Every year it's the same story: A cold winter combines with rising energy prices to create an increasingly large dent in your pocketbook. Unfortunately, a lot of men assume they're powerless against this growing encroachment into their paycheck.
The truth is that there are plenty of easy little steps you can take to keep your energy bills from eating up your income. While it would be nice to tell you precisely how much you can save from implementing these tips, energy prices and environmental factors vary wildly, making any attempt at concrete dollar figures impossible. But, I'll do my best to provide an idea of how many kilowatt hours you can save so you can take these figures and compare them to your current energy rates.
saving energy around the house
Insulate: Because hot air rises and cold air descends, all the energy you put into heating your home ends up traveling to your ceiling, your roof and, lastly, outside. But with efficient insulation, you'll trap as much heat as possible, which results in using less energy altogether. Upgrading your attic with insulation of a R-21 or R-30 resistance rating will help you keep in escaping heat, as well as lock down the dollars in your bank account.Lower your thermostat: A 2º increase in your home's average temperature adds an extra 24 kilowatt hours to your monthly energy bill. So, if your home runs a little hot at 72º, try seeing how you feel at 70º. Ultimately, the goal is to heat your house to a comfortable temperature -- making it toasty or hot probably means that you're wasting energy. Remember: Balance is important -- it's not advisable to bring the thermostat so low that you can't walk around your house in light clothing.
Lower your hot water thermostat: Your hot water thermostat doesn't have to be all the way up to enjoy a hot shower -- in fact, most men have their's set too high. For every 10º that you lower your hot water tank, you'll save 25 kilowatt hours per month. And here's the best part: You can go as low as 120º and still get all the hot water you want.
Weatherproof your home: The idea here is to think of your house as a submarine; in order for it to work properly, it needs to be airtight. When you feel a draft, it's not just your comfort level that's reduced, you're also losing heat. Use caulking for cracks and put weather stripping around windows to make sure that hot air stays in and cold air stays out.
Fix leaky faucets: A leaky faucet is a waste -- pure and simple. One drip per second can add up to 20 kilowatt hours per month. The good news is that with a toolbox and a little bit of spare time, you can fix most leaks yourself.
saving energy with the power company
Get rebates:If you've installed energy saving equipment in your house, check with your utility company to see if this makes you eligible for a rebate. One piece of equipment that may earn you a rebate from the local power authority is a programmable thermostat -- which automatically adjusts the room temperature in your house depending on the time of day. That means that you'll be able to limit energy consumption when you're out at work but still maintain a comfortable living environment when you return home.Switch to fluorescent bulbs: It's estimated that lighting costs make up 10% of the average energy bill. Go fluorescent, lower your wattage and you'll see a savings. But, naturally, the size of the savings depends on how many lights you use in your home.
save energy through personal habits
Turn off your computer: A computer can put away a lot of power. And although you can save a significant amount of energy by using the sleep mode when you step away from the monitor, the real savings come when you shut down your computer when it isn't in use. So if you don't want to spend your night out worrying about how to pay for your drinks and your energy bill, make sure you turn off your computer before you leave the house.Wait for the heat: It's tempting to constantly raise and lower your thermostat throughout the day, but it's a huge waste. Because homes and apartments take time to heat and cool down, pick a good temperature and let the thermostat do the work. If you're always adjusting your room temperature, your heating system is constantly at work which, in the end, requires more energy.
Mind the stove: If you use a gas stove, you'll want to keep the burners clean, lest you waste gas and get an inefficient burn. If you're using an electric stove, shut off the burner a few minutes before you're finished cooking; the elements will keep their heat and you'll keep your cash.
Run major appliances at night: Energy rates vary during the day, so it pays to use your major appliances at off-peak hours. Take advantage of this little known fact and start running your dishwasher, washing machine and dryer at night.
Turn the lights off: If you've got fluorescent lights, you'll want to turn them off if your out of a room for more than 15 minutes. For other lights, you can save big bucks by adopting the simple habit of turning the lights off as you're leaving the room/house.
simple steps to saving energy
Saving energy isn't hard and, while there's always room for improvement, it doesn't have to be a task that consumes you. Try some of these tips and check next month's bill; you'll find that you can save money on energy almost without thinking about it. Remember: Little actions can add up to big savings.Resources:
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cheap/331Ways/Home/energy.asp
http://www.mrscleanjeans.net/pages/HOUSEHOLD/howtosaveonenergybills.html
http://www.ducksoftware.com/get-out-of-debt/utilities.html
http://www.home-improvement-and-repair.com/turn-off-lights-to-save-money.html
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