Gas / Electric / Water
We all know that you can save money by turning the thermostat down a few degrees in the winter and up a few degrees in the summer, but who wants to be uncomfortable. One easy and inexpensive answer is to install a programmable thermostat with a timer. The timer can be set with a weekday and a weekend program. When the house is empty during the day the temperature can go up or down a few degrees and the same when everyone is sleeping.
Weather stripping should be used around drafty doors and windows. If you walk around your house on a cold and windy winter day you can easily feel where the worst problem areas are.
One of the best ways to save on heating and cooling is to have a lot of mature trees on your property. If you don’t plan on staying in your house more than a few years this tip won’t help you any, but if you plan to stay put plant those trees now.
Check the temperature on your hot water heater. It should be set to 120 degrees – this saves energy and is also a safety feature if you have small children who could burn themselves with hot water. If you can’t tell what temperature your hot water is set to use a food thermometer to measure the water. Turn on the water and let it run for two a couple of minutes, then hold the thermometer in the stream of running water until the temperature stops going up. Check your user’s manual for instructions on adjusting your hot water heaters temperature. It will use 3-5% less energy for every 10 degrees you lower the temperature. If you plan to be away from home for a few days turn the temperature down to the lowest possible setting.
Wash all but your dirtiest clothes in cold water; they will be just as clean. Wash full loads when possible. Tear your dryer sheets in half and only use one-half per dryer load, you won’t be able to tell the difference.
Turn off the lights when you leave a room. It is not true that it takes more energy to turn on a light then it does to just leave them on for ten minutes. Florescent light bulbs use less energy than standard light bulbs. If you are planning to replace or add a light fixture consider something that uses florescent bulbs.
Use water saving showerheads or simply do not use the water full force. Save the long luxurious shower for an occasional treat. Make sure you have a full load before running the dishwasher. Also, let the dishes air dry instead of using the dryer feature on your dishwasher. Watering your lawn in the summer can double or triple your water bill. If you feel you must water your lawn, water in the early morning or evening so less water evaporates, and consider watering only the front yard.
When purchasing new appliances read the yellow and black “EnergyStar” labels to see how the appliance compares to other models.
For more energy saving tips visit the Department of Energy web site at www.energy.gov. Also, contact your utility company and ask about a free energy audit.