Know Your Energy Costs

Many people today want o reduce the amount of energy they use in their homes. No matter if the reason is to conserve energy and help save the planet, or if you are just trying to save a few dollars, knowledge is still the key. Before you can decide how to save money, you must determine where you are spending the money.

*The average home energy consumption in the United States breaks down this way.

Heating and Cooling 44%

Lighting, cooking 33%

Heating water 14%

Refrigerator 9%

The biggest area, and therefore the area with the most potential for savings is in the heating and cooling of your home. If you can keep the house just a little cooler in the winter and a little warmer in the summer, you can trim a great deal off your energy bill. You can also improve efficiency by making certain your home is properly insulted and keeping your filters clean.

The second area is cooking and lighting. Some very simple tips here are to turn off the lights when not in use. When cooking, don't preheat the oven any longer than is necessary, and be certain to turn it off as soon as the meal is cooked. If you are boiling water for any reason, remember once it starts to boil, that is as hot as it gets, there is no reason to allow the water to boil for five minutes before putting in the rice or pasta. If you have outside motion lights, be certain to keep the timers set on the lowest possible duration. Why leave a pair of floodlights on for twenty minutes just because your neighbors cat walked by? You can of course use more energy efficient light bulbs and save 50% or more on that portion of your bill.

Your water heater accounts for a staggering 14% of your energy bill. Here is an opportunity for savings. There are many ways to reduce costs in this area, the most obvious of which is to turn down the thermostat. Don't make the water any hotter than it has to be. Secondly, consider a water heater blanket to help insulate the tank and retain the heat. You may also want to consider putting your water heater on a timer. Do you really need to have hot water available twenty-four hours a day. How much hot water is used in your home while you are at work, or sleeping? You can also reduce the amount of hot water used with water conserving shower heads and more efficient dish washers and washing machines.

The last item on our list is your refrigerator. You can't put this on a timer, and you can't wrap it in a blanket, but there are still savings available without the need to go out and by a more efficient unit when your old one is still working fine. The most obvious is to keep the door closed. Don't stand there with the door open trying to decide what you want for dinner? You can also buy a thermometer to be certain your refrigerator is at the proper temperature. If it is too cool, adjust the settings so it is still within the safety range, but not producing more cold air than is needed.

Simple tasks and suggestions, but when all are put together you should be able to see a real savings on your energy bill. If you put everything here into practice it should be possible to trim your energy costs by 10% or more. Unless youhave money to burn, give it a try.

(* Source: "The Homeowner's Guide to renewable Energy")