How to Save 50% on Gas and Electric Bills for All Seasons

A slower-running electric meter means more money in your pocket.

Whether you're a tenant, a landlord or you own your own home, energy efficiency is an important concern if you pay the utility bills. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average monthly electric bill is more than $100, but it can be significantly higher, depending on the season and where you live. Gas for heating and cooking raises the bill even more, so it's smart to find ways to reduce energy consumption. The California Energy Commission estimates that Americans use twice as much energy to heat their homes than necessary, so reducing this waste is a good start.

Things You'll Need

• Insulation
• Acrylic caulk
• Spray foam insulation
• Wooden trim
• Silicone caulk

Instructions

1. Insulate the living space to conform with the insulation standards for your locality. Consult the climate zone map provided by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory on their website to find the insulation requirements for your climactic zone. If the building is already insulated, you can add more by blowing loose fill cellulose or fiberglass into the walls and the attic. It will not only make the building easier to heat in the winter, but will also keep in cooler in summer and reduce the need for air conditioning.

2. Seal gaps through which hot air can leave the building in winter and enter it in summer. These include around door and window frames, at the junctions of walls or a wall and the floor or ceiling, gaps behind cabinets and even around electrical outlets and switch boxes. You can seal small gaps with acrylic caulk, but for larger ones, use spray foam insulation or even wooden trim if necessary. Install weatherstripping around all doors and windows that open. Seal all windows with a bead of clear silicone caulk.

3. Encourage the use of open windows and fans to keep the living space cool in the summer rather than using the air conditioner. If the building has central air conditioning, set the thermostat to 78 degrees when it is occupied and 85 degrees when it isn't.

4. Wear warm clothing indoors in the winter and set the central heating system to 68 degrees during the day and 55 degrees at night, when people are sleeping.

5. Install low-flow toilets in all the bathrooms and repair leaking toilets and faucets as soon as possible. A leaking toilet can waste 10,000 gallons of water a year and a leaking faucet can waste over 2,000 gallons during the same period. Supplying water represents one of the biggest municipal uses of electricity, and while you won't be charged for it directly, the cost will probably be passed on to you as taxes. Moreover, you'll have to pay for the wasted water.

6. Retrofit all incandescent light bulbs in the building with energy-efficient compact fluorescent or LED bulbs. Besides using a fraction of the energy to produce the same amount of light, they will last much longer. Encourage occupants to turn the lights off when not in use, or replace the light switches with timers.

Tips & Warnings

• If the building has an old refrigerator, replace it with an energy-saving one and keep the door closed. If the seal around the door is worn, replace it.

• Unplug appliances, gaming devices and other electronic equipment when not in use. Many continue to draw power even when they're off.

References

• U.S. Energy Information Administration: Electricity Explained
• Energyquest: Saving Energy
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Insulation Recommendations for New Wood-Framed Houses
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Insulation