The Post About Green

I woke up this morning and absolutely could not get out of bed. I already have enough problems hopping out in the AM because a long time ago I splurged on fabulous sheets and a fabulous duvet and an even more fabulous pillow. Also, the room stays fairly dark because the sun chooses to rise on the other side of my casa - something you don't necessarily think of when buying a home - but a definite perk.

However, my specific obstacle was the vast contrast in temperatures. The temperature inside the covers versus the temperature outside the covers. I later discovered it was 58 degrees outside the comfort of my bed - not an incentive for poking your toes out. The son of a preacher man or the smell of fresh-brewed caffeine were the only things luring me out. Since I didn't have the former, a nice espresso roast would have to do.

My issue is that I'm not ready to bless the utilities company with an increased cashflow. I contacted them and asked how I could save some moolah and I thought I would pass on the great tips:
- Set the thermostat at 68° or below - change the direction of any ceiling fans to help circulate warmer air near the ceiling. When you are asleep or out of the house, turn your thermostat back 10°–15° for eight hours and save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills. A programmable thermostat can make it easy to set back your temperature. (I have a programmable thermostat that is quite snazzy, but not quite installed - cheap at big box stores.)
- Your water heater is the 2nd largest energy user in your home. By insulating your electric water heater and using hot water efficiently, you will save energy and money each month.
- Use your dishwasher. Hand washing your dishes can use up to 6 gallons more water. (I now have a financial reason to be lazy...)
- Use compact fluorescent light bulbs to replace incandescent bulbs. They last 10 to 20 times longer and use 75 percent less energy. (I have done this for almost 2 years and am shocked by the savings!)
- Use the cold water setting on your clothes washer when you can. Using cold water reduces your washer's energy use by 75 percent.
- Unplug electronic devices and chargers that have a block-shaped transformer on the plug when they are not in use. For computer scanners, printers and other devices that are plugged into a power strip, simply switch off the power strip after shutting down your computer.

These ideas help you be "green" and save green. Kermit was incorrect.