This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Lennox® for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.
Last week, I shared the top three energy saving tips that we use around our house on a daily basis, but I have been eager to find other simple ways to be more energy efficient. That’s why I decided to do a little crowd sourcing, and I asked you to share YOUR best energy saving tips with me. I’ve compiled a top ten list in today’s post so that we can all learn from each other.
As I mentioned last week, I’ve had energy savings on my mind a lot lately – ever since our utility company started sending us a monthly report comparing our natural gas and electricity usage to that of our neighbors. I learned that we use a less natural gas, but a bit more electricity than average for our area, so I’m excited to implement some of the great tips that you guys shared with me!
The folks over at Lennox®, the company that produces the most efficient air conditioner on the market, have been asking questions about energy savings this summer as well. They were curious what people would be willing to give up for two weeks in order to save energy, and I can’t say I’m surprised by the results. Turns out I’m not the only one who doesn’t love to do laundry!
Laundry is definitely my least favorite chore… but I actually think my sons would be pretty disappointed if we shut off the washer and dryer for two weeks. In fact, if I could learn a little something from these boys and dance my way through all my chores, I could probably get enough exercise to unplug my elliptical machine for good… which would actually be another good way to save energy!
Ok, let’s get on to the energy saving tips that you guys shared with me. I hope you’ll find some of these ideas useful for your own home! I’d still love to hear any more tips you all have to share, and at the end of this post, I’ll also tell you how your energy saving tips could win you $10,000 in Lennox® heating and air conditioning equipment and more in the Lennox® Energy Savings Superstar Contest!
READERS’ 10 BEST ENERGY SAVING TIPS
- Close unused air vents, such as in the guest room when guests aren’t visiting.
- Unplug things that you don’t use often, like lamps in the guest room and infrequently used electronics.
- Wait until you have a full load before doing laundry, and use the shortest washing cycle that is practical for the soil level.
- Do several loads of laundry back to back, taking advantage of the fact that the dryer is already heated.
- Teach kids to turn of lights when they leave a room, or go a step further and install motion detecting light switches that will automatically shut lights off. Motion detector switches are best for low traffic areas, such as closets, where a light left on might go unnoticed all day.
- Make strategic decisions about where to plant trees and other landscaping to provide shade to keep the house cool during the summer months.
- BBQ more during the summer months to avoid heating the house up with the oven, and causing the AC to run more than necessary.
- Switch your ceiling fan direction with the seasons – have it turn in a counter-clockwise direction during the summer {to create a cool downward airflow}, and in a clockwise direction during the winter {forcing warm air near the ceiling down into the room}.
- Open all the blinds during the winter to let in as much sun as possible, reducing the need to heat the house, and allowing you to rely on natural light.
- Turn the water heater down to 120 degrees and take shorter showers.
Energy Savings Superstar Contest
Thank you so much for sharing your energy saving tips with me! Now don’t forget to also share them with Lennox® before the Energy Savings Superstar Contest ends on August 31st! The prize package is pretty amazing {details below} and I’d really love to see one of my readers win!
To enter the Lennox® Energy Savings Superstar Contest all you have to do is click on the link and submitting your best energy saving tip along with a photo that illustrates your energy savings in action. Be creative – energy savings doesn’t have to be boring! The deadline to enter is August 31, 2016. Four finalists will be chosen and users can vote on their favorite to determine the winner. The winner will be announced on September 28, 2016.
The big winner will receive:
- $10,000 in Lennox® heating and air conditioning equipment
- A year supply of ice cream
- Tickets to the closest local water park
