Things You'll Need:
- Insulation
- Sealant
- Plastic coverings for windows
- fans
- extra blankets
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Step 1
There are numerous ways to save money on your heating and electric bill, as well as to conserve energy. We will start with the easiest and most straight forward items first. Set your thermostat to the lowest, yet comfortable level you can stand. Keeping it 5 degrees lower at night will help reduce your energy bill and you can sleep in sweat shirts and use extra blankets to stay warm. Programmable thermostats do a wonderful job of regulating your home heating.
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Step 2
Make sure personal electronic products are completely turned off or unplugged. Items such as dvd players, vcrs, televisions, clocks, etc., use 75% of their energy when they are not in use. Even when they are turned off, many of these items have red or other flashing lights that drain energy. Turn off your coffee maker after the second cup of coffee and save the remainder of the pot in an insulated container.
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Step 3
A big energy saver is to clean thoroughly behind and around your refrigerator, especially the coils on the back, every three months or as needed. Refrigerators use massive amounts of energy. Staying on top of this will help keep your energy bill low. Also, do not stand with the refrigerator door open and put foods in the refrigerator after they are cooled.
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Step 4
When doing dishes, scrape food from plates and bowls instead of rinsing them. Make sure the drain in your dishwasher is clean and unclogged. Only wash with a full load of dishes, placed in the appropriate location to maximize efficiency. Avoid using the "rinse hold" setting. This can waste between 4 and 7 gallons of water per cycle. Air dry dishes instead of using the dry cycle.
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Step 5
When doing laundry, make sure you have a full load. Wash using cold water. Do not over use detergent. This will make your washer overwork. Also, dry more than one load of clothes directly after one another. This will help retain heat and save energy. Do not overload your dryer, however.
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Step 6
In winter months, make sure all of your windows are double or triple paned. Use quilted and heavy drapes or curtains. They will keep in heat. Seal or calk around windows that let in excess cold. Keep drapes and shades closed at night and open during the day. Close chimney flues and seal unused fireplaces.
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Step 7
Attics should have 5 to 7 inches of insulation, at the very minimum. Houses lose 40% of their heat through the roof if attics are not insulated. So, grab a step ladder and a flashlight and trot up to the attic. You never know, it may save you a chunk of change!
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Step 8
Bleed trapped air from hot water radiators at least once or twice a season. Insulating hot water pipes will keep water hot longer and allow you to set your hot water temperature to a lower level. Take showers instead of baths and try to use a slow drip shower head to save water.
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Step 9
Keep doors to the basement, garage, attic, and other areas of little use closed. Keep the temperature in bathrooms lower than the rest of the house by keeping the doors closed. Use a space heater when you take showers on a very cold day.
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Step 10
A ceiling fan will help evenly distribute heat throughout your home. In warmer weather, try to use fans instead of an air conditioner. If you must use one, make sure the fresh air vent is closed so you aren't cooling outside air. Also, keep the ac unit clean and free of debris so that it runs at its maximum efficiency.
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Step 11
Finally, clean or inspect your furnace once a year. And, change out your old bulbs for fluorescent bulbs. They use 14/ht the energy of traditional bulbs and last six times longer.
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Step 12
Once you get into the habit of saving energy, it can become addicting, especially when you start seeing the dramatic decrease in your home energy bills.
Comments
pianistic said
on 4/2/2008 Good article.
TailboneDoctor said
on 3/22/2008 Great tips! Thanks.