| During these times of financial difficulty, it would | | | | around, you might want to upgrade from the old |
| be nice to have a little extra money. One way to | | | | CRT monitors to the new LCD monitors. You can |
| do that is in saving money on your home energy | | | | save as much as sixty percent of your energy |
| bills. Taking a few simple steps will help you have | | | | consumption with these changes! |
| an efficient energy saving house. | | | | Does your computer use energy when not in |
| Wasting energy can be changed to saving energy | | | | use? Yes it does. When your computer is showing |
| with these simple steps. Let's start with your hot | | | | your screen saver, it may be using even more |
| water heater. Check the temperature that it is | | | | energy that when you are using it. If you leave |
| set. You do not need the thermostat set higher | | | | your screen saver on a lot, your monitor's life will |
| than 60 degrees Centigrade or 140 degrees | | | | be reduced. You can program your computer to |
| Fahrenheit. Your water only mixes with cold | | | | automatically turn off the monitor when your |
| water when you have a higher temperature as | | | | computer is not in use. By making this small |
| your heater automatically cools the water down | | | | change you might save as much as $50 to $100 |
| for use. Turn down the temperature to 60 | | | | per year. |
| degrees. | | | | This step will take you back to your childhood. Do |
| Here is another place to look for energy use. | | | | you remember as a child to being reminded by |
| Electronics in your home such as televisions, | | | | your parents to turn off the lights when you left |
| stereos, and DVDs are still using electricity even | | | | a room? This is the time to actually do that. If |
| when you turn them onto standby. You will want | | | | you leave a room, turn off the lights so that you |
| to be sure these devices are turned off. Even | | | | are not wasting energy. This is an easy way to |
| though you are not using the devices and they | | | | have an efficient energy saving house. |
| are on standby, they can use as much as five to | | | | By changing how you wash your clothes can be |
| ten percent of your household energy. Some of | | | | another way to save energy. When you are |
| your appliances like your microwave will use | | | | buying a new washer, buy a washer that allows |
| electricity even when not in use. If you are going | | | | front loading. A front load washer will save a large |
| on vacation or will be away from home for a | | | | amount of water and energy compared to the |
| period of time, you might want to actually unplug | | | | top-loading washer. If you are really serious about |
| your microwave so that it does not continue to | | | | saving energy, you can also dry your clothes |
| use energy. | | | | outside. |
| You can make another small change to save | | | | Following these simple steps will help you to |
| energy by reducing the brightness of your | | | | reduce your home energy consumption. This will |
| computer screen. An additional benefit you will | | | | reduce your utility bills and save you money. |
| receive is that your battery life of your laptop will | | | | Saving energy will make a difference to you and |
| last longer also. When upgrading time comes | | | | the world around you. |