Now is the time to start thinking about energy efficiency. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, certain energy prices will rise in 2011. Be prepared by taking these steps to increase efficiency.
The increases are said to be specifically in the areas of electricity and natural gas, so it is these areas that you can concentrate most upon in your energy savings strategy.
Cooking with an oven can use lots of energy, whether it is with natural gas or electricity. Therefore you want to minimize wasteful sue of the oven. It takes a good amount of energy to heat up the oven, therefore, try to plan out its use. Do all of your baking on one day if possible, and make extras that can be frozen and thawed later. Plan out meals so you have leftovers or can use the oven by making one dish after the other.
Find alternatives to using the oven, such as a toaster oven (which will usually accommodate a loaf pan or medium square pan) or a crockpot. You’ll use less energy with these other devices than you would by using your oven.
Scout around your house for vampire electronics, those devices that suck up all sorts of energy even when they aren’t being actively used. Televisions that go on by remote, for example, are using energy to remain always ready. This goes for DVD players, cable boxes and more. Put these devices on a switch driven outlet or power strip, so the power can be easily shut off from everything at once.
You can also look into solar power charging devices for your phone, your iPod, your Nintendo DS and other small electronics that require electricity to charge.
Of course, your biggest energy savings is in your home. Make sure to take steps now to make it more energy efficient, such as sealing cracks and gaps with caulk, using heavy drapes or insulating blinds on windows and adding insulation as needed.