gagets to save on utilities

[mom-from-missouri]

Just wondering if anyone has found any "gagets" that they would like to share that are working for them to lower their utilities/save money.

What we have done in our house that has worked for us:

1. replacing lightbulbs with cfl and led lighting
2. low water toilets
3. front loading washer (HUGE SAVINGS)
4. low pressure shower heads
5. ceiling fans
6. rechargeable batteries
7. rechargeable lantern
8. windup flashlights
9. car recharger for cell phones


We have already decided that when the hotwater heater goes out we will replace with a tankless instant one.

Does anyone else have some different ones??

[LuxLiving]

We use a thermos for keeping coffee warm instead of keeping the pot plugged in.

Wind-up alarm clocks.

Rechargable battery operated wall clocks.

Using the sleep-mode on our TV where it will automatically go off after an hour.

Clothesline for outside & dryer rack for inside.


Not gadgets but -

a)Opening blinds/curtains/drapes for light during the day, which should be a no-brainer but, I've had to work w/my kids on this one to keep them from just automatically flipping a switch.

b)Opening 2 or more windows for a cross-current to keep cool.

c)Putting on more winter-weather clothes/hats to keep warm rather than upping the thermostat. Reverse that in summertime to taking off some clothes or lighter weight cotton clothes to cool down.

d)In the spring & summer I sometimes go outside w/my head wet and dry my hair by standing over the air-conditioning unit where it blows out hot air. Much faster than a blow dryer!

You might want to check out:
Real Goods - Solar and Renewable Energy - Eco Household and Products for Green Living

[stressedmama]

Programmable thermostat.

[LuxLiving]

Not sure if this is a big savings or not, but a box fan used in a screened door or window opening in the rooms you are actually using during the springtime or early fall, rather than running the air-conditioning. Space heaters likewise in the winter months.

We have added turbines to our roof to get hot-air out of the attic in the summertime. They must be covered in the winter though.

edit to add:

How about those icepack neckties you can freeze/wet to keep cool while outside working or doing touristy things in the summer or while cruising the SavingAdvice.com forums?

We also use the settings in the freezer & refrigerator to keep the items just cold enough but not 'over' cold reducing the number of times the fan has to run.

You could also use a timer on a hot water heater if your shower/cleaning schedule was fairly consistent.

Any weatherization you could do to your home should generate some savings. Can't call it necessarily a gadget but how about those little foam whatchies you put inside electrical boxes to stop airloss? Or those cans of foam insulation you spray in cracks?

Getting some of that silvery tape stuff (I'm so technical ) that you use to seal up the duct work to your AC/heat unit. All those little leaks count!

I don't care what the experts say, I still like my solar tea jug which is in actuality an old glass pickle jar.

Consider the crockpot, microwave and electric skillet energy saving devices in the summer time as you don't heat up the house to cook.


A big one for us was doing the replacement windows and doors.

Hubster just added a solar powered motion sensor light outside. That way we don't keep the yardlight on all night. (Not that I ever did, I consider that a waste.) But accidentally, it would get left on upon occasion.

Here's a cool commercial on energy usage:
YOU HAVE THE POWER...SAVE ENERGY

relevant link:
93% less energy used in Zero Energy homes:
http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings.../37547_zeh.pdf

[smileybear]

I've thought of getting a Smart Strip, they sell t hem on Amazon and all over these days. When you shut something off, it's not necessarily no loner pulling electricity - everything has LEDs or is on "standby" or whatever. The Smart Strip shuts it off completely without unplugging.

I could never get a crockpot - letting something run for 6+ hours?? Whatever happened to the pressure cooker - my short-order choice after the microwave.

might try a solar cooker too just out of curiosity

[PrincessPerky]

About that hair...I find in the summer the best way to fall asleep without sweating, is to wash it at night (right after the pool of course) and leave it wet, just cover the pillow so it doesn't get mildewy.

In winter reverse that and don't wash hair at night.

And also not a gadget but lined curtains, makes a huge difference, my bedroom has black lined with reflective silver, and it is always cooler in there than any other room. adding curtains to my daughters room made hers warmer this past winder (purple lined in reflective pink)

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Summer window awnings on at least the south and west sides of the house.

[cptacek]

Power strip to turn off TV, cable, vcr, surround sound system, dvd player. It's on the way from the living room to my bedroom, so before I go to bed, I flip it off.

Agree with the awnings. We have a large porch on the south side of the house, and the house is very cool in the summer until the sun gets over to the west side. Instantly you can feel the difference.

[ScrimpAndSave]

Water saving shower head....i dont know what else..

[minnie1928]

Originally Posted by smileybear

I've thought of getting a Smart Strip, they sell t hem on Amazon and all over these days. When you shut something off, it's not necessarily no loner pulling electricity - everything has LEDs or is on "standby" or whatever. The Smart Strip shuts it off completely without unplugging.

I bought the Smart Strips almost 2 years ago and love them! I bought a case of 12 from bitsltd.com and got really good pricing (around $18 each, I think). Then I used what I could and sold the rest to family/coworkers (at cost). Then I wrote a proposal for my employer start using them too. To date I think my employer has purchased about 40 of them .

I just ordered (but haven't gotten yet) a "Roadrunner" showerhead. It uses 1.59gpm and the cool thing is that it shuts off the water once it's warmed up, once you are ready to hop in the shower you pull the release valve and your hot shower will begin. No more standing there waiting and constantly "checking" to see if it's hot.

Yesterday I bought a oscillating, pedestal fan to help keep cool during the heatwave. I have the A/C set around 80 and with the fan it's completely comfortable.

[mom-from-missouri]

Originally Posted by LuxLiving

How about those icepack neckties you can freeze/wet to keep cool while outside working or doing touristy things in the summer or while cruising the SavingAdvice.com forums?


Getting some of that silvery tape stuff (I'm so technical ) that you use to seal up the duct work to your AC/heat unit. All those little leaks count!

Hubster just added a solar powered motion sensor light outside.
relevant link:

I totally forgot about the tie things--I could have used them today while in the garden.. Thanks for the reminder.

I think I will change out the 2 outdoor garage lights to the motion sensor type. We have kids who leave them on all the time. I had them before I married and moved here, wonder why I didn't think of it here.....

[cptacek]

I have a gadget that attaches to the dryer. It lets the warm moist air outside in the summer, but in the winter you can redirect the air into your house. It has an additional screen in it so the lint doesn't come in.

[momof1in150]

Don't paint your walls a dark color. The dark paint absorbs light so you need to use more lights/higher illumination to light the room.

[LuxLiving]

12 volt appliances on a solar hook-up. Look at what truckers use in their cab-kitchens. There are now tvs, coffee pots, vacumns, crockpots, small fridges, electric skillets and even small freezers that run on 12 volts.