Some are obvious culprits.  Others, not so much.

Let’s take a look at the top 10 offenders:

The Usual Suspects

Washing Machine – Heating up water uses a huge amount of energy, so consider washing in cold water whenever possible.  Running only full loads of laundry is an easy and efficient way to save as well.

Clothes Dryer – Just as with water, heating up the air inside your dryer can guzzle an alarming amount of energy. Try limiting dryer use to heavier items like towels, jeans, sweatshirts, etc. and hanging the lighter things out to dry on a clothes line or indoor drying rack.
Dishwasher – The best way to save here is to make sure your washer is completely full, then run it later in the evening, which is generally outside of the pricey peak demand hours.

You can also use the no-heat air dry feature if your machine has one, or simply open the door after the final rinse to allow air drying.

Electric Range – Keeping stovetop burners and reflectors clean will help them reflect heat better and save energy.

Also, try turning off your burners several minutes before cooking time is up. The heating element will stay hot enough to finish cooking without using more electricity (same principle applies to the oven).
Refrigerator – Aside from switching to a more energy efficient model, you can also reduce costs by keeping the refrigerator coils clean and avoiding storing hot foods.

Both these actions will keep the machine from having to work harder at lowering the temperature.

Stealthy Suckers

Dracula isn’t the only vampire who sucks.  A whopping 10% of all electricity is wasted on vampire power (a.k.a “standby power”) used by items that are still consuming energy even when they aren’t in use.

A few to look out for:

Plasma or LCD Screens – Plasma TVs can burn up over 1400 kilowatt hours annually, which can cost you up to $150 (LCDs eat up energy as well, though substantially less).

The best way to save when it comes to your television is to unplug it when you aren’t using it.  Or try plugging it into a power strip along with other energy hungry appliances, so you can turn them all off with the flick of a switch.

Laptop – While you may be used to charging it while you’re gone all day at work, the best option is to unplug it and wait until you get home to charge the battery.

Even if your laptop is fully charged, it’s still using energy if it’s plugged into a wall.

Video Games  – Game consoles like Playstation, Xbox and Wii can waste around 230 kilowatt hours per year (up to $25 worth of energy).  So, again the answer is to unplug.

But if you don’t want to, most boxes have a second “off” switch on the back.  The first off-switch puts the device into standby mode, but the second switch actually kills the power.

DVD Player – This one is easy to forget about because you probably only use it a few times a week (or less).  So, unless you’re about to crank up your surround sound and watch The Matrix for the 50^th time, keep this sucker unplugged!

Cell Phone Chargers – The amount of energy consumed by your charger when it’s not plugged into your phone isn’t enormous on its own.  But add it to the aforementioned items and it’s still part of a whole lot of energy being uselessly drained away.

So, unless your phone battery needs a boost…well, you know the drill.

What will you do to stop the siphoning?

Image courtesy of Orin Zebest 

Here at Lowfoot, we’re convinced that energy efficiency can actually be fun. And we love when we find examples to prove this belief right.

Take, for instance, this video created by Texas retail electric provider, Reliant Energy. They created a show called “Digs,” which is a parody on the back-in-the-day MTV show, Cribs.

Remember that show? It gave you an inside look at the insanely awesome living quarters of famous stars like Mariah Carey, Jerry Cantrell and Ludacris.

So Reliant Energy took that idea and created a rapper named Mega Watt. He’s as obsessed with energy efficiency as he is with the electric raps that he writes.

We think this video is a fun way to introduce smart energy and energy efficiency.

Check it out:

While everyone’s habits vary, for the most part, the biggest drain on our energy network tends to fall between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. This is also known as “peak demand.”

Millions of dollars are spent to keep up with this demand, and the costs are passed along by the energy companies in the form of higher rates during these critical hours.

But the good news is there are some very simple ways to reduce the amount of energy you use during peak demand time. Here are just a few to consider:

1. Run your dishwasher outside of peak hours. Early morning or late night is usually best.
2. Shut doors, windows, curtains and lower external blinds early in the day to keep the heat level down.
3. Turn off your second refrigerator or freezer.
4. Dry clothes on a clothes line during peak hours instead of using your dryer.
5. Use your washing machine outside of peak hours, and wash clothes in cold water whenever possible.
6. Use ceiling or portable fans rather than turning on the air conditioner.
7. Switch appliances off rather than leaving them on standby. Power strips are great, because you can plug in multiple appliances and turn them all off at once with the flick of a switch.
8. Cook on the BBQ or use the microwave instead of an electric stove.
9. When you go away on holidays turn off all unnecessary appliances before you go.
10. Ensure the seals on your fridge are in good working order to stop cold air from getting out.

