One of the best ways to save money is not to spend it in the first place, and nowhere is that more evident than in your utility bills. A few basic changes can make significant marks on the amount of your electric and gas bills, while giving your home an energy makeover can save you up to half the amount you pay each month.
The first step is to assess your home for energy leaks and waste. Take a long look at your entire structure, from the attic to the basement, to determine where heat and cold are leaking out, what appliances should be replaced, and where you’re wasting money on utilities. Look for actual cracks or holes in walls, and feel for cold drafts around windows and doors. Be very critical; attention to detail now will pay off later in home energy efficiency.
Insulating and Sealing
Sealing in your home prevents hot or cold air from leaking out of small areas in your house. Insulating does the same thing for whole huge parts of the home. Both can contribute significant savings when done right, but not every home needs every technique done. Prevent wasting money by doing one or more of these tasks:
- Install weather stripping around all doors that lead to the outside
- Seal and caulk around all the windows in your home
- Seal air leaks around plumbing that goes into the wall
- Seal around the dryer exhaust where it vents outdoors
- Add insulation to the attic
- Insulate all heating ducts
Using Your Equipment Efficiently
Insulating and sealing your house will take care of the passive waste, the slow leaking that happens every day regardless of what you do. Make an even bigger impact on home energy efficiency by tackling active waste: the waste that you can prevent by making better choices and using your equipment more efficiently. Develop some useful habits that will save you money, year after year.
Change the air filter regularly, at least four times a year. Check it monthly, and change it if it’s dirty, but never go longer than three months before switching to a new one. Use a HEPA filter instead of the cheaper basic model and you may end up saving money on allergy medicines as well as utility bills.
Install a programmable thermostat to control your heating and cooling. Turning your air up and down are great ideas as you leave the house and return, but hardly anyone remembers every single time. A programmable thermostat will allow your system to work at a minimum level while you’re gone to work or school, and activate to a comfortable level right before you get home.
Get Regular Maintenance
Have your HVAC system serviced once a year. A professional will clean out your ducts, allowing air to move more efficiently through the house. Open ducts mean that your system doesn’t have to work so hard, which saves you money throughout the year.
Change Your System
Replace your heating and cooling system with a more efficient Energy Star system. If your furnace and air conditioning system are more than 10 years old, or if they’re simply not keeping you comfortable in extreme weather after you’ve sealed and insulated the house, it’s time to replace the old model for a newer version. One that’s Energy Star rated can save you enough money in home energy efficiency to eventually pay for itself over a decade or so, depending on how inefficient your old model is.
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