Energy-Saving Tips will show you how
easy it is to reduce your home energy use and start lowering your
bills. These tips cover practically everything that uses energy in your
home from your lights to your heating and cooling system.
Whether it's putting on a sweater instead of turning up the heat or
seeking out the advice of an expert, you have the ability to conserve
energy and save money.
Nearly everyone can reduce the amount of natural gas they use by taking
a few simple and cost-effective steps.
During the winter months, keep your thermostat between 65-70°.
When you go to sleep or leave the house, dial your thermostat down.
Open your blinds or drapes to let the sun in on sunny winter days.
At night, close them to help insulate your windows from the cold.
Don't heat space you don't use. Close the vents and shut the doors
of less-used rooms and open them up when you need them.
Warm air quickly rises out of your comfort zone, which leaves you
down in the cold. Direct your heating registers so that they're blowing
horizontally across the floor instead of straight up. If you have
ceiling fans, set them in the summer so that you feel a breeze coming
down (usually counterclockwise). In the winter, reverse the fan's
direction and operate it at a low speed to bring your warm, heated air
down where you need it.
Put lids on pots when you're cooking on the stove. The contents will
heat up faster and you'll use less natural gas.
Fifteen percent of what you're spending on natural gas probably goes
to heating water. Take shorter showers and wait for a full load before
you run the washing machine or dishwasher. Set your water heater at
"warm" rather than "hot," and use a thermometer to make sure that what
comes out of the tap is no more than 120 degrees.
You may not need as much hot water as you think. For example, laundry
detergents today can often clean clothes in cold water, so you can run
your washing machine at lower temperatures.
Change or clean your furnace filter at least once per month. Clogged
filters reduce airflow and make your furnace work harder.
Buy a water heater blanket and follow the instructions to wrap it
tightly around your water heater. It's a cost-effective way to help your
water heater run more efficiently.
Reduce consumption of hot water by installing water flow restrictors
on your showerheads and faucets.
Install a programmable thermostat so that you can have the temperature
dialed down automatically at night. You can even use it to warm your place
up before you get up in the morning. It will be more comfortable in your
home and the savings can be dramatic.
If you own your home or are responsible for your appliances, replacing old
appliances can be an excellent way to save money over the long term. Today's
appliances are often much more effective and usually consume less energy.
Even if you rent, you may be able to persuade your landlord to replace
outdated appliances with something that will lower your monthly natural gas
bills.
When buying a new appliance, look for the EnergyStar® label. EnergyStar
appliances meet energy efficiency guidelines written by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. When shopping,
be sure to compare energy efficiency ratings and annual operating costs.
Preventing even the smallest of leaks decreases energy consumption and lowers
your bills. A typical home loses a houseful of warm air every hour. Making an
effort to prevent heat loss can reduce energy bills by as much as 10 percent.
Common areas for leaks are where walls meet floors and ceilings, where
plumbing or ductwork enters a wall, around doors and windows and even through
electrical outlets.
Caulk and weather-stripping are sufficient for sealing most leaks. To stop air
from exiting through wall outlets, you can install an insulating material found
at most hardware stores. If you have a fireplace or fans and vents that exit to
the outside, make sure they're closed and covered for the winter season.
Other weatherproofing tips include:
Use weather-stripping around door frames.
Caulk and seal around plumbing pipes, window frames and doors.
EnergyStar®,
a government-sponsored site, provides a fun and interactive tool that
educates you on how to conserve energy in every room of your home.
Each room contains a number of "stars" on items that could help cut
energy costs and help conserve.
Home Energy Saver,
a government site, lets you conduct your own home energy audit. Enter
your zip code to find out about average homes in your area and the
difference in cost between an energy-efficient home and a regular home.
Plus, answer a few simple questions to find out exactly how much you
could save in energy costs.
Keep Warm Illinois,
a state-sponsored site designed to provide helpful tips for home energy
conservation, provides a list of tips for each section of your home,
DIY Network
contains valuable information on weatherproofing your home yourself and a
number of other do-it-yourself projects aimed at making your home more
energy efficient.