Choose a few of these tips and try them out. The environment and your wallet will thank you!

How do you reduce your energy demand during peak hours?

Image courtesy of Noodles and Beef

 
All of that is well and good for raising awareness (though, honestly, who isn’t aware of the need to help our ailing planet?).  But what can you do to really make an impact, not just on Earth Day but every day?

Quite a bit, actually.  And it’s easier than you might think. 

Just a few ideas:

Clean Up Your Act

It’s no secret that most commercial cleansers are filled with harsh chemicals that contaminate the air, water and organisms ranging from algae to wildlife.  But with a little ingenuity, you can make your own nontoxic cleaning products for much less than you’d pay for the bad stuff.

Try mopping the floor with a solution of ½ cup distilled vinegar mixed with 1 gallon of warm water.  Sprinkle baking soda on a used lemon half and use it as a scratch-free scrubber on counters, tiles and stainless steel.

You can even whiten delicate garments without bleach by soaking them for 30 minutes in ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide in 4 cups of water.

Get Crafty

Why spend a ton of money at the florist or arts and crafts store when nature provides a bounty of free materials for the conscientious crafter?  Wild grasses, vines, pinecones, sea shells, driftwood…the possibilities are literally endless.

Or if you’re feeling industrious, try building a bird house or making a pinecone bird feeder to support your local population of feathered friends.

Plant Something

Besides being a fun activity for the family, planting is a great way to give back to Mother Earth.  Planting a tree will help lower greenhouse gas emissions as well as provide a habitat for birds and other animals.

Growing vegetables in your yard or in window boxes or large pots not only supplies you with healthy food, but can also teach your kids how to be responsible for caring for a garden.

Play Pickup

Parks are great places to enjoy nature within your community.  Unfortunately, they are often overrun with litter that is not only unsightly, but possibly dangerous to people and animals.

So, gather up some friends, grab some gloves and garbage bags, and head out to help beautify your local city park!

Ditch the Car

Sometimes there’s just no way around having to drive.  But with every  gallon of gas sending 19 pounds of carbon dioxide into the air, it’s important to find ways to do a lot less motoring.

Try carpooling with someone from work, taking the bus or train, or arranging to work from home for the day.

Or better yet, walk or ride your bike.  Both you and our planet will end up healthier!

 
So, what steps are you going to take to make this Earth Day more meaningful?

Image courtesy of Official US Navy

You can celebrate Earth Day 2013 no matter where you live. And you don’t even need to take part in a formal event.

Just be extra kind to the earth today.

Pick up some trash. Don’t drive anywhere, walk.

At the very least, get outside and enjoy Mother Nature! That’s what she’s there for.

Want to take part in some of the festivities going on around your area? Try Googling “Earth Day Events + Your City/Town Name” and see what comes up.

Since Lowfoot has offices in Houston and Ontario, Canada, we thought we’d share some events going on in our cities and the cities surrounding us.

Texas

If you live in Texas, here are some places you can find events for your city:

• Earth Day in Houston
• Earth Day in Dallas
• Earth Day in Austin

Ontario, Canada

If you hail in the Ontario, Canada-area, there’s an entire website dedicated to finding Earth Day events in your area.

You can check the list out here:

• Earth Day Canada—find an event

What are you doing to celebrate Earth Day where you live?

Image courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region

But with work, family, school and social obligations, who has time to keep track of how long the lights were left on?

Fortunately, technology has stepped up its game and now offers an amazing array of smartphone apps, gadgets and software that help you save energy, money and time.

Smartphone Apps:  Energy Efficiency At Your Fingertips

Save energy without wasting time by using smartphone apps that not only monitor your energy use, but also help you shop for energy-efficient products, and power off your appliances.

Here are a few popular options to consider:

1. Light Bulb Finder – This free mobile app helps you browse for the light bulbs that best fit your household fixtures and lighting preferences.  It also places your order, and calculates both cost savings and payback period from replacing your current light bulbs.
2. GreenMeter – Rapid acceleration, speeding and rapid breaking can reduce your gas mileage by as much as one-third.  By installing GreenMeter and positioning it like a GPS, the app’s sensors record your speed and changes in acceleration and let you know if you’re driving efficiently.
3. Iamgreen Battery Saver – Ready to cut down on how often you have to charge your phone?  This app gives you one screen from which you can adjust a number of battery-draining settings, such as unnecessarily bright screens and unneeded Wi-Fi. It also includes an energy quiz, and offers tips on saving energy.  And they even plant a tree for every app sold!

