We found 34 results tagged with "energy savers"

34 Challenges

7 participants 5 comments
Posted on: June 18, 2008

Lighten your load

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

If you’re concerned about the environment and water usage, it may be time for a new clothes washer. According to Energy...

1 participant 0 comments
Posted on: June 05, 2008

Shut off pilot lights in the off-season

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Gas-powered wall heaters use a small pilot light. Though necessary in winter, they burn continuously in warmer periods too, wasting gas and costing about $6 per month. Today, challenge yourself to...

15 participants 4 comments
Posted on: June 02, 2008

Clear out your car trunk

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Less weight in your car means better gas mileage…and energy savings. Every pound counts. Today, challenge yourself to take an inventory of the stuff in your trunk and take out anything that’s...

5 participants 3 comments
Posted on: May 26, 2008

Have a greener outdoor summer party

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Outdoor summer entertaining can have a carbon footprint. However, there are a few easy ways to lessen your impact. When you entertain outside this month, challenge yourself to: • Use a natural gas...

21 participants 9 comments
Posted on: May 22, 2008

Observe speed limits

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Speedy driving can lower your fuel economy by as much as 33% on the highway and 5% on city streets. In the next 24 hours, cut down on your energy consumption by obeying the speed limit. Other pro...

14 participants 6 comments
Posted on: May 08, 2008

Pick your pan

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Matching pan to burner size saves lots of energy on the stovetop. Today, when you cook on your stove, make an effort to match you pan to your burner.

20 participants 10 comments
Posted on: May 07, 2008

Avoid overdrying

Challenge yourself for: 30 days

Overdrying disappoints in a number of ways. It uses excess energy, it leaves clothes more wrinkled (requiring additional ironing), and it wears fabric faster. The next time you do laundry, challenge...

10 participants 4 comments
Posted on: May 01, 2008

Reset your thermostat

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Did you know that you can save about 10% annually on heating and cooling costs by adjusting your thermostat 10-15° from the usual setting during 8 hours of the day? So, for example, if your heater is...

9 participants 3 comments
Posted on: April 25, 2008

Plant a tree

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Deciduous trees save energy by shading you in summer and, after they’ve shed their leaves, letting sunlight heat your home in winter. This process is most energy-efficient when trees are planted on...

4 participants 2 comments
Posted on: April 05, 2008

Test for air leaks

Challenge yourself for: 2 days

Leaky homes use more energy. Here’s a neat trick for testing yours: hold a lit incense stick near windows, doors, electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, outlets, ceiling fixtures and attic hatches. If...

29 participants 14 comments
Posted on: April 04, 2008

Run fully loaded

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Fewer loads reduce energy output and water usage. The next time you do dishes or laundry, challenge yourself to start washers only when they’re completely filled.

17 participants 0 comments
Posted on: March 29, 2008

Seal your home

Challenge yourself for: 2 days

Sealing your home’s envelope—walls, floor, ceiling and roof—can save up to 10% on annual energy costs. Some tips: • Reduce drafts by adding weather stripping to windows and doors • Caulk ducts...

14 participants 5 comments
Posted on: March 02, 2008

Clean your refrigerator coils

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

You’ve probably never heard about this energy saving tip before. How do you do it? The first step is to go to your local hardware store and buy a coil-cleaning brush. Next, unplug your refrigerator...

3 participants 1 comment
Posted on: February 24, 2008

Make a water heater cozy

Challenge yourself for: 2 days

An insulating blanket wrapped around your water heater can help lower your energy bill. How? It helps the heater retain heat. Insulating blankets are easy to set up and cheap to buy. (They’re usually...

34 participants 13 comments
Posted on: February 16, 2008

Wash all your laundry in cold water

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

When you use cold water to wash both darks and whites, you reduce your gas consumption. An added bonus is that you also preserve the wear and tear on your clothes. The next time you do laundry...

0 participants 0 comments
Posted on: February 10, 2008

Install faucet aerators

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Are you serious about conserving water in your home? One of the best ways to do this is to install aerators on your faucets. Unsure about whether you need aerators? Look at the side of your faucet spigot...

6 participants 1 comment
Posted on: February 05, 2008

Reduce your office paper use

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Ever find yourself lamenting the stacks of discarded paper in your office? Even though they’re in the recycling bin, sometimes it just doesn’t seem like it’s enough. Today, try to reduce your...

