Home Energy-Saving Tips Can Save You Big Money

Sure, you've heard about energy-saving appliances and you've seen the new florescent light bulbs. But you're still not sure if the whole energy-saving effort will actually pay you back. If that sounds like you, you're in the right place. Read on for all the easy tips and tricks to make your home more energy-efficient, plus the insight you need on how that energy translates to dollars.

Take the burn out of your heating bill

With winter months approaching, there's no better time to cool the burn of a high heating bill. Did you know air leaks are the biggest energy wasters and account for 39% of the energy loss in a home? The solution: You can easily reduce your energy bills by weatherizing your home. Here's how:

Caulk around windows, doors and other cracks to eliminate air escape.
Secure weather stripping (available at home stores) at the foot of your door to stop drafts.
Use plastic window sheeting on the interior of windows for extra insulation.
Remove or cover window A/C units.
Hire a professional to inspect and clean your chimney to avoid poor ventilation.
Turn down your thermostat! It's the easiest way to save money and energy. Lower the temperature to the lowest comfortable level during the day, and down to around 55 to 60 at night. You can save up to 3% in energy costs per degree! Consider investing in programmable thermostats. They only cost $50 to $100 and they can cut your heating/cooling costs considerably.
An un-insulated basement can account for up to 33% of the total energy loss in the house per the Department of Energy. Your house should have adequate insulation in your ceiling. An attic with at least 6" of insulation is efficient or at least 2" over the top of the ceiling joists.
Keep blinds and drapes open during the day to capture sunlight.
Have your furnace inspected now-before the heating season begins-for optimal efficiency. In the meantime, make sure your furnace is running efficiently:
Clean/replace your furnace air filter to help avoid clogging.
Remove dust and lint from the burner compartment in your furnace.
A high-efficiency furnace can cost more to install, but could save you around 15% of the heating bill. If your furnace was made prior to 1990, you should consider a newer model for long-term savings.
Make sure your furnace is sized properly. Larger than necessary furnaces lose efficiency and cost more to run.o Do not block registers with furniture.
The energy-thrift's guide to appliances

When it comes to your appliances, the trick to saving energy is simple: awareness. Avoid giving in to your old household habits and assumptions and become conscious of how you use your appliances. Chances are with a few easy changes in the name of preservation, you'll shave some dollars off your energy bill.

Dishwasher

Only run your dishwasher with a full load. You can't control the amount of water your dishwasher uses, but you can control the number of loads you have to do.
Avoid using heat dry and pre-rinse features. Instead use your dishwasher's air-dry option.
Make sure your dishwasher has the Energy Star label.
Laundry

Switch your wash temperature from hot to cold to cut your energy use in half and reduce your bill.
Wash and dry full loads for optimal efficiency.
Dry towels and heavy-weight articles in separate loads.
Don't overload the dryer or over-dry clothes.
Clean the dryer's lint trap after every load to improve circulation.
Use a cool-down cycle to finish drying your clothes with residual dryer heat.
Do your laundry all at once to take advantage of a warm dryer.
Light fixtures

Switch out your incandescent light bulbs for the new florescent bulbs. They're affordable, just as bright and they'll save you a lot of money. Consider: the average U.S. household has 45 light bulbs - replacing that number of 75-watt incandescent bulbs with cfl s would save $180 per year.
Refrigerator

Refrigerators 15 years old or more cost twice as much to run as today's energy efficient models. Invest in a new model to cut spending in half.
Having a top freezer model can reduce energy use by 10-25% more than side-by-side models, and refrigerators without automatic ice makers and through-the-door dispensers could save you 14-20% energy usage.
Don't allow frost build up of more than one-quarter of an inch.
When buying new appliances

Always look for the ENERGY STAR logo. ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping Americans save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. The good news? According to the ENERGY STAR website (energystar.gov), Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy in 2006 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 25 million cars - all while saving $14 billion on their utility bills.
Energy Savings = Big Tax Credits