Twenty Free Ways to Save Energy

Last month, we noted that Consumer Reports presented readers with "50 Ways to Save Water." This month, the magazine's web site gives readers a sneak peak of its forthcoming book The Complete Guide to Reducing Energy Costs by presenting "20 Free Ways to Save Energy." Among the list are old favorites, such as wash clothes in cold water, turn down the heat/ac in the winter/summer, and set the hot water heater at 120° F. Other tips that may not be as widely known, even to Treehuggers: use the right pan, dust off the Crock-Pot, and clean the coils on your refrigerator with a tapered appliance brush. Finally, if you don't mind spending a few bucks, install a programmable thermostat, try do-it-yourself low-E windows, and (one of our favorites) switch to those funny-looking fluorescents.