How to Slash Your Energy Expenses and Save Big with Energy Savings

This summer of 2009 has been a cool one for much of the country and our air conditioning costs and power usage is down, according to my husband, an electrical engineer in the Midwest. But predictions are out from various weather professionals including the Farmer's Almanac for a bitterly cold winter ahead. In the 2010 Farmers' Almanac, Managing Editor Sandi Duncan's says we can look forward to an "ice cold sandwich" when winter arrives. Sounds like this might be a good time to assess your energy usage and implement some tried and true methods for reducing your energy costs. Here are a few of them that have worked for our family. We often call my husband the Energy Czar as he plots new ways to increase our energy savings every year!

Staying warm and using less energy for heat

First set your thermostat to a lower level in the winter but not so low that your teeth are chattering and your fingers go numb while you're typing. Your body will adjust to a lower temperature if you reduce it gradually. At our house, our thermostat is set at 64 in the winter and down to 62 at night. How did we come to tolerate that temperature?

We inched it down a degree every few weeks or so last winter and by winter's end, we were all comfortable with a 64 degree setting for daytime.

It was also possible because we made sure we had no drafts in the house through leaky windows and doors. We used weather-stripping and our windows were new insulated and energy savings registered.

We also used the power of the sun, by keeping north facing and cold windows covered by energy savings drapes and curtains and sunny windows free and open to let the south sun shine in.

Wear sweaters, socks and slippers to keep warm. Buy a nice warm sweater to wear when you fill chilled. You can always remove it if you warm up. And it should go without saying that if your feet are cold put on some socks or slippers!

Use blankets or throws on the couches and seating areas. Often we get colder when we sit and our idle in the evenings. Having throws and blankets handy to cuddle under is a good idea; one for every family member unless you want to cuddle together.

And finally on heat savings, change your thermostat to a programmable one that will save you $150.00 a year.

Use Energy Star Appliances

The government is offering rebates on outdated appliances this year and next to increase energy savings through the American Recovery and Investment Act. Think about converting your old energy sucking appliances for more efficient cost saving models and receive tax credits and rebates for your old appliance.

An Energy Star refrigerator will use half as much energy as a 1993 model, saving you $80.00 year.

An Energy star washing machine will save you another $110.00 a year in energy savings and reduce the time spent on drying your clothes. I can attest to this, having just purchased one.

Multiiple these energy savings for other appliances and you'll chalk up significant sums each year. You can see the details on various energy savings appliances at www.energystar.gov

Water energy savings

Water is a precious resource whose supply is endangered or limited in parts of our country already. Changing to a low flow showerhead and you'll save $145.00 a year on energy savings.

Just a simple thing like teaching your children to not let the water run while they're brushing their teeth can save 4 gallons of water a minute!

Set your water heater no higher than 120 degrees, still plenty hot to take a good shower but not so hot that it's scalding for additional energy savings.

Wash your clothing in cold water except for perhaps your whites for increased energy savings.

Run your dishwasher when it's full, not half full! If you then select the air dry method, you save even more money, especially if it's an Energy Star dishwasher!

Electricity energy savings

My husband, the electrical energy savings expert in our family, suggests that you schedule an energy savings audit with your electric utility if you think your energy bills are too high. Many companies offer this for free and will even send someone to your house.

There are certified Home Energy Raters who can come into your home and do an inspection and provide you with a report on how to save money. You can go online to the Energy Services Network to find a certified professional in your area. While you have to pay a fee for their two hour inspection, you will recoup that easily in energy savings for your home.

You can also do the energy audit yourself. This article walks you through the steps to do your own energy savings audit.

Suggestions for easy things to do to cut electricity costs

Unplug things when you're not using them; the microwave, TV, cell phone chargers, the computer..just unplug them. It only takes a moment to plug them back in.

Put your computer to sleep at night or better yet, just shut it down for the night. Turn off any monitors and CPU's if they aren't going to be used within a two hour period.

Get rid of your screen saver. It costs money to run it and while it might be pretty, it's an energy waster.

Use a laptop instead of a PC.

Change your lightbulbs to CFL's or compact fluorescent lamps which use 70 percent less energy than traditional light bulbs. They are also cooler and last longer. One bulb will save you $35.00 over the life of the bulb! When we moved to our new house, I removed all of our CFL's and packed them bringing them with us! They're an investment but just buy a few at a time and pretty soon you will rarely have to buy light bulbs.

Let the sun shine in for natural light during the day whenever possible to increase your energy savings and decrease your light bill.

Turn off light switches and use dimmer lights in areas where bright light isn't necessary. For instance in the TV viewing area, a dim light should suffice, but in a sewing area you'll need good lighting to see or read. There are instructions on how to install a dimmer light here.

Let's hope that The Farmer's Almanac is wrong and that this winter won't be as frigid as they predict, but if it is, use the tips above to increase your energy savings and take the money and go to Florida in the coldest part of the winter!

Online Resources

http://www.grit.com/daily-commute/Farmers-Almanac-Offers-Frigid-2010-Forecast.aspx

http://www.energy.gov/taxbreaks.htm

(www.natresnet.org/directory/raters.aspx