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Home Energy Efficiency Tips

By
Real Estate Agent with Bend Premier Real Estate

The air is delightfully crisp today, with a hint of fall.  In Central Oregon the temperatures are slowly dropping and all too soon winter weather will be upon us.  This is the perfect time of year to assess winter heating and determine ways to conserve energy and cost.  The following tips will help homeowners prepare for the cold weather.  Some take only minutes, others require purchasing a few supplies. 

1)      To begin, a home energy audit can be extremely beneficial in determining where your home energy use is inefficient.  Some electric or gas companies offer these audits for free, and sometimes government agencies offer heavy rebates.  Check with your utility providers for more information.   

2)      Install a programmable thermostat, then lower temperatures while you are away at work and at night.  This can create a 10% reduction in heating costs in one season.

3)      Clean or replace your furnace filters.  This will help a furnace run more efficiently.  Disposable filters cost only a few dollars.  Reusable ones can cost up to twenty five dollars.

4)      Turn your water heater down.  The recommended temperature is 120 degrees, but most water heaters are set high above that.  If you have an old water heater, the insulation might be insufficient and you can install a specially designed water heater blanket to maximize efficiency.

5)      Caulk and weather-strip your home.  Seal any cracks around window frames, light switches, and electrical outlets.  Replace old weather-stripping in exterior door frames to create a tight seal.

6)      Keep windows covered when dark.  This prevents heat from escaping trhough the glass. Open up window coverings—especially ones with southern exposure—during the day to absorb sunlight.

7)      Lastly, wear socks around the house.  When your feet are cold, the rest of your body gets cold so as a habit, wear socks around your house

Enjoy the winter, and if you are a Central Oregon resident, enjoy the snow!

 

Sources: money.com, kcc.state.ks.us, realestateinsidernews.com

Posted by

Bend Premier Real Estate - - Dan Cardot, Broker - - Serving Central Oregon

Dan Cardot, Bend Premier Real Estate

Dan Cardot, Broker
Specializing in Distressed Property Sales

Bend Premier Real Estate
550 NW Franklin Avenue Suite 108, Bend, OR 97701
(541) 480-5291 direct
(541) 323-2779 office
(541) 323-2830 fax

www.bendpremierproperties.com
dancardot.bend@gmail.com

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Comments (46)

Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Dan, good tips for keeping those utility bills down. Thanks.

Sep 27, 2011 01:39 AM
Mark Welsh
Kirkland, WA

thes are some great tips.  I always forget how much it costs to heat a house right after summer.  then 2 onths later i get he bill and i am shocked.  Just insane

Sep 27, 2011 02:30 AM
Gabrielle Jeans
WebTech Dezine, Gabrielle Jeans Real Estate Coach - Toronto, ON
Real Estate Web Solution, Real Estate Trainer and Coach

These are great tips Dan. Especially wearing socks around the house. Once your feet are warm, the rest of your body is automatically warm. Thanks for sharing Dan.

Sep 27, 2011 03:04 AM
Mike Yeo
3:16 team REALTY - Frisco, TX

Great tips for being energy efficient. This summer has been crazy and the bills are crazy too.

Sep 27, 2011 03:06 AM
Conor MacEvilly
RE/MAX On Market in Ballard. Seattle - Seattle, WA

Hey Dan, I'm with you on the socks thing! Mind you I had buyers recently move into their new home where the sellers had over enthusiastically polished the floor. One of the buyers was walking around in socks on their first day, slipped on the shiny floor and hit her head. Now she has a scar on her forehead that Harry Potter would be jealous of! She now wears those socks they give you in hospitals which have little rubber pads on the soles for traction. Studded tires for winter and studded socks year round!

 

Sep 27, 2011 03:24 AM
Marshall Brown
Mid America Inspection Services, LLC - Fargo, ND
BSEE, CHI

Very good tips for all. Thanks.

Sep 27, 2011 03:41 AM
Tim Bradley
Contour Investment Properties - Jackson Hole, WY
Commercial Real Estate Expert in Jackson Hole, WY

I'm thinking of moving to Hawaii instead. No socks ever again!

Sep 27, 2011 04:23 AM
Dana Cottingame
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Dallas, TX

I had an energy audit done at my house a couple of years ago. They did the weather stripping, caulking, and put insulation in switches and outlets.  They checked the ductwork for leaks and talked to me about insulation for the attic and replacement window advantages. They caulked around all the plumbing lines in the house.  The bonus I didn't expect was a reduction in  bugs.  All those tiny areas around window and water lines were access points for small unwelcome crawlers.  I am saving for windows.  Thank you for sharing your list.

Sep 27, 2011 05:30 AM
Karen Steed
Tallapoosa, Bremen, Waco, Buchanan, Temple, Carrollton - Tallapoosa, GA
Associate Broker Haralson Realty

Great tips.  With winter coming on, this is great info for us all.

Sep 27, 2011 05:32 AM
The Derrick Team - Indy Metro Realtors
Carpenter Realtors - Avon, IN
Your Pet Friendly Realtors

Our local power co-op offers them for free. I think I want to take advantage of this. Thanks for the reminder.

Sep 27, 2011 05:53 AM
Kimo Jarrett
Cyber Properties - Huntington Beach, CA
Pro Lifestyle Solutions

Timely reminder and good tips for anyone except those who live in Oahu.

Sep 27, 2011 05:57 AM
Beverly Femia
BlueCoast Realty Corporation - Hampstead, NC
Broker Realtor Stager - Greater Wilmington, NC Are

And all good tips for anyone putting their home on the market this winter.  You'll be warmer and one jump ahead of the inspector.  . 

 

 

Sep 27, 2011 08:26 AM
Dagny Eason
Dagny's Real Estate - Wilton, CT
Fairfield County CT, CDPE Homes For Sale and Condo

We also make sure that we have some extra fleece to throw on on a chilly evening...  

Sep 27, 2011 08:29 PM
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

Hello Dan and a great post, and featured by the AR GODS ... (Bonus)! When I lived in Portland Oregon many moons ago we use to hike around the rivers & mountains close to Bend, very beautiful area ...

VB ;o)

Sep 28, 2011 07:06 AM
Bob Miller
Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty - Ocala, FL
The Ocala Dream Team

Dan, Nice list

Sep 28, 2011 09:22 AM
Chris Druesedow
Five Star Realty - Kenai, AK

Great advice!! Thanks for posting these great tips!

Soldotna Real Estate

Sep 28, 2011 11:09 AM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

I like burning a nice wood fireplace, but the Green Nazi's are putting an end to that sort of thing.

Sep 28, 2011 11:20 AM
Anonymous
Peter Michelbach

Dan - thanks for the tips. Agree with Gene's comment, they create havock in Australia as well. Best. Peter

Sep 29, 2011 09:27 PM
#44
Dan Cardot
Bend Premier Real Estate - Bend, OR

Gene,

I was driving up in the Cascade mountains the other day and there were probably 100 pickup trucks lining the road because a section had been opened for wood gathering.  It appears a lot of people like a good wood fire!

Dan

Oct 03, 2011 06:04 AM
Dale Taylor
Re/Max 10 New Lenox Illinois http://dtaylor.remax.com - Frankfort, IL
Realtor = Chicago Illinois Homes Townhomes Condos

good tips

Oct 28, 2011 04:06 PM