Have you ever wondered, “How can I reduce my electric bill?” or “How can I save more energy?” You’re not alone!
Whether you’re interested in going green to reduce your carbon footprint or gain green in your wallet, it makes sense to save energy.
Adopting these tips will save you money and help the environment.
Lighting
- Turn lights off when not in use.
- Install motion sensor or timer activated yard lights.
- Replace incandescent light bulbs with LEDs.
Heating and Cooling
- Turn the thermostat down during winter and up during summer.
- Open curtains or shades on the south and west sides of your house on sunny days during cold weather.
- Close curtains or shades on the sunny sides of the house during the day in hot weather.
- Close curtains or shades at night during the winter.
- Run paddle fans clockwise on low during the winter to circulate air, and counterclockwise during the summer (when in the room) to feel cooler.
- Check ductwork on the HVAC system for leaks. Patch ducts with metallic tape or duct mastic.
- Change your air filter every one to three months.
- Make sure the fireplace damper is closed when not in use.
- Install solar blocking film on windows.
- Apply weatherstripping around doors and windows.
- Install foam gaskets on plugs and switches on exterior walls.
- Insulate fold-down attic stairs.
- Caulk exterior cracks and gaps around your house.
- Add insulation to the attic.
- Plant deciduous trees on the house’s south and west sides.
Thank you so much for the information about closing heating/cooling vents. Since this house tends to h/c unevenly on one side, I really have tried that.
The draining of the Water Heater is not wise as the build up that you are cleaning out will clog the rubber seat and it will leak.
connect microwave to a surge protector with a switch, and turn it off when not in use. Who needs another blinking clock in their kitchen? Same goes with TV, DVR and other electronics. Also put your lamps on a timer, so you are sure they are off during daylight hours. And check with your energy company for the “peak” hours and do your laundry during “off peak” hours. Look around, your house is full of places you can save money.
I never knew you were supposed to drain the water heater every year. What does that accomplish? thanks for the tips.
Chris,
Draining a hot water heater annually removes any sediment that has settled to the bottom of the tank. Accumulated sediment in the tank can make a water heater more inefficient by reducing the space the usable hot water occupies. Watch our video to find out how to drain a water heater at https://todayshomeowner.com/video/how-to-drain-a-water-heater/
Watched your show this morning (9/26/16) and where do you get those gasket inserts for your outlets? Husband tried to find them but we need a correct name and location to purchase them.
Hi, Barbara, those are called Socket Sealers from Duck Brand.