A bill recently introduced in California would ban the sale of energy-hogging incandescent light bulbs by 2012. Aside from changing your light bulbs, there are some other things you can do around the house to save you energy and money.
1: Take an energy audit
Your home isn't very energy efficient if you have less than six inches of insulation in your attic, if your furnace is 10 years or older, or you have lots of windows on the North side and you live in a cold climate, according to the Alliance to Save Energy.
But, there are some specific calculations you can make to determine just how energy efficient your home is. Take a free energy audit online at the Department of Energy's Web site. This tool can tell you where your home is leaking energy and what you can do about it.
2: Cut the drafts
The average house loses up to 20 percent of its heat or air-conditioning leakage from air ducts alone, according to Energy Star. Make sure you repair your leaky ducts and seal drafty doors, windows and baseboards.
An easy way to figure out where the leaks may be, is to light a candle or some incense near your windows and doors and see where the flame flickers. Reducing drafts in a home could save you up to 30 percent on your utility bill annually.
3: Replace your appliances
Replacing your appliances with Energy Star appliances is another way to benefit your wallet.
First, Energy Star products are intended to exceed energy efficiency levels of other products by 20 to 75 percent. It is estimated that the average household could save $400 a year just by using Energy Star Products.
You'll also want to get in touch with your utility company to see what tax incentives and rebates are offered for replacing water-guzzling or power-hogging appliances with eco-friendly ones. To find out more about Energy Star products, go to energystar.gov.
4: Get unplugged
You might not know it, but all those little gadgets you keep plugged in are taking a toll on your electricity bill. You know, those things like your Ipod charger, your cell phone and Blackberry charger.
Even keeping the coffee pot plugged in is wasting energy and costing you money. In fact, all these devices make up about 5 percent of your bill! Here's a tip: turn off that computer and unplug these vampire appliances, and you'll be taming the wild energy hog.
5: Think flat screen
To cut your energy bill, you may also want to consider replacing that bulky computer monitor you have in the home office. A flat panel computer screen uses a third of the electricity of regular computer monitors. The difference is that same as if you leave a 50-watt bulb on all year.
And if you're thinking about replacing that big screen TV, think about investing in an LCD - it uses half the energy of a plasma TV.
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Thursday, December 13, 2007
Easy ways to cut your energy bill
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Methods to reduce your utility costs at home
Well, we’re all reeling from our utility bills. We are all aware of the rising costs of utilities. So, what can you do to cut energy/utility consumption and costs?
Obviously, the best way to cut your utility bill is to go with a non-utility company source of energy. Solar power or Wind power can be used to warm your house, it is known that geothermal can be used to cool and heat the home. While these are great choices, there are a few simple steps you can take to cut that monstrous utility bill.
Vent Covers – In most homes, there are rooms that rarely get used. A very simple and very cheap way to cut your heating costs is to isolate those rooms from the rest of your home. To do this, you should close the vents in the room. The vents, however, rarely close well. To make the strategy effective, you should buy vent covers and place them over the vents. The covers are a form of plastic and keep heat from coming out of the vents. Next, close the door to the room in question and leave it. By using this strategy, you can effectively make your home smaller by excluding the square footage that has to be heated. The smaller the area, the less energy you will use and save money to heat the home. (for safety reasons use carbon monoxide detectors.
Windows – Windows are the single biggest energy wasters in your home. Your windows must seal tightly. If they don’t, heat will escape out of them causing your heater to fire up over and over. If you make sure your window fit tightly into the frame when closed, you can significant cut the utility bill. It sounds like a small thing, but it really ads up. (it also reduces wind and increases comfort level). During the summer shade you windows with landscaping or owning. (window shades or curtains)
Programmable Thermostat – Heating your home accounts for fifty percent of your utility bill. While a warm home is necessary for basic living in the winter, the home doesn’t need to be heated all of the time. If there are periods during the day where nobody is home because of work or school, a programmable thermostat can be used to slash your heating costs. Simply program the thermostat to turn off during the relevant time and turn back on before anyone gets home. Cutting four to eight hours off of your heating needs each day will add up quickly on your utility bill, you can also lower the temperature a few degrees. Adding a humidifier can also increase the comfort level and save energy during the winter heating season.
Furnace filter should be checked and changed regularly. Reduce drafts and insulate your air ducts. Wrap your hot water heater to maintain the heat. Insulate your attic and install attic fan(s). Utilize energy efficient light bulbs indoor and outdoor (CFL/LED). Shut off lights and appliances when not in use. Use photocell to turn on and off outdoor lighting. Utilize rebates and tax credits minimize the costs of implementing energy saving methods and supplies/equipment.
During Summer in geographical areas where temperature at night drops bellow 65 degrees, open windows and bring in fresh air with a fan (which is healthier) and shut down the Air conditioning system.
Utilize water saver aerators for you faucets and shower, repair all leaky faucets and toilets, and reduce toilet tank capacity.
Review your telecom/cellphone/internet/cable bill quarterly and modify the service according to your current requirements and available programs.
If your utility bills are completely out of control, there is something fundamentally wrong with your home. You need to go ahead and get an Energy Audit. An auditor will come out and inspect your home. They can then identify the problem, what should be done and provide other tips and methods to slash your bill. Depending on how bad your situation is, an energy audit can cut your utility bill by 50 percent or more and utility bill audit may get you a refund.
Power costs are high and expected to continue to increase for the foreseeable future. Take proper steps to cut your utility bill now and you will reap the benefits for years.
Yehuda Draiman, Energy Consultant
Dec. 24, 2007
I have created an ‘Electricity Usage Calculator’ to assist in finding out where your household’s electricity usage is highest.
I managed to figure out that my geyser (water cylinder) is NOT the electricity guzzler that I thought it was!
I also have my views on whether it does or doesn't save money by turning off your geyser....
See here for more: http://handytechtips.blogspot.com/2008/03/does-time-switch-on-your-geyser.html
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