Save Money and Mother Earth This Summer With These Green Savvy AC Tips

Of the range of renewable energy types, the goal boils down to cutting costs and our carbon footprint. That doesn't make us want to be uncomfortable, especially when the season heats up and your air conditioner becomes your saving grace.

Energy savings doesn't have to be a full investment in wind farms or acres of solar panels (though, wouldn't that be nice?), but there are simple ways to make your current energy consumption less than usual. You'll definitely want to know how to reduce energy use this summer and stay cool at the same time.

Up your technology game

Lowering your thermostat during the winter by a margin of two degrees can save 6% on carbon emissions. That's about 420 pounds of carbon dioxide per year that you're not putting into the air. The same goes for air conditioning. A huge part of this is system automation. Investing in an automated thermostat will help reduce energy costs across the board. Mobile accessibility and smart temperature control are small technologies that make a difference through the convenience of remote access and smart systems.

Duct, duct, goose

Your AC unit, like your furnace, transports air of whatever temperature through your ducts to all the rooms in your house. Over time, ducts can get a little leaky. It might not be something you readily notice, too, so having professionals look at your ducts is important. Properly sealing your ducts makes for more efficient air distribution and, in turn, lowers your energy bills. If you start noticing a room (or two) not getting to the right temperature, that's a telltale sign of leaky ducting.

Homefront focus

Similar to duct sealing, the air in your house should be well circulated and stay in the house. It seems obvious, but a lot of households neglect problem areas like entrance ways, windows, skylights, and vents. All of these small leaks add up when it comes to air escaping, which definitely hikes up the bill and does nothing to keep temperature properly maintained.

There are tons of ways to adjust your lifestyle the smallest bit to cut down energy costs and hoist the environmentally friendly banner. Renewable energy types are certainly becoming more popular as time and technology move forward, but it remains our responsibility to alter our commonly practiced habits first and impact change in everyday life. Living consciously this way, our path toward the future looks green as can be.

5 Energy-Saving Tips That Can Reduce Your Electric Company Bills Over the Holidays

The holidays are a time of celebration. But all those festive decorations and fun gatherings can add up to a shock when you get the December bill from the electric company. The answer isn’t cutting out any of your holiday traditions, but just being a little smarter about energy use; a few small changes can allow you to achieve some serious energy savings. Here are five easy tips you can put to use in the coming weeks:

1. Turn Down the Thermostat
   Most people already know that using a programmable thermostat can save 10% of annual energy costs, and are pretty good about keeping the temperature at a reasonable level most of the time. But when you’re having people over, you might be tempted to turn the thermostat up, since you don’t want your guests to be uncomfortable. The thing to remember is that just having more people in your house will increase the temperature, as will cooking. So by lowering the thermostat, you’ll save some energy and make sure people don’t overheat.
   
2. Unplug Appliances Before You Leave
   If you’re going out of town during the holidays, make sure to unplug “phantom” energy users like TVs, computers and even coffee makers. There’s no reason for them to be pulling residual amounts of power when no one is around to use them.
   
3. Enjoy the AmbianceIf you’re putting up decorative lights this Christmas, use them to replace, rather than supplement, your regular lighting sources. You don’t need to have the overhead lights or table lamps blazing away when your tree is illuminated -- and you’ll get a better effect with the other lights off, anyway. (If you really want to be smart about your tree lights, consider LED strings; they cost a little more, but draw only a fraction of the energy that traditional lights do.)
   
4. Choose Efficient Gifts
   The savings of this strategy stretch far beyond the month of December. When you’re doing your gift shopping, prioritize buying energy-efficient electronics. Basically, energy efficiency means using less energy to achieve the same effect: using less power without making any sacrifice in function. For that reason, it’s often called the “fifth fuel” (coal, petroleum, nuclear power and renewable energy sources being the other four). If you’re purchasing someone a battery-operated gift, make rechargeable batteries and a charger part of the package.
   
5. Look at Your Electric Company OptionsIf you haven’t investigated it already, the holidays are the perfect time of year to find out if you’re in a deregulated energy market. If you are, you might be able to buy your power from an alternative electric company but still have it delivered through the local utility like you always have. Deregulation gives you the chance to do some comparative rate shopping and to support energy companies who have business models you agree with. You can even research companies charitable and community contributions and choose the company that is the best fit for you.

What other energy solutions might people employ over the holidays?
Share your tips in the comments.

How To Save Money, And The Environment With the Way You Manage Your Energy

Among the rent or mortgage payments, the exorbitant cost of food, medical, gas, car insurance, and water bills, the monthly energy bill can really get you down, especially during the winter. If you are an average American living in an average household, chances are that your monthly electric bill will cost around $107. 

The worst part is that it may seem like there is no room to cut back in this area. However, you are incorrect. There are many ways to seriously cut back on energy bills, and there is an added bonus. The less energy you use in your house, the less fossil fuels will be burned, and the better for the Earth. 

Here are a couple of easy strategies to do something good for your pocketbook and the environment: 

1. Switch to energy efficient light bulbs 

You'll be surprised how fast you make you money back after this initial investment, especially because you'll have to replace the bulbs much less regularly than regular ones. 

2. Talk to alternative electricity suppliers 

Alternative electric suppliers and energy companies try to get their energy not from the burning of fossil fuels but from things like geothermal, wind, and water power. This can help drive down prices, since they are renewable resources, and is very good for the environment. 

3. Use Your Programmable Thermostat 

You can save 10% per year on heating and cooling costs by investing in or properly using a programmable thermostat. This way, the system won't be working while your not there -- and you can program it to kick start automatically an hour before you come home, so its cozy and warm by the time you open the door 

Another great option is to install smart meters in your home. These devices measure the amount of energy used in a week so you can better keep track of your energy budget. Power companies and renewable energy companies have so far installed 50 million meters at homes across the U.S. -- that's 43% of homes overall! 

From alternative energy companies and alternative electricity suppliers for your home to small household applications like light bulbs, you can reduce your bill and footprint at the same time!