Green Gadgets:  Technology to Make Energy Saving Easy

Companies today are constantly developing and rolling out a wide variety of gadgets to help consumers monitor and manage their energy consumption.   Some allow consumers to control things like air conditioning or home appliances via the Internet or their smartphone, while others offer more sophisticated equipment and software for monitoring.

Here’s a roundup of some of the most current options:

1. Vera2 Z-Wave – Using this system, you can control the lighting and other appliances in different rooms of the home, so that they turn on and off whenever you want them to.  You can also program it to send you text messages or emails whenever your lights or appliances aren’t dialing down or turning off as planned.
2. SunPower Solar Monitoring System – Is your home solar powered?  If so, this system lets you check out your solar energy output either online, or via your smartphone or other mobile device.
3. eMonitor – Just like the other systems, the eMonitor tracks your energy usage.  However, it also allows you to adjust the power usage of your cooling and heating system, home appliances, and even calculate your carbon footprint.

With summer – and those expensive peak demand hours – just around the corner, now is the time to get your energy usage under control.

How are you going to let technology help you?

Image courtesy of Gonzalo Baeza

Consumers don’t like to be kept in the dark. They like transparency. They want to feel like they have control of the things they spend their hard-earned money on.

Smart energy education does just that: teaches consumers what they need to know to have more control of their energy use, and in turn, the money they save.

The report mentioned that utilities, such as CenterPoint Energy; Oklahoma Gas & Electric; San Diego Gas & Electric; and Southern California Edison, are among the utilities that have so far found success through consumer smart energy education.

To read more of the findings from the report, visit SmartMeters.com.

How Lowfoot Can Help

Lowfoot partners with utilities to continue the education process on a deeper level. Consumers and small businesses can connect their smart meters to their free Lowfoot.com accounts, and get valuable insights and data about their energy use.

These insights will not only help the consumers and small businesses make smarter energy choices, but Lowfoot actually goes a step further and rewards them for reducing their peak energy consumption.

Utilities can become Lowfoot partners and sponsor the reward credits that are given out to Lowfoot.com users.

Visit Lowfoot.com today to learn how we can partner to create better smart energy education for your customers.

Image courtesy of David Berkowitz

But what does carbon neutral actually mean and how can you apply it in your own life?

We’ll show you how. Let’s start with…
What Does “Carbon Neutral” Really Mean?

The New Oxford American Dictionary defines it as “calculating your total climate-damaging carbon emissions, reducing them where possible, and then balancing your remaining emissions, often by purchasing a carbon offset.”

Huh?

Probably sounded like gibberish, right?

While it may sound complicated, the process of transitioning to a more authentically green lifestyle is easier than you might think.

Where Do I Start?

The best place to begin your carbon neutral quest is by calculating your current energy usage.  This will give you the size of your carbon footprint (AKA: the “bigger picture”).

A  variety of online calculators are  available to help you to estimate your use in a number of areas, including home energy and travel via car and public transit.  Some calculators will even inquire as to whether you are a vegetarian, how much you recycle or compost, and what your spending habits are with regards to dining out and purchasing certain products.

Depending on how in-depth you plan to go in your analysis, you may opt to utilize more than one calculator.

Regardless of your choice, be sure to record your information and revisit the calculator(s) periodically to check your progress.

You can also use Lowfoot.com to monitor your energy usage via your smart meter data, and get an overall picture of when and how you use the most energy.

Getting to Carbon Neutral:  5 Simple Tips

Now that you’ve determined the size of your footprint, it’s time to work on making it smaller.

Here are some suggestions to get you on your way:

1. Reduce or Eliminate Bottled Water Usage – Bottled water has a huge impact on the environment because it’s bottled in one location in small plastic bottles, then shipped all over.  Consider buying a reusable bottle or canteen, and using an at-home filter for your tap water.
2. Energy-Proof Your Home– No need to worry about major upgrades.  Even small efforts like making sure all of your windows close properly and switching from incandescent to compact fluorescent bulbs (which use 75% less energy than normal light bulbs) can have an effect on your monthly utility bills.
3. Unplug! – Most electronics have a standby mode that siphons energy even when not in use (AKA: energy vampires).  Try using a power strip for groups of electronic items for easy savings at the flick of a switch.
4. Cold-Water Washing– Consider using cold water to launder items that don’t need to be washed in hot or warm water.  It takes a lot of energy to heat up water, so any time you can cool it – literally – with the hot water, so much the better.
5. Window Shop– Next time you get the urge to reach for your wallet, try browsing first.  All products – even small ones – have carbon footprints, so curbing impulse buying is a great way to be a conscious consumer as well as saving cash. Upcycling is a great way to reuse old items in a new way.

