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I plugged into a power strip because it still uses electric even if the device is off. The other equipment I shut off when not in use.

Most of this stuff I'm sure the energy conscious people have read dozens of times, so I won't tell you step by step everything I've done, except for two additional things. One, I turned my hot water heater down to a lower setting, and installed water savers on all my showerheads and sinks. I can still take my usual shower and not run out of hot water, but by using a lower setting the heating coils do not run as much. Second, I put a time clock on my water-cooler. The overall temperature of a satisfying glass of water took some time to adjust, but the overall result is the water-cooler dose not run as much and the water is still cold.

The object of all this showed up in my May electric bill. I saved $47.69 in one month! Just by turning off things that I don't frequently use. At that point in logical reasoning it didn't matter to me if humans cause global warming or if this is a natural occurrence or a combination of the two. What did matter is that I was almost fifty bucks richer in my pocket. So what more can I do? I told everyone I know about how much I saved, and I know half of those I told are trying the same thing. I reminded my neighbor a week ago that instead of using a 100-watt bulb for her porch light, she could use a flourescent one with the same brightness, longer life, and cheaper usage. Step one: If everyone just tried to cut back in electric we could make a major change in the amount of fuel we use to generate electricity. The other steps we can make as we go. Small steps. Steps that don't inconvenience us.

Learn more about this author, Craig Ardolino.
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