Consumerist
videos
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energy
Save On Utilities By Spending More On Your Home
Saving by spending is not as counterintuitive as it sounds when it comes to home improvements. Though energy-saving improvements can cost more upfront, savings are eventually realized as lower utility bills. Kiplinger put together a nifty list to help determine how long it takes to recoup the extra amount spent on energy-efficient improvements: More » -
air conditioning
How To Figure Out How Many BTUs You Need In Your A/C
Hot times are coming and you may find yourself buying a new air conditioner, but how do you figure out how many BTUs you need? Silencedotcom over in the Consumerist Forums posted this BTU guide: More » -
consumer alert
Questions To Ask Before Switching To An Energy Reseller
A guy may come to your door pitching the fabulous savings you'll get by switching to an energy reseller. But before you sign on the line which is dotted, ask these questions: More » -
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energy
Six Tips To Cool Your Energy Bill
FreeMoneyFinance has six tips to keep your energy bill from overheating this summer: More » -
explainers
How ESCos Are Supposed To Work
While we're talking about IDT Energy and Con Ed and Midtown Promotions and DS-MAX, let's learn about another acronym, ESCos, which stands for "energy service companies" (the kind of company IDT Energy is). More » -
pr stunts
House Approves Gas Price Gouging Legislation
The House of Representatives has passed what could become the first federal law against energy price gouging. Currently, several states have laws against said gouging, but the rigor of the enforcement is inconsistent at best. More » -
lightbulbs
Will LED Lightbulbs Outshine CFLs?
There's been much talk of CFLs replacing traditional incandescent bulbs, but it may be LED lightbulbs that take the spotlight. More » -
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energy
Attention: You Cut Your Electric Bill By Almost Half!
Reader Melissa writes in to tell us that using tips from Consumerist and other sites, she cut her (admittedly outrageous) electric bill down to size. Melissa writes: More » -
ge
GE: We're Totally About To Invent A Better Incandescent Light Bulb In, Like, Several Years
Just days after Australia announced legislation restricting the sale of energy-wasting incandescent light bulbs, GE has issued a press release announcing an "Advancement in Incandescent Technology" that will lead to "New High-Efficiency Lamps." Oh, really. The bulbs, which GE says will be on the market by 2010, will be twice as efficient as current incandescent lamps, and no where near as efficient as current compact fluorescent bulbs. Gee-whiz. From their press release: More » -
coned
ConEd Customer's Personal Info Highly Vulnerable To Online Theft
ConEd customer's personal information is in grave danger. ConEd's online account system is easily crackable, only requiring entering an account number. More » -
consumerist kit
Lazy Winter Energy Saving Tips
You could install aerators, ask your utility company to lock in a year round rate, or replace your furnace filters every month, but that could take a lot of work. More » -
energy
Conserve Energy By Watching Hourly Rate
Did you know that you are charged a different rate for electricity during the peak hours of the day? It's true! One Chicago group is learning to conserve energy (and money) by monitoring their usage hourly, rather than monthly. From the New York Times: More » -
walmart
Walmart Wants You To Use Power-Saving Bulbs
Compact fluorescent light bulbs can save tons of energy and cut your electric bill by significant percentage, but most Americans don't really like them. Our father, an electrician, forced us to adopt these bulbs at an early age, so we're used to them and even buy them ourselves now, but most Americans don't have a miserly father to tell them what to do. Enter Walmart. Walmart? From the New York Times: More » -
energy
Hidden Cost of DVRs
Reader Mike writes in with a tip we just don't repeat enough. A lot of newer appliances draw as much, or slightly less, power when "off" than when "on." In order to really, truly save electricity you need to plug your DVR/TV/Computer/Whatever in to a power strip and shut the power strip off. More » -
energy
On-Line Energy Audit Tool for Fanatics
Want a "real" energy audit, but don't want to pay for it? Introducing the Department of Energy's Home Energy Saver! It's a very intense energy simulator that takes into account the shape and square footage of your house, how many windows you have, shade trees, you local climate, the direction your house faces, the age of your appliances...everything! The site then suggests upgrades and calculates how long it will take for energy efficient changes to pay for themselves. Very, very, very cool tool for consumers who already know the basics and want to do more. —MEGHANN MARCO More » -
heating
Wrap Your Windows For Winter
Unless you live in a small dark closet like the one they made Harry Potter sleep in, you have windows and you'll probably want to insulate them. Here's a video from Curbly explaining just how to do it. Enjoy. —MEGHANN MARCO More » -
save
25 Gadgets That Actually Save Money
Over at The Simple Dollar they have a list of 25 gadgets that, along with being cool, actually save you money. The neatest part about this list is that the author has broken it down and figured out how long you'll have to use each item to justify its purchase. Some of the math is a bit suspect, but still very cool. Some examples of money saving gadgets: a smart power strip that powers your peripherals on and off with your computer...and keeps it from sucking standby power; Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs; and an energy efficient scooter. More »
