Reducing energy use and hot air production
I was listening to NPR yesterday when I heard about Maryland's move to reduce electricity use by 15 percent over the next few years. The NPR reporter listed a few ways to conserve electricity, which I'm already doing. But there were a few more suggestions that don't seem realistic, such as unplugging the TV when you aren't watching it...like I'm going to crawl around on my hands and knees behind furniture and fight my way through dust bunnies to remind myself what a crappy housekeeper I am every time I want to watch Weeds.
You could put power strips on everything, and click them on and off without having to crawl around. You can even use your feet, if you're wearing any shoes other than Docs, which are too clunky to do much that require lower appendage dexterity.
Ask your utility company what they recommend. In Minnesota and Colorado, Xcel Energy customers can request a Home Energy Audit. (Other utility companies have similar programs.) For $35, an auditor reviews your bill, energy usage, appliances, windows, doors, etc. to point out inefficiencies and recommend changes to get the most bang for your buck. They may suggest things like turning your thermostat up or down a few degrees (depending on the season) which can make a big difference, changing your heating or A/C filters to improve efficiency, replacing light bulbs with compact fluorescents which can save $5 per bulb per year, etc. (I don't unplug my appliances either.)
evidently, one of the biggest useless users of electricity is leaving chargers, e.g. cell phone, computer monitor, laptop chargers plugged in, even when nothing is attached to them. Feel the heat from the "block" sometime.
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