Energy Saving Tips

[evergreen]

Originally Posted by harmonybunny114

I don't know about normal loads, but I read in an environmentalist guidebook ('The Armchair Environmentalist', by Karen Christensen - very useful) that the economy load of a dishwasher uses less water than a handwash.

Yes but then don't use water that need's energy like hot water, use a sponge to get food off dishes, then if you eat all natual foods you can use that water to water you're plants(if you don't have plants make soup , it's what you've already eaten)
Would the water the plants thing work or would that put uneccesary material running into rivers and harming the animals (knowing that it's all natural??

[CrunchyMunchy]

these are all great tips esp. the one about washing dishes, i don't have a dishwasher so i always try to use as little water as possible (but hard with all the rinsing!).

also i'm sure everyone knows to WALK WALK WALK as much as possible, that way killing 2 birds w/1 stone (obesity!!) b/c seriously, i'm from the suburbs and i can see how it's hard not to drive anywhere (burbs are one giant strip mall parking lot) but now that i live in Chicago and still see people driving everywhere it's just astounding...

[pace]

I've long been an advocate of leaving my gas boiler on 24/7 even in summer, and control the temperature on a thermostat

I've got constant hot water but use less gas in the winter

This is because the boiler does not have to fire up early in the morning and work hard to bring the house up to the desired temperature

Try it and monitor your results

[Iamspartacus155]

I think one of the essential ways to reduce energy consumption is to reduce energy use. One way we do this at home is by using a traditional ceiling clothes airer rack much like this one. We no longer have a need to use our tumble dryer saving us almost 10% of our energy bills.