Latest news with #USAdults
Bloomberg
02-07-2025
- Health
- Bloomberg
Psychedelic Medicine Sees Promise in Psilocybin and Ibogaine
Hi, it's Fiona in New York. There's been a lot of news in the world of psychedelics lately. More on these developments in a moment, but first ... About 21 million US adults have a major depressive disorder, and roughly 30% haven't responded to treatments.
CNET
16-06-2025
- General
- CNET
This Simple Energy Hack Might Be the Easiest $100 You Ever Save
As summer temperatures climb, so does the cost of keeping your home cool, and if your electric bill is already creeping up, you're far from alone. A CNET survey found that nearly 80% of US adults are stressed about rising energy costs, and there are several Reddit threads full of people looking for answers. The good news? There's one simple trick that can help you save money every month without changing how you live: unplug what you're not using. It turns out many of your home's electronics are quietly draining power -- even when they're turned off. These so-called "energy vampires" include TVs, printers, gaming consoles, coffee makers and even electric toothbrushes. And while each one might only use a little, together they can seriously drive up your bill. If you're ready to fight back against energy waste this summer, here's how to spot the worst offenders, and how to stop them from draining your wallet. To minimize the impact of energy vampires on your energy bills, experts recommend unplugging these devices when they're not being used. It may seem like a small step, but according to the US Department of Energy, this simple habit can save the average household up to $100 annually. Below, we'll answer how much money unplugging home appliances can actually save you and whether the energy savings are worth unplugging and replugging appliances each day. Plus, to maximize your energy savings, we have tips on how to lower your water bill, the best temperature to set your thermostat at to save money and the energy-efficient way to do laundry to cut utility costs. Can unplugging appliances actually save me money? It might seem counterintuitive to unplug your appliances. After all, they're off, so why would they be sucking up energy? The fact is, household appliances actually still use energy even when they are turned off but still plugged in, according to Whether the device is switched off or in standby mode, some of the worst offenders are: A device that may still use energy in the form of lights or other displays showing the device is off. Desktop computers that were put into sleep mode instead of being powered off. Chargers that still draw power even if the device is not connected. Media players that continually draw power, especially ones that still might scan for updates in the background. Phones with displays that show when not in active use, like cordless phones. New smart home appliances like refrigerators, washers and dryers that have always-on displays, internet connectivity and electronic controls. Watch this: Easy Ways to Lower Your Utility Bills and Save Money 08:13 Reduce your standby power to save electricity and money Many people are shocked to realize how much standby power can add up. Standby power accounts for 5% to 10% of residential energy use, according to the Department of Energy. How much you save could depend on how many devices you use -- and your habits with them. For instance, an educational experiment from Colorado State University found that a combo radio/CD player/tape player used 4 watts continually, whether it was in use or not. Unplugging it when not in use would save 100 times as much power during the lifetime of the device. A study published by the Natural Resources Defense Council (PDF) found that reducing the load from always-on devices would save consumers a total of $8 billion annually and avoid using 64 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. It also has environmental benefits, like preventing 44 million metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution. The NRDC estimated the cost of always-on devices at up to $165 per household per year on average. Pro savings tip! Buying a smart plug can help you conserve energy by controlling the power on virtually any device you plug in. This plug from Leviton is CNET's top pick. Details $29 at Amazon How can I optimize my standby power? The first step is, of course, to unplug anything that is not actively in use or not used often. Examples of devices that could easily be unplugged include TVs and set-top boxes in guest rooms. It's also generally easy to unplug media players when not in use, like a radio or CD player. When you take your device off its charger, it can help you get into the habit of unplugging that charger as well. You might also be surprised how many devices we have plugged in that we don't even use anymore. Examples could include old wireless phones, old media players or lamps that are more decorative than functional. Unplugging and replugging in everything can get tedious, especially if your outlets are in hard-to-reach places. If the outlet is inaccessible, it will be hard to keep up. Instead, you can also set up ways to make the process of cutting phantom load more automatic. You can plug devices into surge protectors. That way, one flick of a power switch button can turn off multiple devices. You can also get timers to plug devices into or smart plugs so that you can automate when the power is connected to a device. For instance, you might set the time for the TV's power so it is only connected during peak use times like evenings or weekends. Investing in a smart thermostat that can keep your room comfortable, while optimizing for power consumption is a good investment for long-term savings. Similarly, installing LED light bulbs is an excellent investment that uses far less energy compared to incandescent lightbulbs. While the initial outlay might seem high, the savings add up over the years. You can also look into getting Energy Star products. Many of these products are rated to have lower standby power use than products that are not rated by Energy Star. Find additional resources for saving electricity As power bills get higher and more erratic over time, it's more vital than ever to find ways to save on electric costs. For instance, in addition to unplugging the devices in the home, you can take a look at our guide about turning off lights when not in use. Another key way to affect your electric/heating bill for the better is to know the ideal temperature you should set for your home. You can also review our guide on quick tips for saving on your gas and electric bill, like turning down your water heater or changing your air filters. More money-saving tips
