sensible steps

There are many sensible steps you can take to save energy and reduce your carbon footprint. Perhaps the easiest for people living in the sunbelt is to retire your clothes dryer. It is a strategy that can work anywhere in the country with some careful planning.

Dryers use up a significant amount of electricity and there aren't very many ways around it, i.e. there aren't energy saving dryers. On the other hand it is easy to dry your clothes in the sun (and wind) and they will look better and smell fresher too. And you won't need any anti-static wipes either. All you have to remember is to shake them out before you hang them. You also have to be careful where you put the clothespins so as not to pinch certain visible parts. It is all common sense but these days people are so unaware of basics that it is good to mention it.

A clothesline and clothespins are a minor cost and the savings are immediate. Apart from an outdoor location, it is good to also have an indoor backup location. Best are rooms or large closets that house the furnace and the water heater. These locations are always dry and warm. Most homes are large enough for a drying room.

The other thing you have to consider is your drying capacity. Chances are it will be less than you had with the dryer. So you need to make sure not to do all your laundry all at once. You may also want to reschedule if rain intervenes. If not, you will run out of space and end up with wet and wrinkled clothing. It is easy to avoid and the change to your routine is minor really so it shouldn't cause any undue hardship. A bonus is the fact that, if you run out of time, you can leave clothes hanging when dry.

Your second best bet is to replace your old refrigerator/freezer with a more up to date model. Consult energystar.org to see which models will save you the most. A slightly smaller box will save even more. It is good to remember that you are probably putting too much stuff in your refrigerator anyways. A great many items do not need refrigeration because you will consume them soon enough. Never mind the warnings on the packages. These are just there to avoid legal liability. Most things will last one week at normal room temperature. That is true for almost all prepared items like jams, preserves, etc. All these items are the way they are because of the need for preservation without cooling.

And here is another idea. One that will go a long way towards fighting obesity as well. Keep sodas and drinks out of the fridge. Not having cold soda will stop you from overconsumption. It would be even better if you stopped buying sodas altogether. Soda is nothing but packaged sweetened water and the amount of energy that goes into producing, storing, cooling, and shipping these is just plain outrageous. And about the only thing these drinks will do for you is add fat to your body. They are not good at quenching thirst and they do not provide any valuable nutrition. They are just drugs for your sugar fix.

And when you buy that new fridge, remember to keep it closed. The less you open it and the less long you open it for the better your savings will be. Think about what you want before you open the fridge and then fetch it quickly. That too will help with your weight. Don't look at your fridge like a candy store full of goodies. It shouldn't be.