6 Quick Tips to Save Energy – And Put Some Cash in Your Pocket

| Here are 6 quick tips to make your home more energy efficient, and potentially save hundreds of dollars in the process.
Washing clothes in cold water saves $40 per year and 80- 90% of energy used in washing Did you know Americans pay 1 billion dollars a year to power TV and VCR while they are turned off? Install a power strip and put an end to phantom power once and for all – and save up to 10% off your power bill in the process! Switch to Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs: Change your furnace filter every month. It will save you up to 5% on your heating bill – and cut down on those pesky dust bunnies in the process! Program your thermostat. Did you know up to 75% of people with programmable thermostats don’t use them? It only takes about 5 minutes to insure you are not heating and cooling your home unnecessarily while no one is home. Program to 78 degrees in the summer and 62 degrees in the winter – and save up to $100 a year. Get an Energy Audit. You can set them up through Xcel Energy for as little as $35. The standard audit offers a thorough examination of the home’s energy efficiency and usage and is conducted by certified energy auditors. The auditors prepare a personalized energy report detailing improvements that will make your home more comfortable and decrease your energy bill at the same time. |





Good recommendations–there are a lot of simple things people can do. And there are deeper improvements that make homes more energy-efficient (and safer and more comfortable at the same time) . Regarding the home energy audit, it’s important to get the right audit–accurate and actionable and looking at the right things like duct leakage, air infiltration, and equipment efficiency and combustion safety and an analysis of utility bills. For a bit more background on audits and additional links, follow my post at http://greenhomesamerica.wordpress.com/2009/05/07/home-energy-audits-2/
Thanks and good luck!
Mike