How much do you spend on utility bills? Do you even know?
The US Dept. of Energy estimates that consumers spend 6-12% of their income on utilities.
Here are some ways to conserve energy - and decrease the amount you spend on electricity, water, and heat bills.
1. Switch to CFL (compact fluorescent bulbs). Yes, you've heard this before. They're more expensive to purchase, but do you know that since they last 10 times longer than incandescant bulbs, they can save up to $60 in electricity costs per bulb?! That's significant....
2. Of the total energy used to run home electronics, 40% is consumed when the appliances are turned off. If you're not ready or willing to unplug them all while not in use, consider purchasing a device that will cut energy consumption for you, such as a Smart Power Strip.
3. If your water heater was manufactured before 2004, you may need to wrap it with insulation. Doing so can save up to to 10% each year on your water heating bill.
4. Have your furnace serviced at least every 2 years - and change your filters regularly to save about 10% on your heating bills.
5. Speaking of your furnace, did you know that you can save about 5% of your heating bill for EVERY DEGREE that you turn your thermostat down? (According to the Alliance to Save Energy.) So pick up a programmable thermostat and have it automatically turn down the temperature when you're sleeping or not at home. You can also put on a sweater and some slippers and turn it down a degree or two while you are home for additional savings. Nobody wants to be cold in their own home, but if putting on an extra layer of clothes saves enough money to buy something special, it may just be worth it!
6. Wash clothes in cold water and save up to 50% of the energy you would use to wash them in hot water. And if you use your dryer's moisture sensor instead of the timer, you can save another 15% of your energy expense.
7. Here's an easy one. Put weatherstripping around your front and back doors. Not only will you stop uncomfortable drafts, but you can save about $30 per year.
8. Turn down the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees. Just make sure your dishwasher heats up to 140 degrees.
9. Replace old shower heads with new low-flow ones and save 25-60% of water used, and up to 50% of the energy used to heat the water.
10. Check for leaks. A leaky faucet can waste up to 2700 gallons of water per year (and drive you crazy....). A leaky toilet can use an extra 200 gallons PER DAY! To test your toilet for leakage, put food color in the tank and see if it leaks down into the bowl.
I can think of better things to spend money on than utilities, how about you? So do what you can to conserve, and have fun with the savings!
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