I never realized that once I had my son, I was not only taking on the role of "mom", but also of an energy-saver and water-conserver. With gas prices skyrocketing through the roof, postage increasing yet again, and the prices of just about everything being on a continuous climb with no sight of relief in the future, having a family makes you do whatever you can to save a dollar . . . or even 50 cents at this point!
One of the first things we did when we moved to this area was buy bicycles! Even though it's 90-something degrees outside here in good ol' sunny Florida, we are using our bikes more just to avoid using gas in our car! I find myself doing things I never used to do--like clipping coupons to save money shopping, or hand-washing my son's bibs and hanging them up to dry instead of using the washer and dryer.
Here's a few tips from my family to yours about saving energy and conserving water this summer:
* When using your washer, use cold water whenever possible.
* If you have a dishwasher, use it. According to FPL, an automatic dishwasher uses 1/3 less water than hand-washing, which saves both money and energy. I also recommend using the "no-heat drying" setting and just drying your dishes with a dish towel. You also don't need to pre-rinse most dishes before putting them into the dishwasher--it wastes more water. I only pre-rinse ones that are coated with gunk or dried food.
* Get in the habit of shutting things off when you leave a room in your house or go out.
* Shut off ceiling fans when not in use. According to FPL, constantly running a ceiling fan costs about $10 per month, per fan!
* Always clean out your dryer filter before use.
* Keep your curtains or blinds closed when you're not home in the sunny areas of the house--you'll find the rooms to be much cooler when you get home.
* Set your thermostat switch to "auto" when you're not home. If you live in FL, or any other state where the heat can be unbearable, AC accounts for a good 40-50% of your monthly electric bill!!! The house doesn't need to be cooled all day while everyone is out or at work.
* Make sure your toilet stops running after you flush it.
* Avoid leaving a dripping faucet or showerhead.
* My favorite tip for conserving water and energy . . . COOL OFF AT THE BEACH! It's summer, it's hot, it's relaxing and refreshing and a great way to spend the day with your family! Plus, it saves energy, saves water and SAVES MONEY!