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Utility costs are rising all the time with no end in sight, and everyone is looking for ways to save energy so they can keep these costs under control.
Energy conservation is no longer the dry, boring topic no one wants to discuss. Now every household is looking for conservation tips to keep life affordable yet still comfortable.
Happily, saving energy is good for communities and the environment too. The following ten easy ways to save energy are quick, affordable, and result in substantial, noticeable savings right away:
- Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs. These funny looking bulbs do cost more initially, but they last ten times as long as incandescent light bulbs and use 75% less energy. According the Department of Energy, each compact fluorescent bulb saves a homeowner $30 over the course its lifetime. Multiply that savings by all the bulbs in your house and it adds up to a nice chunk of change.
- Install low-flow showerheads and limit shower time. Long showers feel luxurious because they are: A four-minute shower under a standard showerhead uses 40 gallons of water. If your whole household routinely takes 15 or 20-minute daily showers, you are wasting thousands of gallons of water weekly and paying for every drop of it.
- Wash your clothes in cold water. Heating water uses up more energy than anything else in your house. Washing clothes in cold water and drying them outside in warm weather can result in dramatic energy savings, and the clothes often get just as clean as they do when you use hot water.
- Buy a programmable thermostat and use it. A programmable thermostat will keep your room temperature steady when you are home and lower it when you are not, saving big money off your home heating bills. If you usually keep your thermostat at 73 in the winter, try lowering it to 70 or even 68 and putting on a sweater. You’ll notice the difference in your bill.
- Caulk, caulk, caulk. Plugging leaks around windows, doors, and leaks in the space between the foundation and the house frame can dramatically warm your living space and save you big money off utility bills.
- Check your insulation. Inadequate insulation is very common. Measure the depth of your insulation in your attic and check it against the recommended level in your part of the U.S. Bringing your insulation up to or in excess of the recommended amount is usually a tax-deductible expense. You can find ‘R-value’ charts for your locale in any major home improvement store or online.
- Replace energy hog appliances with Energy Star appliances. You may not be able to run out and replace every older appliance in your home today, but as appliances wear out, make sure you replace them with newer models that have the Energy Star label. The cost of running Energy Star appliances for a year is printed right on the label stuck to the outside, so comparison shopping is easy.
- Install a low-flow toilet or put a bottle in the tank. Standard toilets use 7 gallons of water per flush. Energy-saving toilets use 1.6 gallons of water per flush. If you can’t afford to replace your toilet right now, fill a plastic bottle with some sand and water and place it inside the tank. The bottle will displace water and save you money each time the toilet flushes.
- Water lawns and wash clothes in off-peak hours. Many municipalities offer lower electric and/or water rates during off hours, usually in the evening or very early in the morning. Learn the rates in your locale and do your washing and watering when rates are lower.
- Keep equipment running efficiently. Poorly maintained heating and cooling systems will cause them to work harder, using more energy and costing you more money. Be sure to follow the manufacturers' recommendations for cleaning and servicing your heating and cooling systems in your home.
Most people are surprised by how much money they can save making simple changes to their routines, or by making simple repairs and upgrades. For more information, check your local utility Web site and the U.S. Department of Energy online.
Ten Ways to Save Energy and Money At The Same Time: Created on March 22nd, 2010. Last Modified on January 21st, 2014
