This is sponsored content from BlogHer and GE.
A few years back, it became clear that my girls were incapable of turning out the light when they walked out of their room.
When I sat them down and explained the importance of turning out lights and not wasting electricity, Meredith told me that we should just go to the store and buy MORE electricity. (I love how her mind works.)
We then did what any other parent would do in this situation: We took our adorable environmental destruction agents to the store, where we bought cookies and curly light bulbs.
We switched to the “curly” bulbs for a few reasons. First of all, they last a LOT longer than the regular light bulbs. Secondly, they use 75% less energy, which means we end up saving money on the electric bill. Best of all? When we made the switch to the curly bulbs, the girls were still young enough to see the switch as a game. You HAVE to turn off the curly bulbs. That’s it. There are no other options. I’m now raising two girls who turn out the lights when they leave a room, and I’m hoping they pass that habit on to their own kids someday.
The Pudding family is not perfect. Not by a long shot. With that said, we have been trying our best to teach the girls how to conserve energy, how to recycle, and the importance of donating things that are no longer in use. (Having a REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT!!! billboard less than a mile from our house has completely changed the conversations we have during the drive to school. We no longer talk about Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber. We now talk about how stinky a compost bin would be, and how we should get one started! The kids are convinced that the little things we do at home will make a big difference in the future, and they’re right!)
Our latest efforts to become more conscious of energy efficiency include making one trip to the grocery store per week (this is surprisingly difficult for Forgetful Me), wearing jeans more than once between washings (don’t look at me like that—you know they’re not dirty unless they’re DIRTY), and layering up on blankets and sweatshirts so the furnace can hover at 65 degrees without anyone whining. Every little bit helps.
What efforts are you making to improve the energy efficiency in your home? Do you unplug your appliances when they’re not in use? Do you use curly lightbulbs? Give me your best tips or share your energy-saving challenges in the comment section below, and on both February 28th and March 15, I’ll fire up the random number generator and choose someone to win a $50 GE energy smart light bulb. It’s the world’s first omnidirectional LED bulb designed to replace a standard 40-watt incandescent bulb, and it will save you $85 in energy savings over the life of the bulb!
Visit the Exclusive Offers section for more chances to win!
Now that I have you thinking about energy efficiency, do you have any BIG ideas for saving energy? I’m talking Game Changing ideas! From now until March 15, GE has put out an open call for innovative ideas for home energy creation, management, and use. It’s called the GE ecomagination Challenge: Powering Your Home, and I encourage you to join the conversation (http://goo.gl/v11uG)! Even if you don’t think you have any big ideas of your own, I guarantee you will walk away from the site feeling inspired! (Honestly? I’ve been OBSESSED with reading the ideas that other people have submitted. Amazing stuff. Go take a look!)
Key URLs:
Direct “Challenge” site: http://goo.gl/v11uG
ecomagination Challenge Blog: http://goo.gl/UvaFd
GE’s “Main” ecomagination site: http://goo.gl/6DXnC
ecomagination on Foursquare: http://goo.gl/2nVsP
ecomagination on Facebook: http://goo.gl/fdDgM
ecomagination Challenge on YouTube: http://goo.gl/HBVPs
The GE energy smart LED: http://goo.gl/p0mEw
Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.
You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
72 responses so far ↓
1 Liz // Feb 15, 2011 at 10:09 am
Curly lightbulbs and a new energy-efficient dishwasher.
2 Connie // Feb 15, 2011 at 10:51 am
We are switching to curly bulbs. We also recycle more than we throw in the trash.
3 Laura Dankel // Feb 15, 2011 at 11:01 am
1) Every light in this house is at least curly, some have even migrated to LED. Installing occupancy sensors in bathrooms.
2) Solar powered heat pump w/high efficiency gas furnace replaced failed furnace and old ac. Updated thermostats at same time to very programmable
3) Replaced broken dishwasher with highest efficiency available
4) Our new HDTV is LED version of LCD
5) Have compost bin – when done right there is no stinky!
6) Heated mattress pad allows us to turn down furnace at night
7) Reusable shopping bags for groceries, and foldaway Chico bags that fit in my purse for everything else
8) Bring my reusable tumbler to coffee shops
9) Rechargable batteries
10) Rain garden w/ native MO plants to catch storm water instead of sewer
11) always looking for more idaes!
4 No Minimom // Feb 15, 2011 at 11:23 am
We have curly lightbulbs and keep the heat at 65. We also don’t put in the air conditioners until it’s unbearable (having window units really makes it a conscious choice to turn on the air). We recycle pretty much everything we can and we use our neighbors compost pile (he’s down with it). Hubby and I are also wear twice, wash once disciples, but my oldest is a clean freak and it’s hard to change his OCD ways. ;-)
5 Mitzi // Feb 15, 2011 at 1:50 pm
~We recycle EVERYTHING that we possibly can.
