The tips listed below are just some of the points you can use to lessen your energy costs throughout every season. They have low or no fees and can be made immediately that may help you be safe, relaxed while helping the environment and being economical. Share these with the whole family and get each and every one engaged.
1. Set up a programmable thermostat to keep your home adequately heated in the wintertime and adequately cooler during the summer time.
2. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs with the ENERGY STAR label.
3. Air dry dishes as a substitute for using your dishwasher’s drying cycle.
4. Turn off your personal machine and monitor when not in use.
5. Plug home electronics, which include TVs and DVD players, into power strips; simply turn the power strips off when the products are not in go with (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still make use of several watts of power).
6. Decrease the thermostat on the hot water heater to 120F.
7. Be sure to take brief showers as a substitute for baths.
8. Launder only full loads of the dishes and clothes. With clothing make use of cold water.
9. Drive wisely. Aggressive driving (speeding, quick acceleration and braking) squanders gas
10. Look for the ENERGY STAR label on kitchen appliances and merchandise.
11. Make certain your appliances and heating and cooling systems are properly managed. Check your owner’s manuals for the suggested maintenance.
12. Search for open fireplace dampers and make sure they are closed when not in use.
13. Look at the insulation values in your attic, outdoor and basement walls, ceilings, floors, and crawl spaces.
14. Look for holes or cracks around your walls, ceilings, windows, doors, light and plumbing fixtures, switches, and electrical outlets that will leak air directly into or out of your home.
15. You may also get the suggestions of a professional. Many utilities carry out energy audits for free or for a little charge. For a fee, a professional contractor will analyze how well your home’s energy systems interact with each other and compare the analysis to your bills. He or she will use a variety of equipment like blower doors, infrared cameras, and surface thermometers to find leaks and drafts. After collecting information about your home, the contractor or auditor gives you a list of recommendations for cost effective energy improvements that has been enhanced comfort and safety. A professional may also compute the actual return on the expense in high-efficiency equipment in comparison with regular equipment.