Energy conservation a New Year’s resolution that easy to keep

It’s an annual tradition: The beginning of a new year marks the beginning of plans to make lifestyle changes.
Many resolutions are made but difficult to carry out. Cotton Electric Cooperative can suggest one that is easy to stick with: Energy conservation. This pledge is as simple to carry out as changing a light bulb.
A light fixture will use as much as 75 percent less electricity simply by switching from an incandescent bulb to a compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb. Every time you turn on that light, you save energy.
The lifespan of a CFL is an added bonus. They can last up to 10 times longer than an incandescent, meaning your resolution can still be going strong for years to come.
This resolution might even count as a two-fer, saving energy and money. A CFL can save about $30 in electricity costs over the lifetime of the bulb.
Here are a few other simple ways to carry out a resolution to conserve energy:
Open window shades and curtains to make use of the sun’s warmth in the winter. Do the opposite in the summer, blocking the heat and easing the job of your air conditioner.
Pull on an extra sweater and set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter. Better yet, consider installing a programmable thermostat to control how much energy is used to heat and cool your home when you are away.
Your heat and air system will work much more efficiently when air filters are changed on a regular basis. Keep intake vents free of obstruction and run a vacuum brush over them now and then.
Keep an eye out for vampires at night. Every glowing LED you see after the lights are out indicates an appliance that is using energy. With a single switch, a good surge protector can turn off groups, such as your computer and all its peripheral attachments.
Close the damper when your fireplace is not in use. An open flue is similar to an open window and all the warm air your furnace produced will go straight up the chimney.