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How can I Reduce Energy Costs in my Home?
It is easy to make changes that can reduce energy costs in the home. Through a mix of careful use and smart appliance purchases, it is usually possible to save substantially on electric, gas and home heating bills.
Often, small changes can substantially reduce energy costs in the home. Some take little effort, such as turning off unneeded lights or letting dishes air-dry in the dishwasher without the heat setting. Others require simple fixes, like using energy efficient light bulbs. Fixing leaks around windows will save on heating bills in the winter and air conditioning costs in the summer.
Making smart choices when purchasing new appliances can go a long way to reducing energy costs at home. For example, some refrigerators, washers and dryers use substantially less energy than others. Over the years the appliance will be used, the savings can be significant. Checking labels on appliances and asking sales staff for energy-efficient recommendations are two easy ways to find models that will help reduce energy costs.
Utility companies can be a helpful resource in reducing energy costs. Some offer cash incentives to encourage purchasing energy-efficient appliances, or can provide advice on models that are more energy-efficient. Others offer home energy audits, in which a utility company employee will look through the home to offer energy-saving advice. Many produce brochures with helpful hints. Utility bills often list a phone number to contact or website you can visit for further information.
When looking to reduce energy costs, it can be helpful to take a room by room tour of the home to identify any ideas for saving energy. Are there unnecessary lights or appliances that aren't being used? Is there a draft from a window that could be plugged, or bright sunlight that can be shaded with a curtain? With larger appliances, are there settings that can be changed to make them more energy-efficient? Making a few easy changes can result in noticeable savings on home energy costs.
Overall, reducing energy costs in the home can be quite simple and take surprisingly little effort. With some quick fixes and smart energy use decisions, the monthly savings on energy bills can add up quickly.
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![Switching to CFL light bulbs can help make a home more energy efficient.]()
By: li_alSwitching to CFL light bulbs can help make a home more energy efficient. -
![Foregoing the heat setting on your dishwasher and letting the dishes air dry is one way to reduce energy consumption.]()
By: lapas77Foregoing the heat setting on your dishwasher and letting the dishes air dry is one way to reduce energy consumption. -
![Purchasing an energy efficient refrigerator can reduce home energy costs.]()
By: Ljupco SmokovskiPurchasing an energy efficient refrigerator can reduce home energy costs. -
![Purchasing energy efficient appliances can help reduce home energy costs.]()
By: Alvin TeoPurchasing energy efficient appliances can help reduce home energy costs. -
![A simple way to cut home energy costs is to turn out lights in rooms when they are empty.]()
By: AntonioguillemA simple way to cut home energy costs is to turn out lights in rooms when they are empty. -
![Replacing an aging air condition unit with a newer, energy efficient model would help conserve energy and reduce costs.]()
By: Le DoReplacing an aging air condition unit with a newer, energy efficient model would help conserve energy and reduce costs. -
![Energy efficient refrigerators keep cool air in as long as possible and cool the air more efficiently.]()
By: Odua ImagesEnergy efficient refrigerators keep cool air in as long as possible and cool the air more efficiently. -
![Using a clothesline instead of a dryer can reduce energy costs.]()
By: Alex YeungUsing a clothesline instead of a dryer can reduce energy costs. -
![Gas companies sometimes perform home audits, to help identify potential cost savings in appliance usage.]()
By: Mario LopesGas companies sometimes perform home audits, to help identify potential cost savings in appliance usage.
Discussion Comments
If you are looking for a low cost way to save energy, mainly when central air is in use, look at the products from the Larson Fan Company. I have two units and it's reduced my annual energy consumption over ten percent, and pay back was less than six months.
Wisegeek is a favorite website of mine as it brings out interesting topics every day. The content is basic but has substance. Article on energy saving lacks not just content but it also lacks content. Such articles should come either from an expert or from someone who has studied the issue and is passionate about it. A general round about content lacking any data, sans empirical evidence and without any epistemic reasoning is neither being geek nor wise. The topic is good, yet content is lacking.
It is cost effective? No. The cost of buying an energy saving bulb and it's life span is not justified.
One of the easiest ways we save money and energy is by hanging our clothing and linens to dry after washing. It is a double gain. The cost to dry the items is nothing and we are not making the AC work harder, heating up our home running the dryer.
You need to be cautious about closing the vents to certain rooms to reduce heating and air conditioning costs.
Reducing the air flow across the evaporator can reduce the overall effiency of the unit.
You need to have a good feel for this type of work or have a survey done by a licensed heat and air specialist.
I was introduced to the idea of conservation of energy about seventy-five years ago. My grandmother Weesner said, "We had better quit wasting this oil-we'll run out some day." She watched the electric meter on the back porch and, if the wheel was going around too fast, she would go turn something off. She had a saying, "Willful waste means woeful want." Her leftovers tasted better than most people's first overs.
I applied to the Tennessee Department related to energy and the TVA (we don't use TVA electricity) sent me a kit. I reviewed every item, but there was nothing cost effective that we could do about energy saving that we were not already doing. We were using less energy than houses of comparable size. Our house was built in 1957.
I also got a kit to test for radon from the state of Tennessee. We did not have a dangerous or significant amount. I plan to test again in the winter per suggestion in the report. --Donald W. Bales, M.D. retired
what i read from most of the posts is the utilizing of solar energy. if the water we use daily is channeled properly and made to flow over a small dynamo from a suitable ht. the power generated is sufficient to light a bulb for a day. the hot gases from the chimney can be made to pass over a storage tank thus reducing power required to heat up the water. let's start thinking on this matter seriously.
How about changing from ordinary bulbs to solar bulbs to cut down on electricity? To put thermostats on all radiators in UK to turn off in the rooms that are rarely used can save gas bills. To use one main family TV in the sitting rooms not in bed rooms which are meant for sleep at night might reduce energy bills. It is in our hands to cut down energy usage and help pollution.
where there is good source of sun light install solar lighting and heating system, for hot water, garden lighting, basement lighting etc.
I believe that another great way to to help achieve energy independence is the use of wind. I know it sounds crazy to set a huge windmill in your backyard, but there are wind farms that can assist communities in helping with energy in our homes and cities.
Another great way to reduce your energy costs is by putting in a specific shutter that is made of Celuka. Celuka shutters will insulate 70% better than wood shutters and they look just like wood. Great looking with great energy savings. One company that produces a great Celuka shutter is Orange County Blinds and Shutters and they can ship nation wide.
Larry
One technique which has worked for us this year that I do not see many people mention are installing solar shades on the exterior or outside of the entire window. We installed these this spring on our south and south west 5+ foot high windows and the difference is amazing. Once we installed these (the ones we purchased simply over the internet of all places were very easy to install over any shape or size of our windows) the reading of our temperature gauge dropped by 15 degrees F.
Just search for exterior solar blinds in your favorite search engine and you will see lots of hits for these things. These are the best new product to come around in years to reduce air conditioning usage. And it cost us less than $3 per square foot. Dan
Is it cost effective to close the vents in rooms which are not being used in order to save on air conditioning costs with a central unit? I read somewhere that this does more harm than good.
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