Tip of the Week

The best ways of making our businesses and homes more energy efficient are the ones which cost little or nothing to implement and do not effect the comfort of our environment or the use of devices we rely on. One of the devices most commonly used in people's daily lives, computers, are a significant source of energy consumption. But, it's not like we're going to start using them less or stop using them altogether to save energy either. Fortunately when it comes to computers there is a painless, cost-effective solution; use laptops instead of desktops whenever possible.

The average desktop computer consumes between 150 and 250 watts of electricity when in use compared to the average laptop which only uses between 15 and 60 watts of electricity. That's as much as a 90% reduction! Plus, the 150 to 250 watts consumed by a desktop computer doesn't count the devices connected to it. You can add another 15 to 75 watts for an LCD monitor, or if you're using an old CRT monitor that number could be 80 watts or more. Now consider that laptops when put into sleep mode consume even less, as little as a fraction of a watt, and the savings keep stacking up. Of course there's also the benefit of laptops being portable too.

So the next time you're looking to replace a computer in your home or business, choose a laptop and enjoy the savings that come with it.

Is your home ready for winter?

We are used to checking the tires, batteries, windshield wiper blades, and getting our cars in for service appointments to prepare them for the cold winter months. It's a knowledge that is passed along from generation to generation or in some cases auto mechanic to car owner. It's been ingrained into us how important it is to winterize your car every year. But did you know that it's important to winterize our homes as well? You could save a significant amount money on winter energy bills by taking the right steps. To get started, here's an article from Inhabitat containing a list of 10 steps you can take to help make your home more energy efficient this winter. http://inhabitat.com/10-easy-tips-to-cut-your-home-energy-bill-this-winter/