~We compost, it helped our garden immensely last summer. You’d be surprised at all of the things that can be composted! (dryer lint, hair from your hairbrush, tea bags, coffee grounds, newspapers are some that are a little out of the ordinary)
~We do not run the dryer if the weather is warm, sunny and windy enough to dry our clothes on the clotheslines.
~We use curly lightbulbs in everywhere.
~We shop secondhand instead of buying new, when possible.
~We use reuseable shopping bags.
~If I do get the plastic shopping bags, I take them to the proper recycling bins at the grocery store.
~We definitely wear clothes more than once before laundering.
~We garden. Less to buy at the store/markets.
~When I get my produce, I look for paper bags or bring my own bag.
~We only have one vehicle.
~I grocery shop once every two weeks.
My wish list: Rain Barrels and a non-motorized lawn mower.
6 Pam K. // Feb 15, 2011 at 1:54 pm
I use CFL’s in most of my lamps. I turn on the dishwasher when I go to bed, to run it when power costs are lower. I cover up with an electric throw in the evenings and use an electric blanket on my bed, so I can lower the temp in the rest of the house. In the summer, I use a floor fan and ceiling fans to supplement the central air system. I’d love to try this new LED bulb!
7 Milissa // Feb 16, 2011 at 10:48 am
I wash out and reuse my ziploc baggies (until they get too gross, of course).
8 Maria // Feb 16, 2011 at 12:44 pm
I wash clothes in cold water. I usually hang clothes to dry and the kids help by turning the lights off when not being used.
9 Dmarie // Feb 16, 2011 at 4:10 pm
In the wintertime, we set our programmable thermostat to 68 in the daytime, 65 at night, but we also use a woodburning heater that keeps the electric from kicking on as long as we keep it burning. The woodburner has a shelf on which I often cook, e.g., sautéing onions, to reduce my using the electricity-hogging cooktop of our stove.
10 Kelly Massman // Feb 16, 2011 at 5:16 pm
We turn down the heat at night in winter! Thanks!
kmassmanATgmailDOTcom
11 amy // Feb 17, 2011 at 4:38 am
I always make sure applicance are unplug when not in use. It does add up in my opinion.
Amy
http://utry.it
12 Tomi // Feb 17, 2011 at 2:56 pm
Curly light bulbs – check
Cold water washing – check
Recycle – check, check, check
Our family mantra is reduce, recycle and reuse and pretty much applies to EVERYTHING and we are finally seeing savings.
13 David // Feb 18, 2011 at 12:41 am
Curly light bulbs, recycle, energy-efficient dishwasher
duckstrawberry@aol.com
14 shala_darkstone // Feb 20, 2011 at 8:07 am
Hi, we use a programmable thermostat and timers on our lights to save energy. We also put in new energy efficient patio doors recently.
15 shala_darkstone // Feb 20, 2011 at 8:10 am
Tweet link: http://twitter.com/#!/shala_darkstone/status/39310830445146112
16 Sonny Klamerus // Feb 20, 2011 at 8:33 pm
Let’s make it a movement, an obsession even. Save energy. Save the planet. We’ll all be better off.
17 ky2here // Feb 20, 2011 at 9:04 pm
We’re good at this – we compost, recycle and use cloth bags for shopping.
ky2here at msn dot com
18 ky2here // Feb 20, 2011 at 9:05 pm
Here’s my tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/ky2here1/status/39505793799819264
ky2here at msn dot com
19 Shannon Baas // Feb 20, 2011 at 11:13 pm
We recycle a lot.
20 Rebecca Graham // Feb 21, 2011 at 2:44 am
We unplug all our recharger cords when not in use.
21 Rebecca Graham // Feb 21, 2011 at 2:45 am
Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/rhoneygee/status/39591352928837632
22 sandy // Feb 21, 2011 at 7:24 am
unplugging items is great but the biggest energy saver so far is insulating sealing the windows- it amazing how much you can turn down the heat when everything is caulked and sealed and you open the drapes in the winter to let sunshine and light in and close it at night- some serious money saving
23 Courtney St // Feb 21, 2011 at 11:36 am
We wash our clothing in cold water and are replacing with EF bulbs as the other ones go out so it’s not so expensive!
24 Christine // Feb 21, 2011 at 10:50 pm
We compost
25 Kirsten // Feb 22, 2011 at 4:08 am
We use CFL bulbs, wash clothes in cold water, recycle, reuse containers, and use reusable bags.
