Be a Conservationist

“The conservation of natural resources is the fundamental problem. Unless we solve that problem it will avail us little to solve all others.” Theodore Roosevelt


As Texas and many other states are experiencing a severe drought and rolling brown outs, energy companies are warning us to conserve our electricity use.  But, why conserve only now? Shouldn’t we conserve energy at all times? Here are some practical tips that you as an individual can do, and hopefully spread out to the community and then our nation on doing our part to appreciate our natural resources instead of wasting them.

1. Routinely replace or clean your air conditioner filter. According to the Department of Energy, keeping the filter clean can lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption by 5-15%.
2. Set the thermostat at 78-degrees or higher, especially when you are not home.
3. Clean your lint filter before every load. A full lint compartment hampers the performance of your dryer, taking longer to fully dry the load.
4. Install compact fluorescent light bulbs. They use approximately 70% less energy than an incandescent bulb and last up to 7x longer.
5. Weather-strip and caulk around windows and doors to prevent drafts. A gap of just 1/4-inch can let in as much air as a softball-size hole.
6. Insert special foam insulation for your outlets. Electric outlets can let hot air into the house.
7. Use the energy-saver function on your computer. Have it go into “sleep mode” after 20 minutes. You may also consider purchasing a energy saving smart surge protector like this: http://ow.ly/5WJR5
8. Use the no-heat dry option on your dishwasher. This will allow your dishes to air-dry instead of using energy. 
9. Use ceiling fans during the summer. They’ll help keep your home a comfortable temperature, while maintaining the air conditioner at a higher thermostat setting. The fan direction should be DOWN for summer and UP for winter. Fans should be turned off when you are away from home.
10. Keep blinds or drapes closed on sunny days to help keep the heat out.