CNET
20-05-2025
- Business
- CNET
7 Charities That Pick Up Furniture for Free
As we've found in a recent CNET survey, only 4% of US adults are considering purchasing at a 6% mortgage rate. Those moving during this time of high home buying costs and rates may be looking to save money during the process wherever possible. This may include choosing to donate furniture instead of paying to move it. While it may be tempting to sell it on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, it may be easier (and safer) to donate it to charity. Fortunately, many charities will handle the pickup for furniture donations for free. Everybody wins: You get to declutter your home before your move, and charities can pass along the furniture to people who need it. Learn which organizations will pick up your old stuff and what you need to know before donating. For more moving tips, check out the best moving companies of 2025 and how plastic moving boxes compare with cardboard. 7 charities that offer free furniture donation pickup Habitat for Humanity Working in more than 70 countries, Habitat for Humanity helps homebuyers with home construction and mortgage costs. At Habitat ReStore locations, furniture donations are sold to help fund the work. The list of accepted items is a little different at each store, but sofas, chairs and bed frames are usually fine. To schedule a pickup, enter your ZIP code to find your local ReStore. Some stores have an online scheduler, but you can also call them directly. Goodwill Goodwill is virtually synonymous with donations, but whether it'll make house calls is up to each individual location. You can use the store locator tool to find stores in your area that you can ask about pickups. Furniture Bank Network The Furniture Bank Network isn't a charity, but a directory of furniture banks across North America. You can use its map to find a local furniture bank in your area that's accepting donations. Almost all of them offer furniture pickups, but you may have to pay a fee. Salvation Army One of the oldest charities offering free donation pickup, the Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Donated items are sold in its thrift stores to fund a variety of services, including food and shelter assistance, disaster relief, and counseling. You can schedule a pickup with the Salvation Army by entering your ZIP code on its website and creating a list of everything you want to donate. Pick Up Please Pick Up Please is a for-profit company that pays the Vietnam Veterans of America for your donated items. The VVA then uses these funds to help veterans of all conflicts with claims assistance, outreach programs and legislative advocacy. One of the advantages of donating to Pick Up Please is the quick turnaround: It can generally pick up your donation within 24 hours. However, Pick Up Please accepts only smaller donations, like exercise equipment, bikes, office chairs and nightstands. The Arc Dedicated to supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, The Arc has more than 600 local chapters around the US, many of which offer free furniture pickup. You can find your local chapter here, and call or email to ask about donations. Each chapter has its own list of items it'll take, but clothing and furniture in good condition are generally accepted. Amvets Amvets, or American Veterans, is a volunteer-led nonprofit that supports veterans with claims assistance, health care and employment opportunities. Through its network of thrift stores, it sells donations to fund its programs. You can currently schedule an Amvets furniture donation pickup in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Texas, Oklahoma and in Washington, DC. What you need to know about donating your furniture Schedule your pickup early For most organizations, the earliest available pickup date is two or more weeks out -- especially during peak summer moving months. Make sure to schedule your pickup date as soon as you know your move date and the items you'll be donating. Donations are tax deductible Your furniture donations are entitled to a tax deduction, but they'll have to meet a few requirements: The charity you're donating to must be certified as a 501(c)(3) organization. You can look these up using the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search Tool. According to the IRS, you can take a deduction on your furniture donations only if the items are in "good used condition or better." After you've confirmed that your donations are eligible for a tax deduction, you'll need to determine the fair market value. (The IRS has a helpful guide here.) If you determine that an item is valued at over $500, you'll need to fill out Form 8283 with your tax return. You can also use Goodwill's estimated donation values for more information. Make sure your donations are accepted Don't assume that a charity will automatically take everything off your hands. Most organizations have detailed lists of the types of furniture they'll accept. For example, many places won't take mattresses or box springs. In general, everything you donate should be clean and in good working condition. As Goodwill explains, "Every truckload of unacceptable goods we take to the landfill is equal to three days of classroom instruction for someone whose goal is to get and keep a job." Donating your furniture before you move is a great way to cut down on moving costs and help out someone in need. For more tips on how to save money during your move, check out the best places to get moving boxes for free.
