- Appliances: use less power
- Beware vampire appliances
- Commercial building energy assessments
- Commercial building incentives
- Common mistakes
- Gifts that save energy all year
- Heating and coolling savings
- Holiday lighting: festive & efficient
- Insulation types: pros & cons
- Kitchens: ways to save
- Lower your utility bills
- Path to Energy Efficiency
- Programmable Thermostats
- Radon: test after energy upgrade
- Refrigerator: retire for quick payback
- Resolutions to conserve energy and save money
- Seal duct leaks
- Stack Effect Influences Energy Use
- Systems in house work together
- Wash clothes in cold water
- Water heating bills
- Where to make home improvements
- Windows: repair, don't replace
Make resolutions to conserve energy and save money
Your Path to Energy Savings
By Chrisophia Somerfeldt and Shawn Lindabury, Special to The Ithaca Journal
December 27, 2010
Add sparkle to your next trip around the sun with a New Year's resolution to use less fossil fuel in your home and for transportation. Check out the eight suggestions below for resolutions that benefit the community, your health, your wallet, and the planet:
Upgrade Your Lights. Replacing your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents or LEDs is easy and cost-effective.
Stop Burning Money. Stop losing money because of an inefficient furnace or boiler. Have a professional tune-up your heating system on a regular basis, usually annually.
Get on the Path. Go to ccetompkins.org/energypath and see where you are on the path to energy savings. Make a plan for more money in your pocket and increased comfort and health in the new year.
Start Moving. Driving warms the car faster than idling. In modern, fuel-injected cars start moving 30 seconds or less after starting your engine unless the temperature is below 10 degrees - then start driving after 60 seconds. Longer idling of a cold car is can degrade the engine's performance.
Stop Idling. Ten seconds of idling can use more fuel than restarting the engine. Unless you're in traffic, turn off your car when sitting still. You won't hurt your engine, and will reduce fuel use and poisonous fumes.
Don't Be Deflated. Colder weather can lower the pressure in your tires and lower your gas mileage. Inflate tires monthly to the number in your owner's manual, gas cap or door jamb.
Curb Your Car. Save gas and stay warm by combining errands into fewer trips. Or park sooner and enjoying a healthy walk to the door.
Share a Ride. Share costs and company by carpooling with friends, neighbors and co-workers. Try the new local ride-matching website zimride.com/Tompkins. If you're a parent, try dividetheride.com.
