Ten Ways to Go Green and Lower Your Power Bill

Tips to go green

1. Forgo using your dryer and hang your laundry outside to line-dry.  “Towels, sheets, cotton shirts, blue jeans, etc. all dry nicely in the sun and wind,” says Jean Ponzi, Green Resources Manager for Missouri Botanical Garden’s Earthways Center in St. Louis, MO. “You are not only saving energy but the evaporative effects of clothes drying outdoors will lower temperatures a small fraction—but it all adds up. Dryers not only burn energy, but add heat due to the exhaust,” says Pablo Solomon, famous artist and award-winning conservationist.

2.  Many are giving up their air conditioning and “green-proofing” their homes by using fans, sealing doors and windows to lock in energy, adding foam insets to electrical outlets and switches on exterior walls to prevent drafts.  Also, if you do use the a/c, be sure to change the filter once a month.  Otherwise, your unit is working overtime, which may result in costly repairs and a hefty bill.  You can try keeping your house between 78-82 degrees when you aren’t inside to save money on heating and cooling costs as well.

3.  Remember what your mama told you and turn off the lights when you leave a room!  It’s also a good idea to unplug your cellphone charger when not in use and any other electrical appliances, especially coffee makers and others that contain clocks you don’t use.  “Smart” power strips can sense when your appliances are off and they help to prevent “vampire” energy use.

4.  Wash your clothes in cold water when you can.  You can save money on your energy bill as well as preventing the nearly 85 percent of energy used when washing clothes in a machine.  Also, don’t forget to turn off the water when washing dishes and hands, shaving and brushing your teeth.  This saves water like you wouldn’t believe.

5.  Choose your time wisely when deciding to run the washer, dishwasher or even the dryer if you just can’t live without it.  Use them only when they are full and at night, if possible.  This will save you countless gallons of water and on your water bill as well.  “We use the dishwasher and run the dryer at night–after 9:00 because our local utility said it would help avoid having to build another power plant,” says Jeanne Cummings.

6. Showers are definitely a better choice than baths, but check to see if you have a water-efficient showerhead.  “If your shower fills a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, replace the showerhead with a water-efficient model, which can save up to 750 gallons of water a month,” recommends Sarah Shank of Earth Day Network.  Also, check with Niagara Conservation for other efficient products that cut back on water, gas and electrical use.

7.  Windows may be one of the culprits concerning your high energy bills!  There are many options, from using transom-type windows that let heat escape from the top and allow in cool night air from the bottom to placing a clear solar control film on your windows or even choosing windows made from glass with high insulating performance ratings (check out http://www.southwall.com).  Window treatments are also a good idea, from shades and curtains to blinds and shutters to shades and awnings.

8.  Do you get too hot or too cold, no matter what the air is like inside your home?  Try changing your bedding!  Companies like WUL provide eco-friendly bedding that is hypoallergenic and is a comfortable fit for anyone, no matter their range in temperatures.

9.  Don’t waste water by pouring it down the drain when you can be using it!  Collect rainwater for plant watering and toilet flushing (did you know that pouring more water into your toilet can actually flush it as well as pulling the handle?  Thanks again, Pablo!).  You can also use the distilled water that collects in dehumidifier pans and use it in your steam iron, thanks to a tip from Jean Ponzi.

10.  Energy-efficient appliances are always a good choice, whether you are considering light bulbs or refrigerators.  Whether you prefer CFLs or LEDs is your choice, but have you considered a new alternative?  “The ArmorLite bulb appears like a standard store bought incandescent bulb. In fact, it is a CFL bulb hidden inside an incandescent light bulb. A silicon, unbreakable balloon-like skin is wrapped around the outer light bulb so if it breaks, the Mercury will be contained. In October, Clear-Lite, a small environmental friendly lighting company in Parkland, FL. will debut its ArmorLite CFL bulb,” announces Tom Irvine, CEO of Clear-Lite.

Thanks also to Sylvia Small for providing many of these tips through William Fadul of MOSAIC Group Architects and Remodelers in Atlanta, GA and all of the wonderfully helpful people who responded on HARO!

Be sure to check back with SocialYell next week for some more creative ways to lower your power bill and go green at the same time!

Ashley Strickland is a senior majoring in journalism at the University of Georgia.  After reading these tips, she is ready to be a lean, mean green-living eco-machine.