Saving Energy Without Changing Your Lifestyle

The rise and drop in temperatures in the coming years place intense pressures on consumers around the world as this means only one thing, more energy and fuel are needed to control the environment and make our homes more comfortable.

Over the years, new technology has been invented to improve our lifestyle, and that includes energy saving devices. New technology is always more expensive at first but instead of waiting for more affordable energy saving devices, let's use some common sense and make some effort in trying to save energy.

Here are just some of the things we can do to conserve energy and in the end, save some of our hard earned money while doing it. after all, even if you can afford it, why waste??

•Avoid "phantom" energy users.
Electrical appliances that are plugged in to sockets even when not in use consume some energy. A single appliance that remains plugged in may not give a significant increase in your electric bill but letting every appliance on "standby" can be a real money spender. Make sure to pull the plugs of every appliance from their sockets whenever you don't use them.

•Turn down temperature of water heaters.
Water heaters hold about 40 gallons of water and maintain it at a constant temperature. Forty gallons of water that is sitting in your tank for a very long time consumes a lot of energy. If the water heater is not expected to be used for a while it is advisable to maintain it at a lower temperature.

•The openings and leaks in doors and windows create drafts.
The stronger the draft is, the longer it will take for homes to be heated or cooled, in addition to the extra work that a heater or an air-conditioning system is doing to regulate the right temperature of the house. In newer homes, the problems may be few as builders now take more attention to sealing draft areas and slots. Older homes may not be as well sealed. Even if the outer walls are insulated, air leaks often occur around wall outlets, switches and vents that could result in water condensation around these areas. A good foam patch could fix the problem.

•CFL lights are energy savers.
Using CFL bulbs will save you more than sixty percent of the cost of lighting compared to incandescent bulbs. They might be a little more expensive than a regular bulb but still cheaper in the long run because they do last longer and they will save you money by using less energy.

•Clean appliances regularly.
Dirt and dust reduce the efficiency of appliances. Also, allow about four inches of distance between the wall and appliances that generate heat to help with air circulation.

•When in the market always look for the energy coefficient and the energy saving features of the appliance you are buying.

As you can see, there are many ways we can save on our energy consumption by simply being more aware of our habits and making some small changes that will help you reduce your monthly bills as well as help to reduce the amount of energy we needlessly consume every day.

You don't have to be a 'tree hugger' to see the common sense in this approach.
Less Energy Used or Wasted = More Money In My Pocket....  there's nothing wrong with that.

Get Rid of Ants Naturally - wikiHow

Do you have ants in the house? Get rid of them naturally, no need for expensive chemicals endangering your kids' or pets' health. I have actually used the old Borax trick before and it does work. Other household items ants do not like are pepper, chalk, vinegar.

Here are some more great tips on How to do it Naturally.

Get Rid of Ants Naturally - wikiHow

Go Green And Save: Organic Gardening, Grow Your Own vegetable garden and organic herbs

I have always enjoyed putting in a garden every summer for the last 25 years or so, and there is nothing like the satisfaction and pleasure you get from time spent in your garden, or greenhouse, it's a very special place.
Whatever it is, we’ve enjoyed doing it for a long time now and of course, one picks up little tips and tricks along the way, some of those sometimes being learned the hard way…oh well, just won’t do that again.
One thing we did change years ago was to stop using chemical insecticides and weed killers and all the rest of that good stuff. There are so many other alternatives you can use, besides I don’t really like my vegetables or fruits that I eat to be sprayed with who knows what?
Did you know you can make your own safe dandelion killer? Good old vinegar from your kitchen. A simple spray bottle with vinegar works great, and no harmful chemicals on your lawn. Besides, do you want your kids, or pets walking or playing in chemicals?

There are so many alternative ways to get rid of pests and weeds in your garden, it’s just a matter of reading, learning and following certain rules. I believe an important rule is to just observe and learn how mother nature handles things.
Most gardeners have heard of companion planting and you may know about planting garlic with your roses, or plant onions and carrots together, but there's so much more to it than that. I am just reading a great book on companion planting written by Julie Villani, an organic grower from Australia. Her book tells you exactly what to plant near what, and what not to and all sorts of other priceless information.
Things like how to protect your plants from insects, how to reduce your work by learning how to let mother nature take care of it for you. I thought it was a good read and definitely worth the price, considering the extra goodies she throws in, besides I would have paid just as much or more at a local book store just for the one book.
I spend a lot of time browsing for new things, to learn, to find deals and lots of other good stuff out there supporting the green lifestyle and how you can save money doing it. That’s when I ran across an ad for this organic gardening book, what made me chuckle when I read through the ad was when I got to the extra bonus books thrown in part, reminded me of those late night TV ads for some reason, when they go, “And that’s not all folks, You also get…” Anyway, that day it just gave me a good chuckle but I decided I’d check it out, the worst I could do is lose twenty bucks or so. I must say I’m glad I did as it's an excellent book.
That would be worth the price for just the one book alone, so the extras are definitely a bonus as they are also full of great info. Check it out, doesn’t cost anything to browse, plus she’s got some great articles in her newsletter too.
If you’re looking for information about Organic Gardening, see what the Organic Gardening Guide is all about.