The warning letters have already started filling mailboxes across the country. This winter, Americans will face higher utility bills than ever before. While many will see their bills double, some costs will actually triple due to factors such as increased gas and oil prices and greater global demand.
While these factors are beyond your control, there are some steps you can take to improve your home’s energy efficiency and reduce your costs.
1. Improve your home’s air quality and ventilation. If your home does not have a ventilation system that provides for adequate air movement, add one that introduces fresh air to increase your comfort and adds to your energy efficiency.
Without adequate ventilation, your home’s heating and cooling systems need to work harder, meaning more energy and more money is required. Furthermore, uncirculated, stale air allows moisture, odors and pollutants to linger in your home.
2. Check the insulation levels in your attic, exterior and basement walls, ceilings, floors and crawl spaces.
3. Check for holes or cracks around your walls, ceilings, windows, doors, light and plumbing fixtures, switches and electrical outlets that can leak air into or out of your home. Caulk and insulate these energy wasting areas.
4. As appliances break down, replace old and inefficient models with Energy Star rated units that require less energy to run. Also look for the Energy Star rating when replacing heating and cooling systems.
5. Study your family’s lighting needs and usage patterns, paying special attention to high-use areas such as the living room, kitchen and outside lighting. Look for ways to use lighting controls, like occupancy sensors and dimmer switches to reduce lighting energy use. Also remember to systematically replace incandescent bulbs as they burn out with more energy efficient compact fluorescents and LEDs.
For more advice on how to save energy in your home, visit the United State’s Environmental Protection Agency at www.epa.gov and download a copy of the brochure, “Energy Savers: Tips on Saving Energy and Money at Home.”
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