How To Save Energy At Home

How to save energy at home. Of course, you want your home to be warm and cozy during the winter months and cool and comfortable during the dog days of summer.

But you also want to keep your energy bills under control. Energy smart day-to-day living is easier than you think. Save cold cash year-round with these simple steps to save energy.

How To Save Energy on Heating and Cooling

If your home's heating or cooling unit is more than 15 years old, you can save energy by replacing it with one of today's energy-efficient, energy star models.

The newer models, which are better insulated and have motors that require less maintenance, pay for themselves in energy savings, frequently in as little as three to five years.

If you're not ready to make such a large purchase right now, you can wrap insulation around heating ducts to save energy.

How to Save Energy With A Programmable Thermostat

A sure way to save on winter heating bills is to open the drapes during the day, let the sun shine in, and draw them at night to keep the heat from radiating out.

Set the thermostat at 68 degrees F (20 degrees C) or lower during the day, and set it at 55 degrees F (13 degrees C) at night or when you're away.  

For every degree you lower the thermostat, you'll save 3 to 5 percent on monthly heating bills.

Also, consider installing a thermostat with a built-in timer. While you can easily adjust the thermostat yourself to comfortable temperatures, it's more efficient to have a system that does it for you automatically.

To keep your home cool in summer, draw the drapes and close the windows to keep hot air and the sun's burning rays out. Set the thermostat at 78 degrees F (26C) or higher when you're home.

Don't place your air-conditioning thermostat near lamps, appliances, or in direct sunlight. The thermostat sensed heat in these areas and could cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.

Lighten Up to Save on Energy Bills

Since the energy for lighting accounts for some 10 percent of your electric bill, you can save by lightening up on your wattage.

If you're using 100-watt bulbs where 60-watt bulbs would do, consider replacing them. Or switch to fluorescent bulbs that screw into standard sockets. These give off a warmer light that's closer to the light of incandescent bulbs.

Lighten up on your interior decorating, too: Pale colors for walls, draperies, rugs, and upholstery reflect light and can reduce the number of lamps needed to light a room adequately. 

Outdoors replace incandescent lighting with high-pressure sodium or outdoor fluorescent bulbs for additional savings.

Or try solar-powered pathway lamps (with batteries that store photovoltaic energy for nighttime use) or high-efficiency sodium lamps for security lighting. 

Cooking Up Energy Savings 

It's pretty easy to cook up energy savings in the kitchen. If you keep range-top burners and reflectors clean, they'll reflect the heat better and require less energy for cooking.

If you cook with electricity, turn off the burners several minutes before the end of the allotted cooking time. The burners will stay hot long enough to finish the job without using any more electricity.  

When you have a choice between using the range top and the oven, go with the former to save energy.

If you use the oven, open it sparingly; each time you open it, heat escapes, and the oven will use even more energy to maintain the temperature.

Use a pressure cooker and a microwave oven whenever possible; both save energy. When boiling water, keep a lid on the pot; water boils faster when you use a top to hold in the heat.