How to substantially reduce your energy bills
Look in the attic – Attic insulation is taken for granted, many homeowners think they are covered when they are not. A well-insulated attic will give you substantial savings on your heating costs. Take a trip to your attic with a ruler/yardstick in hand, check the thickness of your insulation if the insulation under the joists is six inches or less thick, you need to adjust your R-Value. The R-Value is a heat flow resistance rating; the higher numbered signal has a better ability to protect against heat transfer. Most attics need an R-value of 38 or higher, which usually translates to at least one foot of insulation (check with a local insulation retailer for proper coverage in your area). Because colder climates need more protection, recommended R-values vary by country, so find out how much insulation you need (or log on to Simplyinsulate.com). New insulation isn’t cheap, but compared to what you lose in heating costs each year, it will pay for itself in no time and can reduce heating and cooling costs by 25 percent in just one year. And don’t forget, starting in 2006, you can get up to $500 in federal tax credits for insulating your home (for more information, visit energy.gov and click on The Energy Bill and You).
Where does that air come from? Replacing old windows with airtight ones may also qualify you for that tax break and can cut your home’s heat loss in half. But if you can’t afford to buy new windows this year, there are some cheaper alternatives that can still save you up to 10 percent a year. Check for leaks around windows and doors by holding a lit candle (you can also purchase a smoke/energy tester at your local dealer) in front of your window if the flame flickers you should find the leak and seal it. For an easy fix, apply peel-and-stick weather stripping, available at any hardware store. If you have some leaky windows, consider buying a plastic insulation kit (they sell for $3-$8) now your window won’t get the Better Home & Gardens Award, but it will block the cold and lower your heating costs. easy fix…
Fill those gaps – Getting rid of leaks can save you $$ on your annual heating bill. You should do a whole house inspection, not just windows and doors. Holes, gaps around pipes, cracks, dryer vents, fixtures, and outside outlets can be a significant source of heat loss. Take a look around the house and fill any cracks with silicone or acrylic caulks. For larger cracks/gaps (more than a half inch), use a spray sealer – a can of latex foam filler will do the job just fine. (Don’t forget that the foam will expand as it dries, so don’t overfill the gaps.)
Duct those joints – It’s funny how most of us use duct tape for everything except its intended purpose. You’re familiar with the heating/cooling ducts that run through basements, attics, and basements. Well, take that duct tape by taping on all the seams and leaks you can find to prevent hot/cooled air from escaping and in turn your heating/cooling system won’t have to work as hard. The results can turn your thermostat setting down several degrees and still feel just as warm. The Department of Energy estimates that leaky ducts can increase heating and cooling costs by hundreds of dollars a year. (Lots of money to save here)
Get your title: Reducing your water heater setting from a very HOT 140 degrees Fahrenheit to a HOT enough 120 degrees can save you nearly $50 a year. You can save another 10 percent by wrapping your hot water tank in a $15/$20 insulated blanket. To be sure, check with the heater manufacturer to see if your unit can be wrapped (a word of caution, insulating blankets are not recommended for gas heaters).
My feet are cold: Do you sit in your favorite room reading or watching TV and your feet get cold? You can feel that cold air. “Well, let’s leave it.” Rooms can lose heat through electrical outlets and light switches on exterior walls, because the spaces behind them are usually not insulated. To fix the problem, take a trip to the local hardware supplier and pick up some pre-cut outlet gaskets, they’re only a few bucks for an eight-pack. They are fairly easy to install (read the instructions before you start). Simply remove the screw on the outlet plate, place the insulating foam gaskets on the back of the outlet cover, and reattach. Repeat for the switch covers as well. Very easy…
Meet Watt’s – Watt: An easy cost saver is replacing your bulbs with new compact fluorescents (CFLs) that use nearly 75 percent less energy than conventional incandescent bulbs and provide 100 watts of illumination for only 32 watts of power. They will vary depending on what wattage bulb you buy. Replacing just five of your most frequently used light bulbs with fluorescents can cut your electric bill by more than $50 a year.
Upgrade Those Appliances: Newer models of washers, refrigerators and other appliances that carry the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star badge are big energy savers. Next time you’re at Lowe’s, Home Depot, or your favorite appliance store, take a look. I know we’ve all seen them but probably never bothered to read them, check it out. The average Energy Star appliance uses up to 50 percent less energy than one made a decade ago. That translates to substantial savings on your electric bill of approximately $20 in annual operating costs for a dishwasher, $55 for a refrigerator, and a whopping $110 for a washing machine.
Dampen It: Ah! Sitting in front of a good fire is a great way to relax and warm up, but it usually won’t save you money on heating in the long run. In fact, they could go up in smoke if you don’t close the hatch after the fire is out. If you get the chills in front of your fireplace when it’s not in use, check to make sure the damper is fully closed. If so, and you still feel a draft, your damper may not seal properly, have your damper checked by a professional in office season. Consider installing a set of glass doors that help save energy and look great too.
Where is it honey? Turning the thermostat down about 10 percent (for example, from 73 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit) for eight hours a day can save about 10 percent on your heating bill. There is another very inexpensive way to stay warm by simply adding a sweater or extra piece of clothing, but for most this is not attractive at all. It can even spice up your marriage or relationship, so before you go to bed, turn down the thermostat and snuggle up under a down comforter or electric blanket.
Flip the Fan – Here’s another great heat saver, did you know that by reversing your ceiling fan in the winter you can keep yourself warm for less? It will recirculate the hot air that goes up to the ceiling, recycling the heat back into the room (try the lowest setting). The fan costs just pennies a day to run, and for every degree you can turn down your thermostat, you should save an estimated 5 percent on your total heating bill. And you thought that fan was only for those hot and muggy nights!
Energy audits are good: Try the Home Energy Saver program at http://hes.lbl.gov, it lets you enter information about your home’s age, square footage, and other details to gauge its energy efficiency. Or you can check with your local energy provider and have them do heat loss checks via infrared cameras and door blower tests. (Check the cost, as it will vary from state to state) An energy audit typically costs between $25 and $400, and some energy companies offer free audits for low-income homes.
I hope this helps you save on your heating and cooling costs in the future.
Author
mike pulli