26 Cynthia C // Feb 22, 2011 at 7:26 am
I have switched to CFL light bulbs and wash only full loads of dishes and clothes. I also re-wear everything except underwear several times between washings.
27 Cynthia C // Feb 22, 2011 at 7:27 am
Tweet:
http://twitter.com/clc408/status/40024758829453312
28 Tweets that mention You can’t buy energy at the store, but you can save it with a curly light bulb! -- Topsy.com // Feb 22, 2011 at 7:59 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Cynthia Conley, ky2here. ky2here said: You can’t buy energy at the store, but you can save it with a curly light bulb! http://t.co/Ptf6lUj [...]
29 Terri L // Feb 22, 2011 at 11:40 am
I don’t know about big Game Changing ideas…I am still trying to get my family to turn off lights and leave the thermostat alone.
30 Shera // Feb 22, 2011 at 2:44 pm
We do the basics: recyling, keeping the thermostat low, turning off lights when not in the room, reusable grocery bags, recycled paper kitty litter, letting the halloween pumkins rot in the yard rather than fill the landfill, just generally trying to be mindful.
31 Erica David // Feb 22, 2011 at 4:20 pm
I’ve got solar panels up — I bought mine 10 years ago but now you can lease them for zero-down from sungevity.com. Big electricity savings!
32 Tabathia B // Feb 22, 2011 at 6:08 pm
I use cold water to wash clothes and try to wash before 9 am or after 6 pm
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
33 Deborah R // Feb 22, 2011 at 8:08 pm
We use curly lightbulbs, keep the thermostat at 66, wash laundry in cold water, dry by hanging outside and use smart energy strips for the TV and related electronics.
34 Susan C // Feb 23, 2011 at 12:39 am
We lowered the temp on our hot water heater and are now taking shorter showers.
smchester at gmail dot com
35 Suzanne K // Feb 23, 2011 at 4:38 pm
I got solar panels years ago when the tax rebates were great and have been thrilled! I no longer have to cringe everytime the power company raises it’s rates! We are still super conservative about using power (air dry clothes/dishes, lower temps in winter, less AC in summer, curly bulbs, turn things off…), but it’s a nice feeling to not have to stress! I’m also doing a lot in my garden – fruit trees and veggies and then preserving for later (talk about eating local and healthy). And, my latest project is rainwater harvesting! I have big cisterns that the water goes into (out of gutter on roof) and I then use that water for my garden! Win, win!
36 Neena // Feb 24, 2011 at 7:55 am
We have some energy efficient appliances (washing machine, dishwasher) with great plans to eventually replace all appliances with their energy efficient counterparts. Toilets, you’re next!
37 elizabeth p // Feb 24, 2011 at 12:59 pm
We bought a more efficient washer and dryer.
38 Jean D. // Feb 24, 2011 at 3:25 pm
I unplug appliances, use curly lightbulbs, keep the thermostat low, use a heat pump. But it wasn’t until I found a window leaking cold air that I was able to lower our out-of-control heating bill. I covered it in plastic, and the bill dropped dramatically. I’m still amazed at how much money and energy that sheet of plastic saved us.
Thanks for a great giveaway!
39 Jean D. // Feb 24, 2011 at 3:26 pm
Tweeted you!
http://twitter.com/Ida_Sessions/status/40870086994694144
40 Daniel M // Feb 24, 2011 at 11:47 pm
we upgraded our furnace and did the blown in insulation
41 Jenny // Feb 25, 2011 at 7:11 pm
We make sure to turn everything off while not in use, even power strips!
42 SaraLee E // Feb 26, 2011 at 1:59 am
Tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/s8r8l33/status/41391802061815808
43 SaraLee E // Feb 26, 2011 at 2:00 am
My challenge is getting my family to compost everything that can be composted. I am always taking stuff out of the trash that could be composted
s8r8l33 at yahoo dot com
44 Erica C. // Feb 27, 2011 at 8:57 am
I’ve definitely been unplugging things when I’m not using them.
45 Debra F // Feb 27, 2011 at 4:08 pm
We have installed faucet aerators and low-flow shower heads to cut water heating costs, but the biggest problems is that all of the members of my family REALLY love taking long showers. We occasionally indulge now, but most of the time we limit our time in the shower.
46 kittycardero // Feb 27, 2011 at 5:28 pm
We have been trying to unplug stuff when it’s not in use. Some of us remember more easily to do it though.
47 kittycardero // Feb 27, 2011 at 5:30 pm
Tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/kittycardero/status/41988257973669889
48 Reeva // Feb 27, 2011 at 10:02 pm
We compost, reduce, reuse, reuse again, and recycle! We also reduce heat in winter and unplug items we dont use regularly.
