No matter where you live, recent increases in energy prices have probably pushed your utility bill higher than you'd like, but you don't have to take it lying down.
There are plenty of ways to cut your energy costs, and many of them involve small changes that don't require spending a lot of cash.
In fact, you can get some significant power savings without spending a cent.
"Turn down your home thermostat two degrees (in cold weather)," says Mark Fryburg of Portland General Electric in Portland, Ore. "For every degree that you lower it, you will cut 2 percent of your heating bill." The reverse holds true with air conditioning in warm weather.
Fryburg also recommends lowering your hot water thermostat. "For every 10-degree temperature reduction, that's saving 3 percent to 5 percent, or $9 to $15 a year off your water heating bill," he says. "That's assuming you're heating with electricity."
Another free way to save electricity, Fryburg says, is to "fix leaky hot water faucets. That'll save you about a dollar a month."
Michael Lowndes, of Uniondale, N.Y.-based Long Island Power Authority, says the first thing homeowners should do is have a home energy audit.
"Not just once -- repeat it every couple of years," he says. "It gives a good baseline to work with."
Audits, whether they're done in person by someone from the utility company or by questionnaire, are usually free and cover everything from heating and cooling systems to appliances to insulation.When the audit is done, you'll know which areas of your house are the least energy efficient. In other words, you'll know where you're letting money fly out the window.The U.S. Department of Energy has many energy-saving tips on its Web site. They can help you save money in every area of your home. Which energy-saving improvements give you the biggest and fastest return on your investment can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including where you live. But the folks at Portland General Electric have come up with a list that can save everyone money.Spokesman Mark Fryburg says if you decide to implement any of the suggestions, don't pinch pennies. It's important to buy the best "high-performance" equipment."Don't get the cheapest shower head or porch light and don't hire the cheapest contractor to install insulation unless you're assured of the quality of the product or the service purchased," Fryburg says. "For example, there are low-flow shower heads that deliver less water but don't deliver a quality showering experience." A good shower head will pay for itself in about four to five months, he adds.
One of the easiest energy-saving improvements involves light bulbs. Get rid of those incandescent bulbs and replace them with compact florescent light bulbs, or CFLs. CFLs, costing around $1 or $5 a piece, can pay for themselves in a year and a half, Fryburg says.If you own a furnace, save money by cleaning or replacing your filters every three months or sooner if they tend to clog, says Fryburg. Clogged filters are a huge energy waster.If it's time for a new washer, dryer or kitchen appliance, look for the Energy Star logo. That shows the appliance meets or exceeds standards set by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. What's more, you should look for a brand name you trust, says Fryburg.The proper roofing material and insulation throughout the home are essential to cutting energy costs. Building codes throughout the country dictate the minimum amount of insulation, but a homeowner building a house or replacing a roof may select a roof based on how it looks rather than how energy efficient it is.Perhaps nowhere in the country is the type of roof more important than in the South, where the goal usually is to reflect heat away from the home. A study by Florida Power & Light proves what Southerners have known for generations -- light-colored roofs do the best job of reflecting the sun.
The study showed that the best type of roofing material for Sunbelt homes is white, galvanized metal. It actually came in a very close second to cement tile roofing in its ability to reflect the sun's heat, but won overall because of its "superior ability to cool quickly at night."The Chicago-based National Roofing Contractors Association says that even in colder areas of the country, people might benefit from lighter roof colors. The cooling season, though it's shorter than the heating season, is often more expensive.And, finally, landscaping should do more than just look good. The right mix of trees and shrubs can lower your energy bills by blocking winter winds or summer sun.When buying a tree, make sure you know how big it will be when full-grown. Don't put evergreens under power lines, as evergreens tend to get very tall. Your local nursery should be able to help you with energy-saving landscaping tips.Whether the energy-saving changes you're prepared to make are with big-ticket items such as a roof, central air or an appliance, or with small things such as changing light bulbs or installing low-flow shower heads, be sure to check with your utility company for rebates. You might be surprised to see how rewarding energy efficiency can be.is the Web's leading aggregator of information on financial products including mortgages, credit cards, new and used automobile loans, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, checking and ATM fees, home equity loans and online banking fees. Visit Bankrate.com to get the tools and information that can help you make the best financial decisions.
Source: Money & Work
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