Conservation Tips

• An eco-friendly way to reduce energy costs in your home is to change your light bulbs. Compact fluorescent bulbs should replace all of your traditional light bulbs throughout your house. Go one step further and try LED light bulbs, which last longer than the traditional compact fluorescent. LED bulbs use fewer watts per unit of light generated. LEDs last as much as 50,000 hours versus the CFL life of approximately 5,000 hours. Because the cost up front is much higher for the LED, start out slow and gradually change all your bulbs.
  
  For those who love to garden, consider installing a rain barrel. These are barrels that can be placed above ground and near your gutter downspout for collecting water, or you can install a larger unit below ground. For the below-ground units, the downspout is fed into a drain which connects to the underground unit. When it rains, the water filters through and lands in the underground barrel. The below-ground barrels are more expensive but can hold more water than the above-ground barrels. Once the barrel has filled, use the water for your garden, plants and washing your car. Collecting water and reusing it will cut down on your monthly costs and conserve energy.
  
  Another conservation tip is to install a solar water heater. Solar water heaters are a cost-effective option for producing hot water in your home. They can be operated in any climate and require nothing but the sun. Using a thermal collector, the sun creates energy which can be used in your home. The prices vary depending upon the type of unit you choose but will dramatically cut your energy costs.
  
  Install a programmable thermostat in your home to regulate the temperature while you are away. Keeping the temperature higher during the day in summer will reduce your electric bill and save energy. During the cooler months, a programmable thermostat will keep your home at a steady temperature, preventing the constant adjusting one makes when you manually set your thermostat.