Slash Your Home Energy Bills
Do you feel depressed every time an energy bill arrives in the mail? If so, you’re not alone – it seems like the cost of energy is going up all the time and eating into everyone’s household budgets. In fact, the average American home spends about $107 a month on electricity alone, and that goes up to over $200 in places like Hawaii. When you add in the cost of heating and hot water, the amount we spend on energy each year is truly astounding.
Fortunately, if you want to reduce your home energy bills dramatically then there are lots of options available. Many of these don’t have any impact on your standard of living, and don’t cost a lot to do. Of course, there are major investments you can make, such as putting in solar panels, but it’s perfectly possible to save big dollars just by doing something as simple as not filling your kettle up to the top when you want a cup of tea.
Let’s start with your heating. If you live somewhere like Denver, winters are cold and your heating bills are astronomical. Unless you’re someone like Scott Reiman Denver winters put real pressure on your finances. However, did you know that for every degree you lower your thermostat, you can reduce your heating bill by up to 3%? For instance, if you turn it down to 68 degrees from 72 degrees, you may be able to save 12% – and if you turn it down further at night time and when you’re out of the house, you’ll save even more. Even better, the chances are you won’t even notice the difference.
Aside from turning down your thermostat, there are other ways to lower your heating costs. For instance, if you have old windows, seal around them to stop drafts. Also, make sure that you put weather-stripping around your doors. If you add up the number of leaks in the average home, it’s like having a 4’ x 4’ hole in one of your walls. Just imagine how much warm air you’re losing. Putting insulation in the attic is also a great way of getting your heating bills under control.
Water heating is another thing that you can save huge amounts of money on. First of all, there is absolutely no reason to have your water boiling hot – in fact, the chances are you’ll end up being scalded at some point. Turn your water heater down to around 130 degrees – the water will still be warm enough and you’ll save lots of energy. You can also lower your hot water consumption simply by putting in modern low-flow shower heads. These reduce the amount of water that you use by over 50% – and thanks to their design, you’ll most probably get a better shower than you do now.
Image source: http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2010/07/22/0145334_weatherstripping_s4x3_lg.jpg
Finally, get rid of your incandescent light bulbs. New compact fluorescent light bulbs can save you up to 70% of the energy you use for lighting, and they now give off a warm, natural light – unlike old fluorescent tubes. Not only that, but they last longer than incandescent bulbs, which means that you’ll save even more money.
Category: Home Renovation, Save Energy
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