Reduce Energy Use & Stop Draining Your Wallet

$160 billion is a huge amount of money. But that’s how much Americans spend annually on heat, air conditioning and electricity.

For the majority of homeowners, high energy bills are the result of insufficient energy conservation. If you make your home more energy efficient, you’ll be able to take up to 20% or 30% off your total bills. And it isn’t as hard to do as you might think.

The first step in making your home more energy efficient is to locate the problem areas. If you’re unsure of what to look for, hire a professional to assess your home and energy use. A home energy audit can spot wasted energy – which is wasted money for you.

A professional will look to see if your windows and doors have leaks around them and if the air ducts in your home are sealed properly. Just a couple of leaks in the attic can take up 30 to 50% of your home’s heat, and unsealed air ducts can reduce the efficiency in your home by up to 40%.

Here are some other bright ideas that can make a big difference in your energy bill:

• Use energy-efficient light bulbs – Not only do they last up to 15 times longer than ordinary bulbs, but they also use 80% less electricity.
• Turn off those lights – When you leave a room, always turn off any lights you used.
• Buy energy-efficient appliances – They cost less to run and over time will give you considerable savings on your electricity bill.
• Save on hot water – Use ‘economy’ programs on your washing machine. And also consider washing your laundry with cold water.
• Install a low-flow showerhead – And also reduce your shower time by just a few minutes.
• Turn off your computer monitor if you aren’t going to use the PC for more than 20 minutes. Turn off the entire system if you’re not going to use it for more than two hours.
• Turn your heat down – Reducing your thermostat by just 1º F will take 10% off your heating bill.
• Insulate your attic – Attic insulation will keep the heat in your home for longer and pay for itself in two to three years.

There you have it! In just a few easy steps, you can reduce your energy consumption and your electric bills.