Take a Turn for the Better:

Well, without melting or freezing that is.  Being safe and comfortable in our living spaces is important, but small changes can make a big difference.

• Hey! Turn that thing down!:  Dialing down central heating just a degree saves energy and can reduce your heating bill by around 8%.  Another bonus - one more reason to wear cozy socks and that awesome sweater Grandma knitted for your birthday. 
• Hey! Turn that thing up!:  Dialing up the thermostat when the heat’s on can also save energy.  Setting the thermostat to cool at or above 78 degrees is a good guideline.  Sound too hot?  There are ways to help the A/C along and make your house feel more comfortable:
  • Close the Curtains - Especially if your windows face west and get the full brunt of the afternoon sun.  Natural light is great, but the added heat - not so much.  Do open your curtains back up in the evening, though, to allow heat to escape through the windows. 
  • Turn on a Fan - Getting a nice breeze going can help reduce the strain on your air conditioner and may allow you to set your thermostat above 78 degrees especially at night.  Even better - try turning it off altogether!  Fans use far less energy to run than A/C.
  • Add Some Shade - Planting shrubs and bushes near your A/C can help it run more efficiently and cool your house using less energy.  At the same time your plants are adding oxygen to the air and reducing carbon dioxide.  Cool. 

Find out how you can shave 500 pounds off of your carbon footprint and save $360 doing it!

A reduction of your average daily heating/cooling temperature of just 3 degrees will save your family $360.  The total reduction in your carbon footprint depends significantly on the fuel you use to heat and cool your house, but that same 3 degree change to your thermostat will reduce your carbon footprint by 500 pounds on average.

Ever wonder how large 3 degrees is?

That 500 pounds of reduced carbon footprint is the equivalent of removing 4,330 cubic feet of greenhouse gas from our atmosphere!

Turning your thermostat down by 3 degrees will eliminate 4,330 cubic feet of greenhouse gas!

Photo: Marcin Wichary via Flickr

Visualization: CarbonVisuals.com