FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2012
Your home is most likely one of the biggest users of energy in your life. Day in and day out, your home is using energy to keep you warm in the winter, cool in the summer, heat your meals and cool your milk. It uses energy to keep your lights on, your water hot and your clothes clean.
 Energy bills often go up during the peak seasons, which are typically July-August and January – March. It is during this time, that going the extra mile to save energy everyday can make a big impact on your power bills.
Here are a few tips to use the energy in your home as efficiently as possible.
1. Be sure you are using energy-efficient appliances. Most appliances today come with an energy efficiency rating. Be sure you are not using old appliances that suck more energy than they need. Keep your appliances maintained to be sure they are working as efficiently as possible, change the filter in your heater every 3 months
2. Operate your appliances to their full capacity, only turning on your washing machine and dishwasher when you have a full load. When possible, consider air drying your clothing on an indoor drying rack.
3. Use daytime light as much as possible. Opening your blinds can provide just as much light as turning on a light bulb, and it’s free!
4. Use dimmer switches and energy-efficient light bulbs in lamps and overhead lighting to get more use for your money.
5. Be sure you have proper insulation and air sealing techniques in your home. There’s no point in heating your home when all the heat is seeping outside. Check and seal any ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, unheated basement, or garage with duct sealant or metal-backed tape.
6. Use your landscaping to your advantage. Consider your homes climate when planning your landscaping to decrease your watering or cooling needs.
7. Adjust your water heater to the lowest setting when you are away or out of town. This will eliminate energy uses of heating your water when you will not be home.
8. Use trees and other plants to help shade the main windows in your house to keep your home cool in the summer and to provide windbreaks around your home in the winter.
9. Monitor your heating and cooling. Heating and cooling accounts for more than half of the energy use in a typical home, and therefore, is the largest expense. Keep your temperature between 65 and 68 degrees and use other techniques such as blankets, warm clothing, or a fireplace to add extra warmth on cold days.
10. Wash your clothes in cold water. You can now find detergent specifically formulated for cold water washing, which will provide you the same cleanliness without the cost of extra water heating.
11. If possible, use your programmable thermostat to decrease your heating while you’re away from home during work days, when you are out of town, and/or at night.
12. Break out the cocoa and blankets. Add a blanket to each bed at the beginning of December. This extra warmth will eliminate the need for space heaters. If necessary, use electric blankets, but turn them off before you fall asleep. Adding cocoa and soup to your diet can help warm everybody up without the additional cost of extra energy.
Doing a few simple steps around your house can help keep you warm and cozy while saving you a few extra dollars.
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By Matt Reynolds - Google+
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