25 simple ways to save

This pertains to North America mostly:

Clean the coils behind or underneath your refrigerator with a tapered appliance brush to keep it running efficiently.

2

Skip prerinsing dishes. Our tests have found that it¹s unnecessary, and you'll save up to 6,500 gallons of water per year.

3

Opt for the cold-water wash cycle and save about $60 a year.

4

Put your PC to sleep. Save $25 to $75 each year by using the system standby or hibernating feature on your computer.

5

Plug electronics into a power strip so that you can turn them all off at once.

6

Don't overload the dryer. Clothes will take longer to dry, and they'll come out wrinkled. When the weather is warm, line dry.

7

Open blinds and shades on cold days. Solar heat gain can raise interior temperature significantly. But close them at night to minimize heat loss.

8

Dust off the slow cooker. You'll use a lot less energy than cooking a meal across several burners and in the oven.

9

Keep car tires properly inflated. In our tests of a Toyota Camry, fuel efficiency dropped 1.3 mpg when the tires were deflated by 10 psi.

10

See whether your utility company offers rebates to customers who replace old appliances with energy-efficient models. Some states hold periodic "tax holidays" for purchases of energy-efficient appliances.

11

Lower the temperature a degree or two before guests arrive. A house full of people generates a lot of body heat....[click on the heading for more]