A Few Tips to Use Less Energy and Save

Whether or not you believe something bad will happen to the power grid, one thing is certain: living with little or no electricity will lower your bill and make you feel better about yourself. It’s a “skill” that needs to be mastered not just in case of some apocalyptic event but also in case of localized power-outages.

If you have no choice but to do without electric current, knowing one or more of the tips below might actually save your life. I’m referring to heat, which can affect elderly and toddlers alike. In a grid-down situation, knowing how to cool off yourself or a loved one could literally make the difference between life and death. So let’s see these energy saving “hacks” that will not only help you save thousands in the long run but may be of real help in case of a disaster.  

Open all your windows at night to cool off your home.

During hot summer nights, turn off the AC and open all your windows to let the cool air in. Don’t forget to close them back first thing in the morning, before heat sets in again.

A full fridge stays cool longer.

Filling your fridge and freezer with food will ensure it stays cool for longer. Since there’s less empty space, it’ll need less energy to maintain a certain temperature. If you already have a survival stockpile, you could move some of the stuff from the pantry or basement.

Of course, not every food thrives in low temperatures. Bananas, honey andgarlic don’t really like the cold, for instance, but keep in mind that, since there won’t be any electricity, the temperature will constantly drop (and it will accelerate if you open and close the door often).

Sprinkle some water on your wrists to cool off.

Place your wrists under the faucet andlet the cold water cool off your blood. The blood will flow to the other parts of your body.

Plant trees to provide shade.

Natural shade is the best kind if you ask me, but don’t limit yourself to having it just over your house. Trees can provide shade to patios, driveways and your back yard for some of your plants. It’s also recommended you provide shade to the AC unit so it runs more smoothly.

The best trees for this are the so-called “deciduous”, meaning the ones that lose their leaves in the autumn. The other thing you should know is which ones grow fast enough for you to enjoy their shade in a few years (unless you’re looking to plant them for your children and grandchildren). Red maple, nuttall oak and hybrid poplar are just a few examples to consider, but do keep in mind the climate to make sure they would work.

Use cold water to wash and rinse your clothes.

This will save energy when you’re doing your laundry because most of it is used to heat the water.

Besides, hot water will discolor your clothes and even shrink some of them (particularly those made of wool).

Install smart shower heads and kitchen faucets.

These will allow less water to pass through. This will save you money on both water as we as heating it. Speaking of which, you know you don’t have to turn the faucets to the max, right? You can take showers and wash your veggies in lower pressure just fine.

Generate your own electricity.

OK, so you’re not actually saving, but this is a good way to lower your power bill provided you’re an electrician or that you know one who can help. Using anexercise bike and an alternator, you can generate electrical current to charge your phone or tablet and burn some calories in the process.

Isolate your home.

This will ensure heat stays inside during winter and out during summer. Inspect every door and window to make sure it’s properly sealed. Also, place a cap on your chimney if you don’t use it. And speaking of windows…

Install window shades.

This will keep the sun rays and heat out of your rooms. Pretty obvious. Another thing you can do is place cardboard wrapped in aluminum foil over your windows. This works if you’re renting and can’t afford to install any shades.

Insulate your room.

Much of the heat inside a house is lost through the roof. This works both ways because an insulated roof will heat less during the summer and pass less heat to the rest of the house.

Sleep naked.

I’ve been doing it for almost a year now and I’m glad I decided to give it a try. My body cools a lot better during the night, it got used to lower temperatures and I’m a lot more comfortable to sleep in rooms that aren’t that well heated. Do this and you won’t feel the need to heat your room as much. In fact, you might notice you feel warm even in lower temperatures.

The side benefits to doing this is less laundry to do (because you won’t wear pajamas anymore), less energy for laundry and a better immune system.

If you’re older, you should see your doctor about this, as I’m not a doctor and my advice should be taken for information purposes only.

Keep your thermostat one or two degrees lower.

This works in a somewhat similar fashion to my previous advice about sleeping naked. You get your body used to a slightly lower temperature and after a little while, you won’t feel the difference.

Save your strength (and energy).

We talked about all the ways to save energy for your appliances but what about ways to save your own? In a survival situation, every bit of energy counts. Access to food may be limited, so you need to find ways to keep your strength. Things like:

• avoiding physical activities, especially under the hot sun
• sleeping (your body expends the least amount of energy)
• avoid eating condiments (they will get you to feel hot)
• plus, there are many other “hacks” to keep your body cool in various survival situations, such as when you’re lost in the desert

Any other tips?

Sure. You probably knew them but they’re worth mentioning again:

• use energy efficient light bulbs
• get a halogen oven
• get a solar cooker
• get an outside bath tub and leave the water in the sun for a few hours
• and turn off your appliances when you’re not using them, regardless of whether or not they have a stand-by mode