you're in, or a small window unit to cool most effective the rooms in use.Check along with your software about home electricity audits that could see in which you're losing energy. Some utilities additionally provide rebates on electricity-saving gadgets like thermal wraps for water heaters or sun thermal hot water set up. Tampa Electric and Progress Energy offer audits and different packages.Turn your computer and monitor off. Screen saver modes save no strength. Sleep modes keep to attract strength. With maximum computers, powering it on and off does now not put on it out. There is more put on and tear on electronics from the warmth pressure of constantly running.Unplug "vampires." These are cable packing containers, televisions, phone chargers, iPod charging stations. All of them draw strength even then they are no longer charging a tool, or even while they are in sleep mode. These devices can upload as tons as 10 percentage in your electricity bill. You also can positioned the gadgets on energy strips, and turn the strip off while the home equipment are not in use.