Utility bills can take a chunk out of your pocketbook if you don't implement some savings techniques around the home. One of the easiest ways is to monitor useages in the home and you can start with hot water useage and ways to save on the expense of hot water.
Saving of the green, in this going green world of ours, can be as simple as a few small or even a few big changes. Without spending an arm or leg, you can make your home more energy efficient and save money right away. Along with small fixes, training your entire family to do little things around the home can add up to big savings when the utility bills come in the mail.
Shut Them Off When Not In Use
One of the biggest energy wasters is laziness when it comes to turning things off. This may be unused lighting, power strips, appliances, and fans. Take a minute and think of the past month in your home. Did you leave any lights on when you left a room? How about the video games? Ceiling fans are often left running when no one is home, and this also goes for floor fans, electric portable heaters, air conditioners, and air purifiers. You may say these are needed, but while no one is home? Every bit of energy savings adds up to keep the green in your pocket, not in someone else’s pocket. It has been calculated that a regular incandescent bulb running for a year just at night will cost you $21 and a ceiling fan will run you $35. That savings alone could be a turkey dinner at Christmas for your family?The Cost Of Leaky Homes
No one wants to heat the outside of their homes or let things like water or bugs in. The advantage of sealing up leaks can reduce things like heating and cooling bills and stop these unwanted pests from entering and destroying your home. Giving your home the flashlight test around suspected leak areas will reveal cracks and gaps that need attention. Most of these voids can be filled with foam or caulk that can be bought at a local hardware or lumber store. This helps keep the cold air out and the warm air in during the winter months. In the summer, it will keep the cold air in, warm air out, and the bugs where they ought to be, outside! Areas that often need attention are around windows and doors. Places you may not think of that need to be filled are around pipes that go through holes in the walls, cracks in the foundation, air conditioners that go through the walls, and exhaust ducts that go through walls or roofs. And don’t forget little things like TV cable entrances, phone lines, outside wall outlets and switches. By adding a little foam insulation to these areas, you’ll cut down on cold air drafts from the outside. These little leaks can cause your room temperature to drop and that in turn makes the furnace run more, costing you more money on the utility bills.
Automate Your Home
Get out of manual mode and get automated. Buy a programmable thermostat that be programmed to turn both the heating and cooling on and off automatically. That way, the furnace or air conditioner will only be running when you are home and need it, not while you are at home or school. It may not seem like much time, but if you figure you are gone 9 hours a day, 5 days a week, at an average of four weeks a month, that translates into 180 hours a month of heating or cooling. Now you may understand how a little savings each day can add up to a big savings over time. What do you think you could have bought for yourself with that savings alone?
Water Heater Wasters
I think everyone is guilty about turning on the shower and letting it run a while before getting in. It may be to let it warm up or we get busy finding our clothes. Then there is the person who stands in the shower for what seems to be hours because it feels so good, only to get out when there is no more hot water. There is always someone that doesn’t shut off the water. This cost you either in a water bill, electric bill, or gas bill. You see, even if you have a well at home, the water flowing will cause the well to kick on and off. And don’t forget about insulating the water pipes to help hold the heat in and expel the cold air from the water pipes. If you want a bigger savings, consider adding a point-of-use water heater under your sink or a new whole-house tankless heater. These heaters only heat the water being used instead of heating a whole tank of water. Another savings tip is to set your water heater temperature at 120 degrees.