49 shemp // Feb 28, 2011 at 3:16 am
Unplugging the microwave one of the biggest energy users and zappers helps
50 susan smoaks // Feb 28, 2011 at 10:49 am
we turn the thermostat up to 80 when we aren’t home and try to save water by using less in the shower
51 clynsg // Feb 28, 2011 at 11:26 am
I need a more energy efficient dishwasher, and my refrigerator is old enough that it probably is not as good as it could be. But the first thing I want to get is one of the new power strips that will leave items like the DVR on while turning off the other electronics plugged into it.
52 Deborah Wellenstein // Feb 28, 2011 at 1:10 pm
We use curlicue lightbulbs, recyle everything we can,buy used (at garage sales), use reusable bags for shopping, and reuse what we can.
dwellenstein at cox dot net
53 Leslie // Feb 28, 2011 at 1:35 pm
We are getting a fireplace insert to heat our home with wood and save energy costs. :)
Also I tweeted it but am not sure how to link to a specific tweet – twitter.com/spillingbuckets
54 R Hicks // Feb 28, 2011 at 1:51 pm
our biggest challenge is hot water usage. We lowered the hot water heater temp a little tosave money
55 R Hicks // Feb 28, 2011 at 1:52 pm
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/Ardy22/status/42296018942967808
ardy22 at earthlink dot net
56 Neil // Feb 28, 2011 at 2:29 pm
My father always unplugged things that weren’t in use, but I think his reasoning was an irrational fear of a fire, especially with the toaster. Now I do the same to save energy!
57 Denise S // Feb 28, 2011 at 3:22 pm
My biggest challenge is air seeping through the windows and doors that are too thin or not sealed well enough.
lazybones344 at gmail dot com
58 angie // Feb 28, 2011 at 3:46 pm
All the tips I have we are doing! Even though we are extremely conservative in our energy usage (all lights are CFLs, turn lights off in all rooms not being used, keep thermostat set to 65 in the winter, etc.), our power bill is still over $100 this month. I would love to see how this new light bulb helps. I can’t wait until the price comes down!
59 angie // Feb 28, 2011 at 3:57 pm
I tweeted here: http://twitter.com/#!/FotoMacro/status/42327203823894529
60 Deb K // Feb 28, 2011 at 4:09 pm
We turn the lights off,turn the heat down and also recycle everything!
deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com
61 Joanne Schultz // Feb 28, 2011 at 4:10 pm
I turn the thermostat down to save on fuel & $$! And I turn it lower when we are not home.
Thanks for the giveaway!
62 Deb K // Feb 28, 2011 at 4:10 pm
Tweet!~
http://twitter.com/#!/Deb55106/status/42330793565106177
deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com
63 Joanne Schultz // Feb 28, 2011 at 4:10 pm
tweet: http://twitter.com/js22222222/statuses/42330720731021312
64 scott // Feb 28, 2011 at 4:25 pm
Shut off lights when you leave a room, use daylight rather than turning on lights at all when possible, wash all your laundry in cold water when possible , line dry your
clothing when possible, set your thermostat high in the summer and low in the winter,
use energy efficient appliances and light bulbs, unplug things that are not in use, etc. We do all of these things and wish the whole planet did! Our power bill is still high to me, but to other people its insanely low. I wish I could afford solar panels for my roof!
65 scott // Feb 28, 2011 at 4:33 pm
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/RePurrPussed/status/42332651746631680
66 Donna K // Feb 28, 2011 at 5:51 pm
My tip is to turn off the lights when leaving the room.
67 Donna K // Feb 28, 2011 at 5:52 pm
I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/donnak4/status/42356425976057856
68 Diane Baum // Feb 28, 2011 at 7:14 pm
We try to use less electricity and encourage everyone to turn off lights when not in use.
Diane Baum
esldiane@gmail.com
69 Beth // Feb 28, 2011 at 7:20 pm
I unplug chargers when not using them, and do use the “curly” lightbulbs when we can – though the ones we have won’t fit in all our fixtures!
70 barbara wright // Feb 28, 2011 at 7:38 pm
I cut my electric bill IN HALF by following the guidelines the electric company sends out. A lot of them are obvious, but the one that helped me the most was doing my laundry all in one sitting – that way the dryer only has to heat up once..
71 Amy in KC // Mar 3, 2011 at 12:55 pm
We recycle and use curly bulbs. We also have a cold dinner at least two nights a week – sandwiches, “snacky” dinners (crackers & cheese with fruit), etc. – so neither the oven nor the microwave get used.
72 kelli // Mar 4, 2011 at 8:54 pm
We walk/bike to school, turn off the lights when we leave the room, recycle, drive a Prius, and use the curly bulbs where we can.
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