Cincinnati Real Estate Blog » energy saving ideas http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:58:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 en hourly 1 Think Green, and UNPLUG! http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/think-green-and-unplug http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/think-green-and-unplug#comments Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:42:00 +0000 admin http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/think-green-and-unplug Think Green, and UNPLUG!
by Matt Clark, Cincinnati Realtor
Cincinnati Real Estate

Recently, along with my Duke Energy bill I received a very informative email about what they are calling “ENERGY VAMPIRES.” Since it’s almost Halloween, I figured what a great time to talk about these green tips!
Many devices we use in our home use electricity even when they are turned off; these are ENERGY VAMPIRES. This is the opposite of BEING GREEN and nobody likes to waste money right? To get them to stop consuming electricity, you must completely unplug them from their outlet. If they are plugged into a power strip, turn the power strip off. This may not be practical for everything, but there are a lot of little devices around your home eating tons of energy that you could unplug. You can also buy a “smart” power strip that will cut off idle power to these devices. These “smart” power strips aren’t much more expensive than a normal surge protector.

Think about your..

  • Coffee Maker
  • DVR, DVD player or VCR
  • Cell phone chargers
  • Video game systems
  • Computers

If your power cords look like this, they are likely consuming energy even when the device is turned off.
If your plugs look like this, they are consuming energy even when turned off!Devices that have plugs like this waste energy even when turned off!

Think you can’t possibly make a green impact? Energystar.gov estimates that the average American household wastes $100 per year powering these devices while they are turned off.

If you could reduce your electric bill by $8 a month you would, wouldn’t you?

]]> http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/think-green-and-unplug/feed 0 5 Energy Saving Ideas for the New Year http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/5-energy-saving-ideas-for-the-new-year http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/5-energy-saving-ideas-for-the-new-year#comments Sun, 30 Dec 2007 04:44:00 +0000 admin http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/5-energy-saving-ideas-for-the-new-year One of the joys of owning a home in Cincinnati is that you can have the air conditioning on one day and need to turn the heat on the next. Although we can’t change the weather, there are some simple things we can do to reduce energy usage and save money.

Here are 5 EASY energy saving tips that will begin paying for themselves in no time!

  • Change your air filters
    • Cost = $30/year, Savings = $100/year, Skill Level = Amateur
    • Replacement filters cost less than $10 a piece and should be changed quarterly.
  • Install a programmable thermostat
    • Cost = $50, Savings = $100/year, Skill Level = Amateur
    • A smart thermostat will allow you to dial down the temp during hours when you’re sleeping or not home and then bring it back to your desired level throughout your waking hours.
  • Wrap your water heater in a blanket
    • Cost = $20, Savings = $34-54/year, Skill Level = Amateur
    • A water heater that is just a few years old can lose a few degrees per hour. Adding more insulation with a water heater blanket will pay for itself in a matter of a few months.
  • Use a smart power strip
    • Cost = $30, Savings = $30/year, Skill Level = Amateur
    • Can’t believe that a TV or stereo uses just as much energy when it’s turned off than when it’s in use? This blows my mind as well. Why go through the pain of unplugging all your electrical devices when not in use when a smart power strip will cut that energy usage for you.
  • Install compact fluorescent bulbs
    • Cost = $5, Savings = $5/year, Skill Level = Amateur
    • An energy efficient bulb can last ten times as long as a normal incandescent bulb and save almost $50 over the life of the bulb.

Start 2008 off by reducing your energy consumption; it’s good for the environment, and your wallet.

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