Mr Remodeleze
November 7th, 2009, 04:01 PM
Summary: With Fall just arriving and winter right around the corner, many people are thinking about ways to save money and energy, yet still stay warm.…
With Fall just arriving and Winter right around the corner, many people are thinking about ways to save money and energy, yet still stay warm. The disturbing truth is that most families spend over $1900 a year on utility bills. The state of the economy, higher bills, and impending cold weather have many families wondering what they can do to keep their bills from getting out of hand. Here are a few tips to help you get started saving money during the cold season.
1. Invest in a programmable thermostat. These thermostats can be programmed for times when you are out of the house and also programmed to drop lower at night. For about a $30 investment, you can end up saving quite a bit of money all year long.
2. Conduct an energy review of your home. Are there any leaks around the doors and windows? Are any pipes in an area where air can get in? Is your attic well insulated? You may be able to fix these small problems at a low cost. Seal leaks around pipes, caulk any leaks around windows, add weather-stripping around door frames.
3. Insulate your windows if they are not insulated already. For a small price, you can buy window insulation kits at your local hardware store. The kit includes plastic sheeting and double sided tape. You simply frame your window with the plastic material and use a hairdryer to seal the plastic. This creates a barrier to keep the cold air at bay.
4. Keep your hot water heater set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Simply keeping your water a little less hot can help you save. Most newer hot water heaters come with a vacation setting. Use it when you know that you will be away for a while.
5. You don’t always have to use the dishwasher especially if you are running is less than full. Let your dishes air dry once in a while and let that machine have a rest.
6. Make sure to replace your furnace filters. Clean filters work much better and are a lot healthier for your family.
7. Don’t forget the power of the sun. On a sunny day, open your drapes and let it in. You would be surprised at how the sunlight can warm up a room.
8. When purchasing new appliances, make sure to look for the Energy Star logo. It has been shown that these appliances are much more energy efficient and can save you money in the long run.
9. Hooray for showers. It takes a lot less energy to heat up water for a 10 to 15 minute shower than it does to fill a bathtub.
I hope that these tips will help make the upcoming cold weather season a little bit easier on your wallet. With some common sense and planning, its easy to watch your budget and enjoy the Fall and Winter seasons.
With Fall just arriving and Winter right around the corner, many people are thinking about ways to save money and energy, yet still stay warm. The disturbing truth is that most families spend over $1900 a year on utility bills. The state of the economy, higher bills, and impending cold weather have many families wondering what they can do to keep their bills from getting out of hand. Here are a few tips to help you get started saving money during the cold season.
1. Invest in a programmable thermostat. These thermostats can be programmed for times when you are out of the house and also programmed to drop lower at night. For about a $30 investment, you can end up saving quite a bit of money all year long.
2. Conduct an energy review of your home. Are there any leaks around the doors and windows? Are any pipes in an area where air can get in? Is your attic well insulated? You may be able to fix these small problems at a low cost. Seal leaks around pipes, caulk any leaks around windows, add weather-stripping around door frames.
3. Insulate your windows if they are not insulated already. For a small price, you can buy window insulation kits at your local hardware store. The kit includes plastic sheeting and double sided tape. You simply frame your window with the plastic material and use a hairdryer to seal the plastic. This creates a barrier to keep the cold air at bay.
4. Keep your hot water heater set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Simply keeping your water a little less hot can help you save. Most newer hot water heaters come with a vacation setting. Use it when you know that you will be away for a while.
5. You don’t always have to use the dishwasher especially if you are running is less than full. Let your dishes air dry once in a while and let that machine have a rest.
6. Make sure to replace your furnace filters. Clean filters work much better and are a lot healthier for your family.
7. Don’t forget the power of the sun. On a sunny day, open your drapes and let it in. You would be surprised at how the sunlight can warm up a room.
8. When purchasing new appliances, make sure to look for the Energy Star logo. It has been shown that these appliances are much more energy efficient and can save you money in the long run.
9. Hooray for showers. It takes a lot less energy to heat up water for a 10 to 15 minute shower than it does to fill a bathtub.
I hope that these tips will help make the upcoming cold weather season a little bit easier on your wallet. With some common sense and planning, its easy to watch your budget and enjoy the Fall and Winter seasons.