Home Energy Saving Tips
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Learning home energy saving tips can save you money and keep your toes warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Simple modifications to your current lifestyle can result in big savings. Initially, you may spend money now to implement certain methods, but eventually you'll recoup the outlay cost and benefit from future savings.
Simple Home Energy Saving Tips
Before you overhaul your lifestyle, there are some simple tips that can result in big savings. They are of little cost to you. In fact, most do not require much time, effort, or supplies, either.
One of the easiest ways to save money is to simply turn off items when not in use.
- Do not leave lights on in empty rooms.
- Turn computers and other high-energy products off after you have finished with them for the day.
- Unplug cell phone chargers and other non-essential items when not in use. They will still draw electricity, even if not powering a product.
Other helpful tips include:
- Buy lower wattage light bulbs.
- Put up plastic window insulation in the winter, or invest in storm windows and doors.
- Place towels or door jam covers to keep drafts from coming in the cracks of windows or doors.
- Keep basement and attic doors shut.
- Turn off or block the heat or central air in rooms that are not in use.
- Turn heat down at night in the winter and central air up in the summer.
- Use a fan to help circulate cool central air.
- If you have access to hay, place bales around the outside foundation of your home in the winter to further insulate it.
- Keep curtains shut during the hottest part of the day in the summer to keep the sunshine out.
Advanced Tips for Energy Savings
More advanced ways to save energy involve more time, effort, and possibly a little upfront money on your part. But in the long run, the savings will be worth the trouble.
Audit Your Energy Use
One of the first things you can do is visit the Home Energy Saver website. Using information provided by you, it uses simulations from the Department of Energy to figure out how to help your home become more energy efficient, based on your current use and home configurations.
Another way to check up on your home energy use is to call your local energy company. They often have a program where an expert will inspect your home and make suggestions on how to save energy and money with some easy improvements.
During this consultation, many energy companies will give you free items such as water-saving shower heads, faucet tips, light bulbs, and felt stripping to aid your efforts.
Heating and Cooling
Keeping up with maintenance on heating and cooling systems may seem like a pain now, but updating or repairing these items will keep your home running as efficiently as possible and save money.
- Check for cracks in the insulation, in attics, in the basement, and around windows and doors. Caulk these areas or line them with felt stripping
- Always replace air filters before you turn on either a central air or heating system each season. Also, regularly check filters and change them when they are dirty.
- Lower the winter night heating temperature to 58 degrees or less and raise the summer night cooling temperature to 78 degrees. For every degree you alter, you'll save an average of three percent per degree on your energy bill. Programmable thermostats can do this for you. They range from $25-to-$65, depending on the features.
- Water heating is another potential energy drain. Turn down the thermostat on the heater, and insulate pipes surrounding it. Many energy experts also recommend wrapping the water heater in a "blanket": a piece of insulation you can purchase at any home store for under $20 that helps keep the water in the tank warmer longer. Also, remove sediment from the heater every few months. Check the owner’s manual with your particular heater for instructions or call a professional.
Water
To save money on water, only do full loads of laundry and dishes, and use cooler cycles. Take short showers instead of baths. Replace all leaky faucets and check for plumbing leaks regularly. Consider replacing your current shower head for an energy-efficient one.
When you buy a new toilet, look for one that uses less water per flush. In the meantime, add a gallon sized milk jug filled with water to your tank to use less water each time it fills. The milk jug will displace the water, making the toilet think it has more water in it than it really does.
More Information and Savings
For more home energy saving tips, contact your local energy company. In addition to the in-home consultation, they often have pamphlets with suggestions and tips on saving money that are specific to your geographical region. Additionally, they may offer workshops on how to do home improvements yourself.
When shopping for new appliances like central air systems, air conditioners, water heaters, windows, and furnaces, compare models and brands to find the most efficient. Look for the EnergyStar seal.
For a breakdown of how long it takes for improvements to pay for themselves, see page two of the Energy Ideas Clearinghouse fact sheet.
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