I don't have an interesting tidbit, video, or page to link to today, so I thought I would share a few things I've heard people say about saving energy. I'd call them "stories," except I'm paraphrasing and summarizing so much that it's more like random advice that I've heard people give. I think they're kind of fun reminders that, well, we are all pretty energy-savvy here, but there's still a lot of education that needs to be done.

Let's get this started!

Once upon a time, I knew someone who was sure that it would cost less to use a gas fireplace to heat their living room than it would to let the central heating run. They figured the fireplace could heat a small area better than the central air, which would have to heat the whole house. [More]

It comes as no surprise that 9-out-of-10 American homes burned wood for heat a little more than a century ago. Likewise, it's also probably not news that the number dwindled to less than 1% by the 1970s. After all, who wants to chop and stack cordwood when you can set the thermostat to be comfortable? Perhaps that's why Paul Bunyan is so rarely spotted around town these days.

Still, there is something irresistible about the warmth of a crackling fire. That appeal probably explains why fireplaces and wood-burning heating stoves haven't disappeared in many communities, and that upgrades such as energy efficient inserts and stoves are common. [More]

2011 proved to be another successful year for consumers wanting to save money and energy at home. The Energy Savers website continues to be a great resource for readers interested in learning more about energy efficiency and tips for saving money and energy at home and on the road—and ways to use renewable energy.

Here’s a look at the past year’s 10 most popular Web pages:

10. Demand (Tankless or Instantaneous) Water Heaters

Demand (tankless or instantaneous) water heaters provide hot water only as it is needed. They don't produce the standby energy losses associated with storage water heaters, which can save you money. Here you'll find basic information about how they work, whether a demand water heater might be right for your home, and what criteria to use when selecting the right model. [More]

I spent Thanksgiving week in Arizona with my parents, who are very energy conscious although my father says “I find my thoughts are more of efficiency than saving the planet, however the results are the same.” Last year I thought he was crazy to be turning off the computer and the surge protector for the TV system (TV, DVD player, etc.) every night to reduce “vampire energy,” or standby power drains.

During a discussion on energy audits, he showed me his most recent month’s power bill. A really neat feature (if bills can have good features) is that the power company includes on the bill a small bar graph that shows the present year’s power use vs. the previous year’s use by month.* The graph shows very clearly that after an increase in energy use in January and February of this year over last year, when temperatures were slightly lower (= more heat), my parents had a HUGE decrease in the average daily kWh used over the summer months – up to a 22% savings in July, when the average temperature was over 94°! (The Phoenix area had temperatures over 114° this summer, and the daily range can be over 30°.) Their energy savings have continued into the fall, ranging from 8% to over 17%. [More]

This week, Elizabeth talked about her annual effort to keep her thermostat low through fall and winter. When it gets too chilly and she's tempted to turn up the heat, this year she's planning to crochet some blankets instead to keep warm!

Kristin gave us some great ideas for saving energy on Halloween while keeping the spirit of the holiday appropriately creepy. She included tips for operating the fireplace efficiently, using candles instead of light bulbs, and even composting those expired pumpkins. [More]

Every year I try to convince myself that I am going to turn my thermostat down for the entire winter. It's going to be 68 degrees or lower, I tell myself. I'm not going to turn it up for any reason. I might even be daring and try to get a few degrees lower! It'll be awesome!

It usually doesn't end well. You see, I'm a gigantic wuss about the cold. Something always happens—it takes me 4 hours to drive home in the snow, I have a lousy day, or it drops beneath zero degrees Fahrenheit—and suddenly I want to treat myself to a balmy 70 degrees to make up for it. [More]