Open Brainstorms

I also use solar power garden lights INSIDE my front entrance hall and living room. I have the panel outside and the very fine wire to the lights fits through anywhere. It provides enough ambiant light to watch TV or hang up your coat. www.intimateattitudes.com

The fastest return on investment for me was the use of the eco-lightbulbs. You instantly notice a difference on your power bill. Use heavy drapes or curtains on your windows.

(sorry, ran out of characters left), have fewer TV's and electronics in your home

1.) Energy Star appliances, 2.) insulate hot water pipes & tank, 3.) change all light bulbs to new low energy bulbs, 4.) turn stuff off when not using them (even 2-5 min's at a time), 6.) use less heat/use more blankets at night, 7.) Insulate home & or if you rent put more cloths on when cold/use a little less heat than normal (eat "healthy" to prevent getting sick), 8.) put more energy efficient windows home & check for a draft near your doors, 9.) go outside for activities/don't sit home

we do not need to cut it, we need to change energy systems. we need to go to all electric cars and houses via photo voltaic and add butane or similar when the sun is out --and add windmills!

Don't recharge your auto air conditioner ever again. I saved a hondo, based on the cheapest price I could find in the neighborhood, plus the mileage savings, which in my case = 5 MPG. This MPG savings will probably continue for 5 months. You'll be plugging in your own #s for fuel savings, based on how salty you get at the clerk when you have your Buyers' Remorse spasm. The math: $100 + (5 MPG X 5) = $$$$$$$$ Nicely amortizes the higher cost of fuel.

The way things are at this time is that you use electricity and then receive a bill based on consumption. I think it could work the other way: you decide BEFOREHAND how much your bill will be and you can only use the amount of electricity equal to the cost of the bill. If you have to use more the bill for the excess is doubled. There would need to be regular feedback - probably daily - on the amount of electricity you have used.

self discipline: donot keep electrical appliances "on" if not i use

Invest in energy Star rated windows or shades (try honeycombs) to help insulate your home from outside weather.

Since appliances continue to draw power regardless of whether or not they are on, try using the smart strip. The concept is that all peripheral appliances will turn on/off based on a control appliance. For example, if the TV is your control, everytime you turn on the TV, your vcr, playstation, and lamp will turn on and vice versa when you turn the TV off.

Use solar heating for water-heaters.

Replace traffic lights with roundabouts.

Avoid keeping computers or TVs running when they are not in use.

Place lamps in your room in such a way that you only need one lamp to light up the whole room. Otherwise, look for ways to reduce the total number of lights needed in a room.

Set your refrigerator and freezer to a lower setting.

Disconnect all plugs like phone chargers, etc. when they are not in use because their transformers still consume energy.

Energy saving light bulbs.

Install better insulation in homes to prevent heat loss during winters and heating up during summers.