Coldwell Banker: Moving Toward A Greener Tomorrow!
Utility bills are a concern for all homeowners. Heat is a necessity in the winter months and a costly proposition for many New Englanders. Consistent maintenance can help increase efficiency and extend the life of your heating unit. Try these other quick fixes to help lower your heating bill and conserve energy.
Home Heating Systems:
o Save 2-3% on your energy bill for every degree you lower your thermostat
o Moist air retains heat – investing in a humidifier, or incorporating one into your existing heating system, allows you to lower your thermostat an additional 2-4 degrees, a savings of 4-12% on your total heating bill
o Clean furnace burners annually and clean or replace filters monthly
Fireplace Fixes:
o Install tempered glass doors and a convective grate to reduce warm air loss
o Close the fireplace damper unless a fire is burning – leaving a damper open can lose up to 25% of the heated air in your home
o Make sure the flue damper seal is as snug as possible
o Caulk around the fireplace hearth
o If you don’t use your fireplace, have the chimney flue plugged and sealed
Warm summers don’t have to mean higher energy bills. Use fans and open windows, when possible. Here is how these and other changes can help to keep you cool without being wasteful during the summer months.
Home Cooling Alternatives:
o According to the U.S. Department of Energy, running a hard-working bathroom or kitchen fan for one hour can expel all the warm air in a home. When used eight hours daily, efficient fans cost as little as 30 cents per month.
o Open windows on cool nights instead of running fans or air conditioners
o Plant deciduous trees to shade your home and save up to 8% on cooling costs
o If you must use air conditioning, have central air units tuned-up annually and opt for ENERGY STAR window units for maximum efficiency
Hot Water Heater Savers:
o Setting your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit saves as much as $25 annually for electric heaters and $18 for gas
o Wrap your water heater in an insulating blanket, when manufacturer’s guidelines allow
o Insulate at least 10 to 20 feet of hot and cold water pipes attached to your hot water heater
o Take warm or cool showers in the summer months
Modifying your lighting habits is an easy and effective way to start seeing savings on your monthly utility bills. Take these low and no cost changes as first steps to a lifetime of conserving electricity.
Lowering Lighting Costs:
o Turn lights off when leaving a room and install dimmer switches when appropriate. The United Illuminating Company reports dimmer switches can extend a light bulb’s life up to 20 times when dimmed to 50%
o Strategically place light fixtures and lamps. Use task lighting over work areas and place floor lamps in corners, allowing light to reflect off multiple walls
o Clean bulbs regularly for optimum illumination
o Install energy efficient light bulbs in lieu of traditional bulbs when possible
Becoming more energy efficient and lowering your utility bills can start with these simple steps. Other easy ways to decrease utility costs include replacing older, inefficient home appliances with ENERGY STAR models, increasing home insulation levels and blocking/plugging drafts from windows and doors. To learn more about lowering your monthly utility bills, contact your local utility company for details on in-home conservation and arranging a home energy audit.
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