Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) - CFLs use much less power and last up to ten times longer than regular bulbs. Another energy saver are fluorescent tubes that are T-5 and have an electronic ballast.
Turn off lights and appliances when not in use. - A television or light left on when no one is in the room draws unnecessary energy.
Even Better… Unplug it. - Idle appliances and electronic devices like televisions, phone chargers, etc use electricity even when not in use. You can avoid this by plugging your electronics into a power strip and turning it off when you leave the room.
Get rid of your old refrigerator and replace it with an energy efficient model. - Old refrigerators may be costing you more than $250 a year in electricity. New refrigerators can use 40 per cent less energy than models made just 10 years ago.
Watch your thermostat. - Make a pledge to turn the thermostat up 2 degrees in the summer and down 2 degrees down in the winter from your typical settings. Use a programmable thermostat. Add or take off extra clothing rather than changing the thermostat. These efforts will lower your utility bill and reduce emissions.
Change your air conditioning filter frequently. - A cleaner filter works more efficiently whereas a dirty filter has to work harder, and fewer allergy particles in the air is another added benefit.
Use your ceiling fan instead of air conditioner. - Ceiling fans use very little electricity compared to air conditioners.
Air-dry your clothes. - Fluff in the dryer for a few minutes to remove the stiffness.
Seal up drafty windows and doors. - Proper weather stripping and caulking of doors and windows can reduce heating bills by 25 per cent.
Switch to a flat screen monitor for your computer and television. - With televisions and computer monitors, an LCD model (or rear projection model) uses less energy as conventional tube-based computer monitors or plasma TVs.
Get an energy audit from the City of Tallahassee. - Call 891-4YOU, press option 4.