7 Ways to Lower Your Energy Bills
Are the bills piling up?
by Ethan Ewing, www.bills.com
If you’re like many Americans, you’re probably looking for ways to trim costs while the economy is in a down turn. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average American home will spend $990 on heating this year. Create a little breathing room in your budget with these 7 tips for lowering your winter energy bills.
- Protect your system. Change furnace filters regularly to keep your air clean and to ensure maximum air flow. If your home, apartment or condo unit has an individual furnace or boiler, have it inspected by a professional. A furnace that works properly will be more efficient and less likely to fail. For maximum savings, ask the service person for tips on ways you can maintain your system yourself.
- Turn down the heat. If your health permits, lower the thermostat to 68 degrees (or even lower). For every one degree the thermostat is lowered, heating costs decrease by up to 5 percent. At night, or when the home is empty, lower the temperature as far as possible while protecting your health and the safety of pipes. If necessary, stay cozy with an electric blanket.
- Program the temperature. Make furnace settings automatic by installing a programmable thermostat. These devices cost about $40 and are simple to install.
- Save hot water energy. Turn the temperature on the hot water heater to 120 degrees - or, if yours is equipped only with a scale, turn it down a notch. Most people can save up to 10 percent of water heating costs, maintaining plenty of hot water (and the water will be less likely to cause accidental scalding). If the hot water heater is situated in a cool area, consider adding an insulating jacket to help maintain water temperatures and reduce heating time. Insulate the first few feet of pipe that transport hot water from the water heater. If you need to replace a water heater, consider a tankless or “on-demand” unit. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates these appliances are 8 percent to 34 percent more efficient than conventional hot water tanks.
- Insulate. Carefully inspect your home for drafty spots where cold air can enter. The most common culprits are doors and windows. Install weather stripping and door sweeps to block drafts. Add old-fashioned “draft dodgers” for a quick fix at exterior doors. Other common areas for air leaks are locks, outlets, air conditioning units and recessed light fixtures. Cover outside vents, including air conditioning units. If possible, install insulated electrical outlet boxes and light fixtures. Check out The Energy Star program’s free guide to home insulation.
- Shop around. Those who purchase fuel oil have a choice of energy providers. Do compare prices to obtain the lowest rates.
- Take a tax credit. In 2009, homeowners who add certain efficiency measures to their homes can take a tax credit of up to 10 percent of the cost of the materials used, up to $500 per home. Learn more about tax credits here.
Photo by woodsy
For those of you who have yet to hear of the compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, they save you money while saving the planet! According to the US government’s Energy Star program, which advertises CFL bulbs and other substitutes for energy-hogging incandescents, a CFL uses 75% less energy than its counterpart, last up to 10 times longer and prevents more than 450 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere. As well as being beneficial to the earth, over its lifetime, a single CFL can save you $80 or more, depending on local electric rates. This is one way to go green that you don’t want to miss out on!
For the “greenest” and most efficient household products, check out
http://www.greencupboard.com
So I think, it is very important for us to use all these tips, because they will help us not only to save money, but also to take care about our environment.
The trick is to stay comfortable while turning your thermostat down. Sealing you doors and covering your windows with another layer of plastic will help. Wearing more personal insulation as in another layer of clothes helps too.
I have to say, that I can not agree with you in 100%, but it’s just my opinion, which indeed could be wrong.
p.s. You have a very good template . Where have you got it from?
It is very important information for us to use all these tips,which they will help us not only to save money,but also to take care about our environment change that to keep air clean and to ensure maximum air flow,The most common culprits are doors and windows.