Save Energy and Cash with These Quick and Easy Tips
There are several different ways to save energy and reduce your energy bills at the same time. Many people think you have to spend a lot of money on expensive energy saving appliances and devices in order to cut your energy bill and save more energy in your home, however, that's not the case. If you cannot afford to switch to more energy efficient appliances you can still save a lot of money by making a few small changes that will not break your budget and will improve the energy efficiency of your home and reduce your energy bill, saving you not only energy but money too. Making small changes in your home and your everyday life can add up to make a big difference in your energy use and the amount you pay for energy every month.
First, you will need to properly weatherize your home, meaning you need to make improvements to protect against the weather. Having your home properly insulated is a big factor in reducing energy consumption. If your home is not properly insulated or requires more insulation you may want to stop at your local hardware store to pick up some and install it under your floors, in your attic and behind walls. Insulation helps keep your house warm in the winter and cool in the summer, so it is very important to home energy. It is also an easy way to help you save money on heating and cooling costs. Next, you should check your house thoroughly for any holes or cracks. If you have draft areas where air could be escaping from your house you should seal the openings immediately. You can seal cracks around doors and windows with weather stripping and you can fill all other cracks or holes with inexpensive spray foam from your local hardware store. Weather stripping and spray foam are both inexpensive items that can be found at any hardware store and even at other retail stores throughout the U.S.
Some other great tips on how to save energy include very simple things like remembering to keep all doors and windows closed so no energy is lost due to it escaping out an open door or window. It is also recommended to keep your thermostat set at one temperature consistently. Continuously turning the temperature up or down on a thermostat will waste your energy and cost more. Choose a comfortable temperature for both summer and winter months, for example 69 degrees will most likely be a comfortable temperature for both the winter (when it's much colder outside) and summer (when it's much warmer outside). Moving your thermostat's temperature to extreme temperatures will make it work harder and thus use more energy, so set the temperature and forget it. I mention Andersen (<a href=". Always remember to unplug an electric blanket when not in use as to not waste any energy or money.
Another great idea to save money on energy and reduce your energy bills is to switch out all your old light bulbs for energy efficient light bulbs that use much less energy and provide the same amount of lighting. Cost saving efficient light bulbs are a comparable price to the older light bulbs and will last much longer and save more money on lighting. Look for sales on the light bulbs and stock up on them when there's a sale. You can even get coupons for energy saving light bulbs and find them at various retailers. Speaking of lighting, it is also a good idea to turn lights off when you leave a room. Be sure to turn off electronics that are not in use. Leaving appliances and electronics on all the time wastes energy and money.
Replacing your windows can also make a big difference in energy costs. Buying replacement windows doesn't have to cost a lot and you can recoup the cost you invested from the savings you will get from having more energy efficient windows that will keep the cost of energy use down. Assess your current windows to see if they need to be replaced. Many older homes have older windows that could be causing you to lose energy. Leaving appliances on at all the time wastes energy and money. If you cannot afford to purchase new replacement windows for every window in your house, buy them one or two at a time as you can save up the money and afford to buy them. Check with your local hardware store to see if they offer a class or manual on how to install windows and check into installing the windows yourself. If you have the know how to install windows yourself then you don't have to pay for someone else to install them in your house. You will save a large amount of energy and money if you can install windows by yourself or with the help of someone else.
If you are interested in purchasing replacement windows, and need them installed, you can try a replacement window specialist to save both money and time. Try to find a company who sizes the windows in the factory instead of onsite. This saves installation time, materials and money.
About the Author
Consumer advocate Mike Little is a writer on a mission. Mike regularly posts cost saving techniques on http://www.ConsumerConsumer.org , a no cost consumer information website. Consumer Consumer can help anyone save money and time. He would like to thank FRW for explaining the many types of replacement windows available today. Visit ConsumerConsumer.org for consumer tips.
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