Often many of us do not really know how to control or reduce our utility bills. There are a number of factors that can affect your energy bill, including the size of your home or apartment, the efficiency of major appliances (e.g. refrigerator, water heater or air conditioner), and whether your home is sealed and insulated properly. Other factors include the local climate, energy costs, the number and types of lights, the thermostat settings for heating and cooling, and the number of loads of laundry or dishes you do.
Below are descriptions of some products that can help make your home more energy efficient.
Programmable Thermostats
- By ensuring the thermostat is turned back overnight and by setting the temperature back when you leave the house, you can save more than 10 percent on your heating and cooling.
- The more flexible ENERGY STAR qualified thermostats allow both overnight and working hour setbacks for each of the seven days.
Energy-Saving Lighting Controls
- Adding lighting controls to your home can save energy and extend the life of bulbs and fixtures.
- Dimming the light by just 10 percent more than doubles a bulb’s life.
- Timers help reduce energy use by turning lights on and off on schedule.
Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL)
- CFLs provide comparable brightness to conventional incandescents using about 1/4 the energy while lasting up to 10 times longer. While they cost a little more initially, CFLs can pay back in as little as six months depending on bulb usage.
Insulation and Draft proofing
- Inadequate insulation and air leakage are leading causes of energy waste in most homes.
- Even in a new home, adding insulation may save enough money to pay for itself within a few years.
- Using draft proofing products such as window kits and weather-stripping can help you save up to 30 percent on your heating or cooling bill.
Appliances
- Older appliances, generally those 10 years old or older tend to be significantly less efficient than those appliances manufactured today.
- In some cases you can save over 50 percent on your energy bills for specific appliances by replacing your old appliances with models that have the ENERGY STAR label. Remember to have your old appliances recycled to ensure overall energy savings.
Heating and Cooling System Filters
- Furnace filters that are not replaced regularly cause your heating and cooling system to consume a lot more energy, as the built-up dirt and lint makes it tough for air to get through.
- Cleaning and/or replacing your furnace filter regularly, also helps improve indoor air quality.
This list originally posted by the Office of Energy Efficiency.
Get more great energy tips from their website.
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