1 participant 1 comment
Posted on: February 02, 2008

Check your showerhead

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Today, test your showerhead to find out whether you could be saving some serious water by installing a low-flow model. Here’s how: • Put a bucket into your shower and fill it with 2.5 gallons of...

16 participants 3 comments
Posted on: January 30, 2008

Adjust your computer’s energy settings

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Depending on your computer, there are several ways to adjust its settings to make it energy efficient during the day. For example, on a PC there’s a difference between ‘standby’ and ‘hibernate’ for...

11 participants 2 comments
Posted on: January 22, 2008

Give your car a breather

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Think about millions of parents all over the world waiting in their idling cars for their children to come out of school. Now add up all that wasted gas and air pollution. Although it may not seem...

23 participants 3 comments
Posted on: January 15, 2008

Turn off your computer

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Lots of us like the convenience of leaving our computers ‘asleep’ or in ‘hibernate’ rather than turning them off when we’re done every day. But this daily habit wastes energy. Today, when you’re...

7 participants 2 comments
Posted on: January 12, 2008

Check for leaky toilets

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Do you have a leaky toilet? If you do, you probably don’t know it. A quick and easy way to find out is to add food coloring to your toilet tank and then wait 30 minutes. If you see any color in...

44 participants 18 comments
Posted on: December 06, 2007

Turn down your water heater thermostat

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

In a typical household, the water heater thermostat is often set to 140 degrees F. But did you know that 120 is usually fine? Why is this important for the earth? Well, according to Power Scorecard...

13 participants 8 comments
Posted on: November 29, 2007

Try “slow laundry”

Challenge yourself for: 30 days

Ever heard of the “slow food” movement, which emphasizes the enjoyment and preparation of foods? Well, here’s a slight variation on that theme. Slow laundry aims to get more people line drying their...

12 participants 2 comments
Posted on: November 27, 2007

Check your air filters

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Did you know that dirty filters on your furnace or air conditioner restrict the airflow, causing them to run longer and increasing your energy consumption? By changing your filters every month, you...

14 participants 6 comments
Posted on: November 14, 2007

Turn down your refrigerator

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Did you know that refrigerators account for about 20% of the average household’s electricity use? Today, cut down on your energy consumption by using a thermometer to raise your refrigerator...

59 participants 19 comments
Posted on: October 31, 2007

Turn off the water when you brush

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Today when you brush your teeth turn off the water after you wet your brush and leave it off until you rinse. Even small everyday gestures make a difference for the environment.

30 participants 9 comments
Posted on: October 06, 2007

Change your light bulbs

Challenge yourself for: 2 days

Artificial lighting accounts for 15% of the typical household's energy use. By using new lighting technologies like compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) you could reduce your lighting energy use by...

40 participants 18 comments
Posted on: October 02, 2007

Unplug your electronics

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Even when they are not being used, electronics - like coffee makers, TVs, and stereos - consume some energy. Today or tomorrow before you leave the house, unplug any electronics that aren't being used...

19 participants 14 comments
Posted on: September 18, 2007

Reduce your junk mail

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Drowning in junk mail? The earth is too. Most junk mail is not printed on recycled paper and ends up in landfills. In the next 24 hours, contact a few of your most prolific junk mail companies and...

12 participants 4 comments
Posted on: September 14, 2007

Check your tires

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Properly inflated tires can increase your car’s fuel efficiency by more than 3%. Today, read your owner's manual to find out what optimal air pressure is for your tires and check them at a gas...

44 participants 11 comments
Posted on: September 11, 2007

Shorten your shower

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

When you reduce your shower time you not only save money on your water bill, you also conserve water and energy. The next time you hop in the shower, start a timer and see how quickly you can get...

33 participants 12 comments
Posted on: August 15, 2007

Forego the bag

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

If you go shopping during the next 24 hours, carry a convenient fold-up cloth bag with you. Tell the cashiers you can skip the bag.

31 participants 12 comments
Posted on: July 26, 2007

Cook a one-pot meal

Challenge yourself for: 24 Hours

Using one pot to cook an entire meal makes a lot of sense. For starters, when different foods simmer together their flavors blend in delicious ways. And then there's the added bonus of energy...