While science and technology work hard to find more efficient and less polluting types of energy, we can do our part by finding ways to help now. For a little while to stop thinking about saving time with your appliances and think about saving energy.

Start by finding ways to do things without using energy. A carpet sweeper can perk up your rugs between vacuum cleaner runs. Some clothes can be air-dried without a loss of quality. Extend the limit of your walk-instead-of-using-the-car distance on nice days. Wait until there are a few chores to do before heading to the shopping district.

At Home

The first thing to do around the home is always take a look at the thermostat settings. In the winter, 68 degrees is usually warm enough. If the winds blow too hard, try a warmer sweater and plug up any drafts before resorting to a change in the thermostat.

In the summer, you can get by with 78 degrees. If the sun becomes too direct, try closing the drapes before cranking up the air conditioner. Automatic thermostats are good for saving energy because they can turn down the heat at night and still have the house warm in the morning.

Some water heater manufacturers set the thermostat at 140 degrees. Check to see that your hot water is set at 120 degrees or a little below. Besides saving energy, youll save some money, keep mineral buildup in your pipes down, decrease the chance of scalding, and help your water heater last longer.

Your dish washer should have a booster heater to raise the water temperature high enough for a thorough cleaning. Air-dry the dishes instead of using the drying cycle. Be sure to run your dish washer and clothes washer with a full load only and, if they have settings for saving energy, use them. Use cold water to wash the clothes whenever possible.

You can turn off your computer and monitor when not using them. This doesnt create the kind of damage everyone warns about and is good for saving energy. If youre stepping away for an hour or so, set your power save instead of leaving them on. Computers and peripherals can use power even when they are not being used. Plug the whole array into a power strip and turn if off overnight and when youre not planning to use them for a while.

If youre never sure whether bath or shower is the best way for saving energy, the answer is the shower. Replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. They use less energy for the same amount of light and last much longer, saving energy for manufacturing and pollution. As a reward, you can save as much as $36.00 per bulb. When youre saving energy, youre always rewarded.