Reduce Electric Use By 10%
The most comprehensive reduction is through Electricity. With our lives immersed in it, the task of reducing by 10% for the 40 days of Lent may seem too large a task. But truly, it’s the simplest to reduce.
The average home in the US uses over 10,000 kwh per year. This works out to 1174 kwh during Lent, which makes your goal of reduction 117 kwh. That is very simple!
The following list shows just some of the possibilities in a common home. I’ve done the math to bring the use of each object down as far as possible, and most to the 10% goal.
Coffee Maker – Average use is 30 minutes per day, use for only 15 and unplug when done.
Clothes Washer – Wash only full loads.
Clothes Dryer – Dry only full loads. Dry like-weight fabrics together. Use low heat setting. Use moisture sensor rather than timer. Use a clothesline.
Computer – Turn off at night and when you won’t be using it for more than an hour. Turn off completely for 1 whole day per week.
Dishwasher – Use only when full. Do not use the heated dry option.
Electric Blanket – Use 1 less day per week. Turn down 1 notch the other days.
Furnace – Turn the heat down 2 degrees. Use programmable thermostats to lower temperate 5-10 degrees when you’re not home or asleep or not using that particular zone
Hair Dryer – Average use is 15 minutes per day. Don’t use 1 day per week.
Oven - Ignore the preheat cycle. Everything except cookies can easily go in prior to the oven being at full temperature. This will also save at least 5 minutes baking time. Turn off for the last 5-10 minutes of the baking/roasting. Don’t use the auto-clean feature.
Portable Space Heater – Turn it down 2 notches. Don’t use 2 days per week.
Refrigerator/ Freezer – Keep it full, using water-filled containers. Clean the coils.
TV – The average use is 4 hours per day. Turn off for 1 day per week. Read a book!
VCR – Unplug when not in use. Use 1 less day per week.
Waterbed – Covering it alone will save 15%! Use the heater 2 fewer hours per day.
Water Heater – Decrease shower time, take cooler showers, don’t run water the entire time you are washing or shaving, turn volume of shower down. Use cold water for laundry.
Unplug all chargers and small appliances when not in use.
Taking these actions will reduce your electric use 155 – 200 kwh for the 40 days.
And while you may not have all of these items in your home, chances are you have 90% of them, and this will bring you to the goal of 117 kwh for the 40 days.
We all get magazines and books we keep meaning to read, but never find the time. Turn the computer off, turn the TV off, turn the VCR off and read them! Play a board game with your kids. Have a conversation with your family. I am sure you will find yourself far more relaxed the next day, as well as having consumed far less electricity. Just reducing the noise in the house will be peaceful.
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The average home in the US uses over 10,000 kwh per year. This works out to 1174 kwh during Lent, which makes your goal of reduction 117 kwh. That is very simple!
The following list shows just some of the possibilities in a common home. I’ve done the math to bring the use of each object down as far as possible, and most to the 10% goal.
Coffee Maker – Average use is 30 minutes per day, use for only 15 and unplug when done.
Clothes Washer – Wash only full loads.
Clothes Dryer – Dry only full loads. Dry like-weight fabrics together. Use low heat setting. Use moisture sensor rather than timer. Use a clothesline.
Computer – Turn off at night and when you won’t be using it for more than an hour. Turn off completely for 1 whole day per week.
Dishwasher – Use only when full. Do not use the heated dry option.
Electric Blanket – Use 1 less day per week. Turn down 1 notch the other days.
Furnace – Turn the heat down 2 degrees. Use programmable thermostats to lower temperate 5-10 degrees when you’re not home or asleep or not using that particular zone
Hair Dryer – Average use is 15 minutes per day. Don’t use 1 day per week.
Oven - Ignore the preheat cycle. Everything except cookies can easily go in prior to the oven being at full temperature. This will also save at least 5 minutes baking time. Turn off for the last 5-10 minutes of the baking/roasting. Don’t use the auto-clean feature.
Portable Space Heater – Turn it down 2 notches. Don’t use 2 days per week.
Refrigerator/ Freezer – Keep it full, using water-filled containers. Clean the coils.
TV – The average use is 4 hours per day. Turn off for 1 day per week. Read a book!
VCR – Unplug when not in use. Use 1 less day per week.
Waterbed – Covering it alone will save 15%! Use the heater 2 fewer hours per day.
Water Heater – Decrease shower time, take cooler showers, don’t run water the entire time you are washing or shaving, turn volume of shower down. Use cold water for laundry.
Unplug all chargers and small appliances when not in use.
Taking these actions will reduce your electric use 155 – 200 kwh for the 40 days.
And while you may not have all of these items in your home, chances are you have 90% of them, and this will bring you to the goal of 117 kwh for the 40 days.
We all get magazines and books we keep meaning to read, but never find the time. Turn the computer off, turn the TV off, turn the VCR off and read them! Play a board game with your kids. Have a conversation with your family. I am sure you will find yourself far more relaxed the next day, as well as having consumed far less electricity. Just reducing the noise in the house will be peaceful.
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Labels: Carbon Fast, Carbon Footprint, Carbon Reduction, Electricity Reduction, Lent
posted by Leslie | 9:49 PM
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