10 Ways To Save Home Energy That Can Save Big Money

Although a lot of folks know they need to save home energy to help the environment, most are more interested in reducing energy consumption to lower their utility bills and save their hard-earned money.

Here are 10 ways you can save your home energy, most of which are quick and easy solutions that if put into practice around the house right away could actually lower your next month energy bill.

1. Control Your Thermostat

Heating and cooling represent a huge part of your monthly energy bill and adjusting the thermostat at your every whim wastes a lot of energy. Keeping it at a constant and comfortable temperature is a smart way to save home energy. If it gets a little cold, try adding a couple of blankets to the bed or layer your clothing before fiddling with the thermostat.

2. Check For Drafts

Without proper insulation, a large amount of energy is wasted trying to heat or cool the outside of your house. Make sure the insulation is tight around your windows and doors. Other areas to check for drafts are electrical outlets, attic hatches, wall-mounted air conditioners and plumbing fixtures, particularly the outside faucets.

3. Proper Maintenance

Make sure that all your energy-consuming appliances perform at their peak efficiency. Sometimes, even just a bit of cleaning is all that is needed. This is particularly true of refrigerators. Dirty coils cause your refrigerator to use more energy than anything else, and you can easily clean them with your vacuum cleaner.

4. Buy Star Energy Appliances

Whenever you purchase new appliances, always look at the Energy Efficiency Ratio. This ratio tells you whether a specific item wastes any energy in performing its tasks. To really save home energy, make sure you purchase appliances with an energy efficiency ratio of 10 or more.

5. Turn Off Your Lights

Too much energy is wasted simply because people neglect to turn off the lights when not in use. Adults can be just as careless as children when it comes to this bad habit. We have all seen homes with porch lights on during the day or left on all night, maybe even our own. This saving energy tip is one well worth getting under control.

6. Switch to Fluorescent Compact Bulbs

In all aspects, incandescent bulbs are inferior to fluorescent bulbs. The newer energy saving bulbs may cost a little more upfront, but the savings you will reap on your utility bill will more than make up for it. Plus, the fluorescent bulbs last up to twelve times longer.

7. Kill Energy Vampires

Before you take out your stake, you have to know what energy vampires are. Well, these are actually the little energy-consuming items that you think do not need to be unplugged. Think about your television, your microwave, your air conditioner and practically every other appliance that has a little digital clock that people feel need to be running at all times. Did you know that just by unplugging those appliances, you can reduce your electricity bill by up to 30%?

8. Nature Is Your Friend

You can use the "greenhouse effect" to save energy around the house, and this tip works. During the summer, close your drapes during the hottest time of the day to keep the temperature cooler inside the house. During the winter, open them up and let the sunshine help warm the inside of the house.

9. Close The Refrigerator Door

A common scene in many homes is someone standing in front of an open refrigerator while finishing a beverage and thinking about what they want to eat or drink next. This is a big waste of electricity, as it allows heat to unnecessarily get inside the appliance and increase the energy it needs to cool down.

10. Eco-Friendly Redesign

Design your home to be more ecologically friendly. These designs maximize energy efficiency and often incorporate alternative-energy technology such as solar power panels. Upgrading to energy efficient windows and doors are common in redesign. Make sure you purchase the ones you can get a tax credit for at the end of the year. That way you can realize even more savings.

These are just some of the ways you can save home energy and cut costs. Do yourself a favor and start putting as many of these tips as you can into practice around your home. You won't be sorry you did when you get your next utility bill.

By: Matt West

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