In a related story, there’s a new study showing quite a gap between our assumptions about what saves energy and what really does save energy.  For example, your kids will be pleased to know (although you probably won’t tell them) that obsessively turning off the lights whenever you leave a room doesn’t do much to drive down the average household’s energy bills.  What has a bigger impact is switching to energy-saving light bulbs like compact fluorescent bulbs.  Rather than a curtailment strategy (doing less of what you normally do), the study’s authors advocate an efficiency strategy (doing what you normally do but doing it more cost-effectively), like using energy efficient appliances or the more energy efficient settings on your current appliances.

What are some of your best energy saving strategies?

Another common question has to do with refrigerator and freezer efficiency. Do they work best when full or when your frozen peas have some breathing space? It’s better to keep them fairly full. The larger the mass of cold items inside, the less work it takes to keep everything cold.

Lastly, what’s the most energy efficient way to clean dishes–wash them by hand or put them in the dishwasher? Put them in the dishwasher. Washing by hand, at least if you’re the type who leaves the hot water running, is less efficient than using a dishwasher.

In our house, we’ve been on a kick to change as many regular light bulbs as possible to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). They use less energy and last a lot longer. However, after our kids knocked down a lamp and broke a CFL, we’ve decided not to use them in areas where they play frequently. The hazards and the challenges of cleaning up a broken CFL are not worth the energy cost savings.

If you have a television, DVD player, stereo, and other such devices plugged directly into wall sockets, plug them into a power strip instead. When they’re not in use, turn off the power strip. The only exception is a set-top box such as a digital video recorder or a cable or satellite box. Many of these units need to stay powered up in order to work properly (check your manual). But at least ask your provider about getting an ENERGY STAR-qualified unit.

Matt’s View

If you need some help learning how to lay the perfect bead of caulk or perform other maintenance projects around your house, you’ll find free online instructions and even video-based tutorials at the web sites of Home Depot, Lowes, and This Old House.

Our previous cell plan also charged us for every text message we sent or received. We’re not big texters, but getting any additional fees tacked onto our monthly bill was annoying. Our new package includes plenty of free text messages.

For another way to save on the cost of your cell phone service, check out this post from the blog, “Get Rich Slowly.”

I tried this advice by calling our phone and Internet service provider to ask for a better rate. In less than 15 minutes, they knocked about twenty dollars off our monthly bill. You never know what you can get unless you ask.

This article highlights the reason to sign up for e-mail alerts telling you when payments are due. We pay our mortgage and some bills, such as those for electricity and gas, automatically. Others we want to look at more closely before making payment, so we have signed up for alerts. Have you signed up for payment-due alerts for all of your bills?

The above link has other helpful information such as where to use or not use CFLs, energy-efficient alternatives, how to clean up a broken CFL, and how to properly dispose of a burned out bulb.

You may not be drawn to all of his ideas (homemade laundry detergent, anyone?). However, I like the idea of thinking about the activities of a typical day to look for ways to spend money more effectively. Drive to work on your own each morning? How about carpooling with a neighbor who heads in the same direction every day? In the habit of hitting the vending machine each afternoon to ward off fatigue or stress? How about bringing a piece of fruit to work instead? Go to bed each night with lots of electric devices drawing energy? Unplug them before turning in or plug multiple devices into a power strip and turn it off when they’re not in use. Little money saving habits practiced on a regular basis will add up to lots of savings.

To find a CFL recycler near you try the EPA’s recycling site locator. Also, Swedish retailer Ikea collects used CFLs at its 34 U.S. stores.