To Offset Or Not to Offset?

After your reductions have reached their threshold, carbon offsets are something to consider.  Basically, they are a form of trade.

When you purchase an offset, you are funding projects that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by doing things such as restoring forests, updating power plants or increasing the energy efficiency of transportation or buildings.

Be sure to do your due diligence when it comes to offset providers, making sure that their portfolio is audited, and that the projects are certified according to industry standards.

The decision to live a carbon neutral existence is simply a question of lifestyle choices and a series of gradual, conscious improvements.  Over time, these little actions add up to a lighter footprint as well as a lighter conscience.

What have you done to live more carbon neutral?

Image courtesy of epSos.de

Lighting and Electricity

Low-cost options to reduce your use include replacing regular bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) or LED lighting and installing motion sensors or timer switches on outdoor light fixtures.

Televisions, computers and other appliances that are plugged in but not in use quietly drain electricity all day, every day.  This is known as “standby” or “vampire” power, and it accounts for 5-10% of residential energy use, costing the average North American household $100 per year.

A simple and inexpensive remedy is to plug all of these appliances into a power strip, which can be turned off and on with the flick of a switch.

Water

Using less water in and of itself is a way to more energy efficient, because producing water and creating water runoff are both energy sinkers.

One of the easiest ways to reduce your use of H2O is by dealing promptly with leaking toilets and dripping faucets.  Cutting down your shower time can also save a surprising amount of water.

With the typical shower head emitting 2.5 gallons a minute, reducing your shower time by a mere 4 minutes a day could save up to 3,650 gallons per year.

Also consider installing low flush toilets and/or retrofitting with water efficient fixtures.

Natural Gas

Switching to natural gas reduces your need for oil to heat your home. Using natural gas is a less expensive way to make your home more energy efficient.

Transportation

Newer vehicles are generally more energy efficient than older models.  But no matter the age of your car, you can lessen your carbon footprint by simply cutting back on getting behind the wheel.

Consolidate your weekly errands into a single trip, or walk, bike, take the bus or carpool wherever you need to go.

Properly inflated tires can also improve your car’s fuel efficiency.

Heating and Air Conditioning

Heating and cooling your home is one of the biggest household expenses, but it’s also an area that has huge opportunities for energy and cost savings.

It’s a well-known fact that ceiling fans will help you feel cooler in your home during the summer heat.  But did you know they’re also great during the cold months because they can draw the heat that rises to the ceiling down into the room? Just keep it (them?) on the lowest setting.

Using space heaters and portable fans is another effective way to reduce your use on days when you plan to spend most of your time in just one or two rooms.

Installing a programmable or smart thermostat is another effective way to control your energy use.   Many thermostats today connect to Wi-Fi and can be easily controlled remotely.

Reuse and Recycle

The average North American household generates 4.5 pounds of waste each day, which translates to over a ton of greenhouse gas emissions from landfills each year (for just one home!).

Using rags to clean up messes is a great way to reduce your use of disposables such as paper towels and wipes.  Also consider using glass storage containers instead of plastic, which will eventually end up in a landfill.

Glass may cost a bit more initially, but they will last for years.  One way to get glass storage containers on the cheap is to wash and reuse glass jars from grocery items, like sauces.

Thrift stores are another great way to give items like lightly used clothes, books, toys and appliances a second life.

Once you start out on the sustainable path, you will find that the ways to reduce your use are seemingly limitless.  Little changes really do add up.

Sign Up For Lowfoot

We offer a free way for you to discover exactly how much energy you’re using and when you are using it, to help you reduce your usage.

Just click over to Lowfoot.com and sign up. You can even login using your Twitter or Facebook account.

Once you’re logged in, connect your smart meter in a few simple steps and you’re on your way to gaining valuable insights that can help you reduce your use and save money too.

Image courtesy of Aidan

People think energy efficiency is hard. It’s not, it’s all about knowing how much is the correct amont for them. Lowfoot can help with that, we set an energy budget for you and if you meet it you get rewarded.

Recent blogs from actual users of Lowfoot have made it clear it works. Here’s one by the Director of the United Way of Grey-Bruce in Ontario where Lowfoot becomes an unlikely partner and helps reduce use by 50%! Another one by the Green Party of Ontario Leader where he claims to reduce his hydro use by 40%.

Lowfoot works because we provide very simple information each day and that makes people aware and they reduce.

No one likes to waste anything, but not-wasting is not difficult, just takes information and willingness to change and minor action here and there. Energy Efficiency is not as hard as the commercial above, it’s easy!

Steve Hammond
Co-Founder
Lowfoot.com