Energy Saving Tips

What can I do to lower my utility bills today?

1. Turndown the temperature on your water heater to the warm setting (120°F).
2. Check your appliances for and start using energy-savings settings on refrigerators, dishwashers, televisions, washing machines and clothes dryers.
3. Change out your incandescent light bulbs on the lights that you use several hours per day with compact fluorescents (CFLs) Every light bulb you change will use 75% less energy, the cost of CFLs are dropping every day.
4. Check your old appliances and consider replacing them with high efficiency Energy Star appliances, especially your refrigerator, if it is more than 15 years old, it is costing you 2-3 times what a new one would.
5. Wash your clothes in cold water, detergents are better than ever and most of your clothes will come clean in cold water.
6. Change your furnace filter regularly; a dirty filter will cost you in the long run.
7. Unplug electronics that you do not use regularly, stereos, DVD players, etc… phantom loads from the items can add up to hundreds of dollars per year.

What can I do to lower my utility bills this Week?

1. Install low flow shower heads, low flow faucet aerators
2. Insulate your water heater with a insulating blanket, take care not to create a fire hazard around the pilot light access.
3. Caulk leaky windows, a lot of air is lost around window trim, inside and out.

 What can I do to lower my utility bills this Month?

1. Inspect your attic and crawl space for insulation.
2. Insulate your hot water pipes, especially close to the water heater.
3. Look for and seal the air leaks especially the large ones, plumbing penetrations, gaps around chimneys and recessed lights. Better yet, hire an energy auditor with a blower door to point out where the worst cracks are. All the little, invisible cracks and holes may add up to as much as an open window or door, without you ever knowing it!

What can I do to lower my utility bills this Year?

1. Insulate your walls that aren’t insulated, have a insulation contractor apply blow in insulation to the walls, bring your attic insulation up to levels for this area – R49–R60.
2. Look into replacing inefficient appliances, the cost impact of some older appliances are probably having a bigger impact on your utility bills than you think.
3. Have your heating and cooling system tuned up and at that time have your contractor quote you a new unit, he can tell you what a new system could save you.
4. Consider upgrading or replacing old windows.  Make sure that you hire a qualified contractor.

Schedule an energy audit for more expert advice on your home as a whole, or learn how to conduct your own by visiting the Home Energy Saver Web site. A directory of available energy audit services by state is available at RESNET.

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