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Alright, totally OT, and this has probably been done, but I didn't see it anywhere.

I've been dying to share this one with somebody.

You know those blow-y hand dryers?
"rub hands gently under warm air" is actually bad advice.
I always end up having to press the button twice. Then I waste half of the second run because I really didn't need that much more. Its kind of stupid, but this has always bugged me. The really dumb part is that I'm 28 and I only figured this out maybe 2 or 3 years ago.

Instead of just rubbing your hands together, try alternately running them up and down the length of your arms. Right on left, then switch to left on right, keeping the action under the blowing... . I do this right over top of my watch if I'm wearing one.

Basically you're just increasing the surface area of the water by thinning it out over the length of your arms, and that increases the rate at which the water evaporates. And yes, this is one of those rare instances where you become aware of the utility of your arm hair.

Suddenly the length of the blow cycle makes perfect sense!

Its totally goofy, but I'm very proud of this... to the point where I want to break taboo and talk to people in the can...

Anyhow, there you go. Now you'll win the hand wash race every time.

When I was over in EU for my honeymoon I came across some "blade" dryers. The claim on the label was that it was the fastest and therefore most efficient hand dryer on the market. It is oriented vertically and you dip your hands in from the top, then withdraw -- the amazing thing is that you only have to do this once!

It works by directing a high velocity sheet of air from each side of the device at the top toward the center but somewhat further down than the top. The air feels like it is literally "scraping" the water off!

As for the dryers we have here, I've taken to shaking my hands vigorously over the sink a couple of times to get rid of a lot of the water and then using the dryer. That seems to work okay but I'll give your method a try the next time I use one of those air dryers. :)

I'm sure you all know about programmable thermostats.

This year we ran 65F(at home/daytime) and 58 (night/away). Yeah, that's cold. Put on a sweater.
We ran 70/65 last year.
Looks like we're in line to pay about $700 less than last year, maybe more.

I don't know if it's urban legend or what, but supposedly the hand dryers are loaded with germs so I just forgo them.

I've taken to shaking my hands vigorously over the sink a couple of times to get rid of a lot of the water and then using the dryer.

Oh yeah, the shake is a must!

We were in Europe (and for the same reason) last summer. Unfortunately I didn't see any blade dryer dealies...

I don't know if it's urban legend or what, but supposedly the hand dryers are loaded with germs so I just forgo them.

I've heard that too, but oftentimes its the only option, save pants. I assume its also the greenest.
I figure germs and bacteria and all that guck prefer a warm and moist habitat.
In my head at least, a dryer wouldn't have both. Consequently I've written that warning off as noise.

Has anyone tried the Excel XLerator dryers? Those things will move the skin on your hands they are so powerful! And they are supposedly 80% more efficient that the old style.

http://www.exceldryer.com/

For the blow dryers, I just shake, then:
Hold hands palms up, rub palm of right hand on back of left hand quickly for 2-3 sec (about 4 rubs), then alternate hands, repeat until dry. Always only takes one cycle.

I'm sure you all know about programmable thermostats.

This year we ran 65F(at home/daytime) and 58 (night/away). Yeah, that's cold. Put on a sweater.
We ran 70/65 last year.
Looks like we're in line to pay about $700 less than last year, maybe more.

I finally found a programmable thermostat that is compatible with my oddly-wired hot water baseboard system. It definately makes a difference. It certainly paid for itself this season ($50?), although I live in mild winters so my savings was no where near $700. (but maybe$150 for the season)

Santa Clause brought me an electric blanket, and those help to I think.

those air blade systems are actually designed by the Dyson guy with the cool vacuum cleaners... we got a dyson for our wedding... totally sweet.

Has anyone tried the Excel XLerator dryers? Those things will move the skin on your hands they are so powerful! And they are supposedly 80% more efficient that the old style.

http://www.exceldryer.com/

Oh yeah, I was gonna say when I took a trip to Virgina a few weeks ago they had these dryers that actually worked in one button press. And that's what they are. It's weird cause you can see the skin on your hands move in waves, lol.

For drying my hands, I shake, and then use the paper. If there's no paper, I'll find paper. Or I'll use my pants. (For some reason, I really hate blow dryers and won't use them. And no, I can't explain why.)

I don't get low-flow sinks or toilets. I have to flush the low-flow toilet four times, anyway.

Yeah the wife really wants a dyson -- but we've only got carpet in one room....

Anybody else got any tricks? C'mon, anything.

How about unconventional uses for ostensibly useless items?

This one comes with a warning about humidity.

In cold weather, save your shower water in the tub. Leave it there until it cools to ambient temperature, then drain it. You just reclaimed the heat into the house, saving some load on your heating system.

More:
- Before starting the dishwasher, run the hot water in your sink until it gets hot. The machine won't have to use its electric heater as much.
- Also, turn off the electric dry cycle and open the door when it finishes. The remaining heat from washing will evaporate most of the water anyway.
- In winter, heat your tea / coffee / hot drink water on the stovetop - the extra goes into the house. In summer, use the microwave - less heat into the house.
- combine baking and cooking sessions. If you're baking bread, make some muffins for the next morning as well. Once the oven is warm, it's almost free to keep it going.
- Also, our oven vents some heat out the left rear burner. Tea kettle sitting on there = free hot water.
- (within reason) Let hot leftovers sit out a short while before loading into the refrigerator. The cooler it goes in, the less load on the fridge.

- (car related) I have a squeegee in my car to clear off the morning dew. Windshield wipers work for the front, but the sides and rear? Now I don't need to run the rear defrost = better mpg.

Great tips. :)

Whenever I'm cooking in the oven, that vented burner is my first choice for boiling the pasta/cooking the veggies/etc.

I've installed an easy-off valve in the shower head, so I can turn it off while shampooing and soaping.

I have the old style four gallon toilet, but I've adjusted the tank filling level as low as it will go (about 3/4 capacity) and put three 1/2 gallon jugs in it filled with water and a little gravel. I figure I'm using about 2 gal/flush.

Good one! I have a 1-gallon jug in each of our old-style toilets. Better than bricks because they don't fall apart and leave pieces in the waterworks.

Yeah Andrew! Now that's what I'm talking about! The stove/fridge stuff we already do, but I'd have never thought of the heat off the bathwater/dishwasher thing. And maybe I'd get away with running the humidifier less too. Good stuff!

I'm going to have a look at the toilet when I get home.

When I was over in EU for my honeymoon I came across some "blade" dryers.

I've never seen one in person (just in a commercial). You gotta love Dyson products; they're ingenious! I was gonna buy one for my house until I saw how much they cost - OUCH!

I've installed an easy-off valve in the shower head, so I can turn it off while shampooing and soaping.

Sea Showers! My wife and I take those as well. I have to take those at work.

If you have an electric hot water tank, install a timer to turn it off during the night or other times when you might not be using it. Costs about $60 but pays for itself the first year. Here is a link to this tip and a bunch more in this Consumer's Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the US Department of Energy (http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=13110). Lots of great tips there.