Energy Savers

End of Summer Check Up: How Did You Do?

Well, the end of summer is in sight. Labor Day is on the horizon, kids are getting ready to go back to school... and the summer energy efficiency tips we've given you are about to be retired for the year. Not all of them, but some apply only to the warm weather months, and so they'll get a rest while we retool for winter.

Speaking of which, look for the Energy Savers seasonal site to undergo a bit of a change in the near future. We're going to switch back to Stay Warm, Save Money (our "winter clothes" as it were), to help you get ready to save money during the cold months.

Stay Above Water with an Efficient Swimming Pool

All eyes were on the pool recently for swimming's 2009 World Championships in Rome. As a former competitive swimmer (though I was a dog-paddler compared to the likes of Michael Phelps and Ariana Kukors), these events hold a special place in my heart, and I managed to catch a few exciting moments in the competition.

I'm no longer involved in the world of swimming, but I can only imagine that interest in the sport has skyrocketed since last year's thrilling Olympics in Beijing. Maybe you or your children were inspired to get serious about swimming; maybe you've even decided to install a pool at your home.

Save Some Green--Grass AND Dollars--with These Lawn Care Tips

Especially for home owners who have automatic sprinkler systems, it's easy to forget that regular summer watering uses a tremendous amount of water and can contribute to higher than necessary water bills.

Consider these easy tips for saving money and water when caring for your lawn:

How Will You Save Fuel and Energy this 4th of July?

Independence Day is this Saturday, and July 4th is typically one of the busiest days for auto travel in the United States. All of that traffic could mean lots of idling and stop-and-go driving; plan carefully and follow these tips from fueleconomy.gov to be sure you are getting the best gas mileage possible.

How will you save fuel and energy this 4th of July?

Have a safe (and efficient!) Independence Day!

Each Thursday, you have the chance to share your thoughts on a topic related to energy efficiency or renewable energy for consumers. Please comment with your answers, and also feel free to respond to other comments.

A Cure for the Summertime Blues?

When you look at your utility bill, keep this in mind: about 43% of the money you spend goes for heating and cooling. And when the thermometer soars, so does the amount of electricity we use to keep cool.

If you read this blog regularly, or visit our Energy Savers site, you know we want to help you save some of that money. But we can't do this alone—we need your help.

At What Temperature Do You Set Your Thermostat in the Summer?

You can save 5%–15% on your cooling bills by raising the temperature setting on your thermostat when you are away and don't need cooling. Only lower the setting to 78°F when you are home and need cooling. A programmable thermostat can make it easy to adjust the temperature on a regular schedule.

At what temperature do you set your thermostat when you are home and awake in the summer? How about when you're asleep or away?

Each Thursday, you have the chance to share your thoughts on a topic related to energy efficiency or renewable energy for consumers. Please comment with your answers, and also feel free to respond to other comments.

Ener-Gee Whiz Answers Your Questions: Thermostat Settings and Solar Water Heaters

Ener-Gee Whiz would like to offer a hearty thanks to all of you who've written in for your great efficiency and renewables related questions. Now, on to some answers!

10 Resources to Help You Save Energy Now

A lot of the feedback that I see about the Energy Savers.gov site says, "This is great, but way too detailed. I just want to know what's easy and what I can do now!" And that makes sense; EnergySavers.gov has a lot of information about a lot of topics—you can learn about buying efficient appliances, choosing new heating and cooling systems, selecting windows, and even how to use renewable energy.

But not everyone wants to make a big purchase right now; many of you want to know how you can save with what you have or with just a small investment in time and money. These 10 resources detail easy ways that you can start saving now:

Energy Efficient, Summer-Friendly Appliances

Last week's question of the week included a little reference to the No-Cost and Low-Cost Tips to Save Energy this Summer. So I thought I'd follow that up with some, well, not-so-low-cost tips that you can consider this summer: Purchasing summertime, energy-friendly appliances.

How Do You Stay Cool and Comfortable in Hot Weather?

As you may have read on the blog over the past few weeks, the Stay Cool, Save Money site offers no-cost and low-cost tips for saving energy during the warm summer months, as well as ideas for long-term investments to help you save year round. Whether you rely on an air conditioner, strategically opened windows (and closed shades), fans, regular dips in the pool, or some other strategy entirely, tell us:

How do you stay cool and comfortable in hot weather?

Each Thursday, you have the chance to share your thoughts on a topic related to energy efficiency or renewable energy for consumers. Please comment with your answers, and also feel free to respond to other comments.