helps save the environment - so these tips are for you too! *
If you are cold, instead of increasing the heat, wear warm clothes and slippers.
Put your thermostat at the lowest comfortable setting and leave it like that all day long (I usually leave between 10 and 15�). During the night, lower it if it isn't too cold (sometimes we sleep better if it's cooler and all bundled up under the blankets). If you have a baby or live with an elderly person, or somebody that is ill, do not turn the thermostat too low.
Keep your heat filters clean. Your heater will work more efficiently.
During the summer, hang your clothes to dry outside on the clothesline. You can even dry them in the house or apartment during the winter: on hangers on the bathtub pole and doors knobs, over doors, on towels bars, etc. or if you have a laundry room, make clotheslines and hang your clothes on them. If you don't like to do that because your clothes are too stiff after, that's ok, try it out, then put everything that can go in the dryer, in the dryer for 10 to 15 minutes but on Air-Dry only with a dryer sheet (Ex: Natura Dryer Sheet from Home Hardware) to soften them a little (after they are completely dry).
Dryer: Clean the heat vent (the one that goes outside) often, as well the lint trap. Your dryer will work more efficiently.
When I do my loads, I do them in the same day (usually about 3 to 4 loads or more, depending), and sometimes, after they are all dry, I put them in the dryer. I put all the loads at the same time in the dryer, and I air-dry them (fluff them up), for about 15 minutes (minus the clothes that don't go in the dryer or clothes that I don't care if they are stiff). Also, what I also do is change my bed sheets every week (better for health, don�t want the bed bugs biting me) but I wash them every 2 weeks all together (thin bed sheets), so I do one load with 2 weeks worth of bed sheets.
During winter, after turning off the oven, leave the door open, it might help warming up the room. Especially if you live in a small apartment, like a bachelor.
Leave closet doors closed; closets do not need to be kept warm (and other doors).
If you take a warm bath, leave the water in the bath until it�s cold. While cooling off, the water in the tub warms-up or keeps the bathroom warm and the heat might go on less.
If you don't have carpets (which is better not to have any, they are so full of dust and dirt) put area rugs, they are good insulation. Put rugs in the bathroom too.
During winter, open the blinds/curtains during the day to let the sunshine in and heat your home.
ELECTRICITY:
When washing your clothes, use cold water instead of hot. It saves so much electricity and money!
Turn of the TV when not watching it, computer when not using it, turn off lights if you don't need to have them on, like during the day (use natural light instead), and turn off lights when leaving a room, unplug the VCR, alarm clock, micro-wave or any other appliances that use energy by just being pluged in (even toasters, coffeemakers, chargers - home phone and cell phone, and other appliances use energy by just being pluged in). Also turn off the computer monitor if you are downloading something or working on the computer and doing other tasks at the same time (laundry, dishes, etc.) or simply turn off the computer altogether and come back to it when all your tasks are done.
Use fluorescent lights instead of incandescent lights. More expensive when you buy them, but they use a lot less energy and it shows on your electricity bill! So you end up saving money and the environment.
If you have an air conditioner, try to leave it off or use it only on days where it's really really hot. When not using the air-conditioner, or if you don't have one (which is better, if you ask me), open windows during the cool part of the day and use a ceiling or a portable fan to help circulate the cool air. If it�s too hot, keep windows closed as well as blinds, to keep sun out. Air-conditioners use chemicals that easily convert from a gas to a liquid and back again. This chemical is used to transfer heat from the air inside of a home to the outside air and is bad for the environment. If you do use it, make sure to clean the filters regularly.
If your cooking or baking small things, use a toaster oven instead of the conventional oven. A toaster oven is smaller than a conventional oven and it uses so much less time and energy to heat up. If you don't have one, consider buying one, it's worth it. There are sales all the time.
When your dishwasher is at the dry cycle, stop it, open the door, and let it cool of a bit. Either let it dry naturally or wipe it dry with a clean dishtowel. It will save a lot of electricity and money!
For your next purchase of electronics or electrical appliances, buy something with the EnergyStar logo. They use less energy. Also, on your next purchase, buy a front-loading washing machine instead of a top-loading one. They wash better, are more energy efficient and use less water.
Don't use air freshners that you have to plug in, they use electricity for nothing. MORE TIPS...