Gone Green

After many different directions, I have decided to take this blog green. In addition to the occasional other news I may pop off on, I will be offering green tips and tricks from myself and the web. I hope you enjoy.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Penny Pinching

This article is a re-post of an article I posted on associated content which discusses energy savings. This one concerns the utility bill. Some feel this is just something that cannot be changed, but it can be, even if it is a slight change, its still an extra $10 or more dollars a month.

This article discusses what is known as vampire electronics, or electronics that consume power even in their off state. Finding and eliminating them is one of the key means of getting the utility bill even lower. Watts add up over time, and can drive up the cost of your utility bill substantially. Remember to unplug anything that charges over time, once the charge is done, including cell phones, razors and laptops. Switch off the power strip at night for your entertainment center, and turn off the old desktop and monitor. Heaven forbid we may have to wait an additional 15 seconds or so to use the computer or turn on the television.

The first thing you can do is monitor your climate. There is no need to keep the a/c or the heater running at all times. Use the windows, ceiling fans, even blankets to help moderate your indoor temp. When you aren't at home, set the thermostat accordingly. Don't keep your house at a cool 68° during the day, or when out of town on trips. As a nation we are too pampered and complain the minute the temperature is outside our comfort zone. Now, when the time does come to turn on the A/C, shut the windows and doors. This will help cool the house faster.

Next big waste of energy is lights. If you aren't in the room, turn them off. Turn off the porch light as well, or install a motion sensor to turn it on automatically when movement is detected. When a light bulb burns out, replace it with a newer more efficient bulb. These last longer and consume less power. Don't go out and buy up all new lights, it will be expensive, just when the time to replace them comes, cycle them out then.

The final place we will look at is the dishwasher, washer, and dryer. Here are some simple do's and don'ts.

  1. Don't wash small loads unless needed. Wait till there are enough clothes to make a full load.
  2. Don't over dry. The clothes don't have to come out steaming out, just dry.
  3. Do pre-rinse your dishes. Don't keep piling stuff in the dishwasher dirty, and letting it sit. This leads to multiple loads of dishes.
  4. Do wash single plates and cups by hand. Just had a sandwich and coke? Wash it by hand; don't waste the dishwasher by doing this.


Hopefully these small tips will help save a few more pennies in this time of economic uncertainty.

Sex sells


It's a known fact that sex sells. In fact, if you want to sell something, promote something, or get people to look at something, you need a sultry women with come hither eyes starting at you. Men don't care what she is selling, they will stop and look, and become convinced that they need it.

Women on the other hand get sold on sparkly things, and shoes, and the word SALE. Have a commercial with a women in cute shoes, she will be all over it. Same with having sparkly stuff. Women eat that up.

Even in this enlightened age, its still the same. Look at any commercial, you see scantily clad women prancing around selling something or the other. Sometimes there is a scantily clad guy at the beach doing the same thing.

Its the same with online photo albums. I use a hosting service called pbase, and take great pictures. There is also several other's that take the same type of pictures I do( nature and wildlife). On average we receive less hits then those with the nude shots, or women pics.

The ultimate election campaign involves a well built muscular man, and a hot female VP. The female attracts the male and female votes by wearing next to nothing, but cute shoes and glittery eye liner. The man stays out of the picture and only gives interviews at sporting events, wearing rhinestone shirts, and positions himself in front of any sign that says sale.

American people are so easy to manipulate.