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"DOWNSIZE"
IN THE HOME YOU'VE GOT > WAYS
TO SAVE >
DIVESTMENT OF
MONEY-SINKS:
Utilities as You
Choose to Use Them:
Most of us are pretty lax about turning off lights, keeping the air
conditioning off unless really needed, wasting water while brushing our
teeth (or automatically watering our yards in the rain!)… If you’re like me,
I know you could come up with several ways to be more utility-conscious – and
save money on utilities costs over the course of time. (How much depends on the unit costs of
electricity, coal, oil, natural gas, propane, water, etc. as we squander.
Americans, especially, tend to be positively voluptuous users of utilities! –
we truly pamper ourselves in this way.)
And no, not everyone does have to pay for utilities! – at least, not on a
monthly basis. There are plenty of people who live "off the grid" with
solar heating/lighting, homegrown water systems, and maybe a little propane
thrown in for refrigeration and whatnot; maybe even woodstove-powered water
heating, and/or water-powered electricity. It’s more work to keep all
the systems going yourself – but it can save quite a bit of money (and live where you otherwise couldn’t,
perhaps). And you don't
have to do everything off-grid to save money on your utilities costs. The installation of a simple solar
panel or wall can save you from having to heat a space or run one or more
appliances with fuel - and every bit helps. (Consider checking out back issues
of "Mother Earth News" at the library, Backwoods
Home online, etc. for ideas.)
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