Lower Your Energy Bill and Save Mother Earth

According to the American Almanac, Americans consume approximately 26% of the world's energy supply (while only accounting for only 5% of the world's population) and use about 15 times more energy per person than a typical developing country.

Everyday, our energy usage increases and so does our need to import energy resources from foreign countries. So here are a few ways to reduce home energy consumption, cut your costs (= save money), and help Mother Earth.

Before you take action, let's look at the main energy consuming monsters in your home:

• Space Heating: 32%
• Water Heating: 13%
• Lighting: 12%
• Air Conditioning: 11%
• Refrigeration: 8%
• Electronics: 5%
• Clothes Dryers: 5%

Take note: almost one third of the energy used is due to heating a home. So here are some strategies that can help make a difference...

1. Find leaks and seal them. Use caulking to seal leaks and any gaps or cracks around windows and doors.

2. Replace old windows. If you have older or leaky windows, consider replacing them with newer windows (double pane are a plus).

3. Turn down your thermostat to 68 degrees. Wear warmer clothing and lower the thermostat to 68 degrees. For every degree you lower your heat in the 60 - 70 degree range, you can save approximately 5% on heating costs.

4. Get a routine maintenance of your heating system. Also, check your furnace's air filter monthly and replace or clean as needed. Your heating system will work more efficiently and last longer with proper maintenance.

5. Make good use of light. Take advantage of sunlight as best as possible and use compact fluorescent lights (CFL) in place of conventional incadescent light bulbs. CFL use 1/4 less wattage than conventional bulbs.

6. Turn off appliances when not used. This is especially important for electronic appliances such as computers, printers, photocopiers, and TVs. Also, unplug appliances that aren't used on a regular basis.

7. Keep the refrigerator closed. You lose about 25% of the cold air evertyime you open the refrigerator so try to reduce the amount of time the door is open. Also, clean the condenser coils on your refrigerator to keep them working efficiently.

8. Wash your clothes in cold water as much as possible. Also, consider air-drying your laundry on clothes lines or drying racks instead of using a dryer everytime. If you do use a dryer, make sure to clean out the lint filter after every load to improve air circulation.

Also, if you are planning on buying a new home appliance (washer/dryer, dishwasher, A/Cs, etc.) you should always look for the energy-efficient models with the ENERGY STAR tag. For more detailed information about increasing energy efficiency take a look at the U.S. Department of Energy 'Energy Savers' web site.

Labels: energy conservation, mother earth, new hampshire real estate

posted by B. Samii @ 4:44 AM