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Energy Saving Tips #1
By Chris Chenoweth
There are many things that can be done around the house to lessen the impact of spiraling energy costs that sap your household budget. Follow these suggestions and you will save money.
+Is it time to change the thermostat? If it is, check out the thermostats that allow you to program them so that you can lower the heat when you leave the house and raise it before you get home. These thermostats save money and pay for themselves quickly in cost reductions.
+Consider replacing your windows. You can save money by installing double-paned windows--which actually help to insulate your home.
+Take an inventory of all outer windows, doors, outside vents, and check to see what areas might be letting cold air come in, or allowing heat to escape; weather-stripping around these windows and doorways will cut down on fuel consumption.
+Do not heat rooms that are not being used. It prevents unnecessary waste of fuel.
+Have the furnace (particularly oil furnaces) professionally cleaned, i.e. clearing it of carbon and other residue will help it to operate and burn fuel more efficiently.
+Add more insulation to the structure of a house, whether in between walls or between ceiling and attic will make the house more energy efficient.
+Check the filters in your heating system. Change dirty filters to get the maximum performance from your heating unit.
+Check your heating vents. Make sure that couches or other items do not block them.
+Keep heat-generating items such as lamps, computer monitors, and televisions away from your thermostat. They will affect the proper operation of your heating system.
+Install ceiling fans. Hot air rises--ceiling fans can help to circulate the heat evenly through the room. There is also the added bonus of cooling your home in the summer months.
+Before you buy heating oil, do some checking in your area with other dealers so that you get the lowest price per gallon. When oil is delivered, check the fuel gauge before and after delivery to ensure that you are getting what you pay for.
+Place weather stripping on windows and doors to keep the cold air out. Repair broken windows and make sure that window locks are operational so that when closed, the windows seal.
+Install insulated draperies on windows for the winter months. These keep cold air out and reduce heating costs.
+You can perform your own energy assessment using a pad and pencil. Go through each room in your home and note the energy consumption in that room. For example, your living room uses lamps, an overhead light, heater and/or air-conditioning unit, television, VCR and stereo system. Be sure to include small energy users, such as humidifiers or clock radios, and do not forget not-so-obvious rooms like the garage or basement.
+Replacing regular windows with storm windows in the wintertime yields substantial long-term savings. Adding weather-stripping to doorjambs can help trap in heat in cooler weather.
+Take special care with fireplaces, ensuring that cold air is not coming in or that heat is not escaping through a damper, will increase energy savings.
+Raise the temperature during the summer months of your air conditioner to around 76 degrees F rather than leaving it down to around 70 degrees F. This will save on electricity as each degree will save approximately 5% in energy cost.
+Keeping the air conditioning filter clean will also help the unit run more efficiently.
+Install the air conditioning unit on the shady side of the house rather than in direct sun.
+Look for a dryer that has a drying sensor feature, which will automatically turn off when the clothes are dried and will stop the dryer from running longer than necessary.
+Use compact fluorescent bulbs (aka CF bulbs) that last 10,000 hours as compared to only 750 hours for incandescent bulbs will in the long run save not only energy, but the cost of bulb replacement.
+Install awnings on outside windows and doors on the sunny side of a house will also help keep a house cooler in the summer months, plus the use of shade trees.
+Installing an attic fan will eliminate hot air that can put a strain on an air conditioning system during the hot summer months as heat will build up in that space. A black roof will also attract and keep the heat as opposed to light colored roofing.
+Always turning lights off when leaving a room will cut down on energy costs.
+Hang clothes outside or set up a clothesline inside instead of using a dryer. If you do use the dryer, make sure you clean it after every load to reduce energy use.
+Use bathroom fans sparingly in the winter since the fans remove warm air.
Make sure you try to incorporate some or all of the above suggestions into your daily life. Using these tips can put extra money in the bank for you every month.
About the Author
Chris Chenoweth is the author of the DO-IT-YOURSELF HOME, HEALTH & MONEY GUIDE, 500 pages of household tips, home remedies, diet and nutrition information, health issues and thousands of recipes! http://www.money-home-biz.com
Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/39186.html
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