Malta Development Blog

At Malta Development, we believe that living sustainably today can preserve our environment for our children tomorrow. Although recent technological advances make eco-awareness easier than ever, the most effective energy saving strategies are often the simplest. Conserving energy and resources can benefit the planet while cutting down on your utility costs, so we've developed a list of some easy to implement, common sense tips for modern, environmentally conscious living.

• Use appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers after 6 PM, when energy demand and cost is lowest. To reduce water waste, energy consumption, and detergent use, ensure the dishwasher is full before starting a cycle.
• Use the cold setting on your clothes washing machine to reduce your use of hot water.
• Keep your thermostat set to a constant temperature, especially during winter months. We suggest a thermostat setting of 68 degrees.  During the winter months, consider wearing warm clothes and using blankets before increasing the thermostat setting. If your home has a heat circulating fireplace, consider using it as an alternative heat source.
• During the summer, set your thermostat to 78 degrees. Additionally, fans are an effective and energy-saving alternative to air conditioning.
• Inspect your attic and crawl space for sufficient insulation.  Spending a small amount on extra insulation now can significantly reduce future utility costs and energy usage later.
• Develop a conscious awareness of disposables, like paper towels and plastic utensils.  In some cases, they can be used more than once. Use a washable towel or dish rag instead of paper towels for routine spills.  Washable rags can also be used to clean windows, mirrors, and other surfaces.
• If you currently use incandescent light bulbs, consider switching to compact fluorescents.  According to Safetyathome.com, compact fluorescent light bulbs use ¼ the energy of incandescent bulbs.  Don't forget to turn off the lights when leaving a room.
• Did you know that when plugged in, computers and other electronic gadgets draw power even when turned off? We suggest connecting electronic devices to a power strip with an on/off switch, and switching the power strip off when the devices are not in use.
• Raise your lawnmower blades approximately three inches.  This trick will allow grass to hold moisture better so that less watering is needed.
• Instead of using a hose to clean a sidewalk or driveway, sweep away dirt and debris.  You can save hundreds of gallons of water annually.
• While you're waiting for the shower to heat up, use a bucket to collect unused water for house plants.

As you can see, making small changes to daily habits can save a tremendous amount of energy and money. Individually, the changes may be small, but their overall conservative effect on our planet will be appreciated by generations to come.