Behavioral Changes

Here are some suggestions for how to have a more profitable lifestyle.

Conserve more water. Take shorter showers each day, do not let the water run when brushing teeth, fix any leaking or dripping faucets, and only run dishwasher and washer when there is a full load in. (Bongiorno, 2008) By doing these simple ideas we can save a lot of money on the water bill!

Food. When buying food products buy in bulk so less packing material. Start a compost pile for all food waste, this will reduce trash. Try to eat less meat and try to eat locally grown foods. (Eat Green, 2008)

In an average American home, appliances account for about 20% of energy bills. To reduce the amount of energy used, unplug any unused appliances and electronics (EERE, 2008). Typically, a PC uses about 250 watts, even though you may not use it 24/7, leaving it plugged in can add up to $212 per year to your bill (Hunt, 2008). So unplug the coffee maker, toaster, microwave, etc. when they are not being used.

Turn off the lights when you aren’t using a particular room. About 10% - 15% of electricity consumed in regular light bulbs results in light – the rest is heat. By turning off unused lights, you will keep the room cooler and they will last longer (EERE, 2008)

In the winter remove window air conditioners since they will let in more cold air causing you to have to use more energy to heat your home.

You should try to use the microwave as often as possible, and always unplug after use. Use glass dishes when cooking/baking because they can be cooked at lower temperatures. Do not preheat if you do not need to. A lot of times, you do not need to preheat. When using the stove, do not use over sized pans and use a cover for the pan, so it traps the heat and uses less energy (Ways to Conserve Energy, 2008).

If you do not want to shut down your laptop, at least put the computer to sleep. Computer monitors actually take up more energy than the actual hard drive. For macs, if you enter into “System Preferences” and then enter “Energy Saver.” you can set the time you would like to put your computer to sleep. For other computers, you can right-click and chose “Properties.” Then enter “Screen Saver” and you can change the sleep mode under “Power" (Ways to Conserve at Penn State, 2008).

Now that winter is almost here wear more layers instead of turning the thermostat up.The DOE calculates that your energy bill will go up three percent for each degree you raise the thermostat (Green Living, 2005). Also remember that tight knit clothing is warmer then loose and wool is warmer than cotton.