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Most
folks work hard for their money. Why sit by while it slips through the cracks?
There are simple and inexpensive steps that you can take to make your home
more energy efficient and these solutions often bring big returns. As a bonus,
they benefit the environment as well as the family piggy bank. In this article
we look at some simple and inexpensive ways to reduce energy consumption in
the home.
Cover Windows and Seal Doors
Heat lost through windows and doors
represents a significant chunk of most heating bills. Some sources
estimate that loss through windows alone could account for up to
35 percent of heating bills. If you are tired of watching your
hard earned money slip through the cracks, there are things that
you can do:
Check around windows and doors with a
candle or a light piece of thread on a windy day to determine
where
drafts are. This will reveal problem areas in need of immediate
attention.
Remove and replace damaged caulk and weather-stripping. Self-stick
foam and rolled rubber weather-stripping are easy to install, and
can contribute greatly to your home's efficiency.
An inexpensive method of weatherizing
windows involves attaching thin, clear plastic film to the window
trim inside of the house using two-sided tape. The film is then
stretched taut using heat from a blow dryer to remove wrinkles and
creases.
Decorate your windows with efficiency
— closed shutters, window shades, blinds, curtains and lined
draperies. All contribute to energy savings by helping to insulate
windows.
For a long-range solution, consider
installing efficient replacement windows, or storm windows and
doors.
Developing Habits
for Practical Energy Conservation
You can reduce
your energy expenditures simply by developing energy saving
habits:
Showers usually
require less hot water than baths. Additional savings can be
realized by installing simple water-saving shower heads. This will
reduce water consumption, which is good for everyone. The primary
benefit is lower heating bills brought about by using less energy
to heat less water.
Use
heat-generating appliances such as washers, dryers or ovens during
the cooler hours of the morning or evening. This reduces the load
on your air conditioner in the summer, and actually helps heat the
house in the winter.
Electric cook tops
are energy drains. Use the appropriate burner for your pan size.
Also, flat bottom pots make better contact and conduct heat from
the elements more efficiently than pots with warped or rounded
bottoms.
Wash only full
loads of clothes when possible and clean your dryer's lint filter
after every load.
Consider replacing
incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Fluorescent
bulbs put out approximately four times as many lumens per watt.
For example, a 25 watt fluorescent bulb provides as much light as
a 100 watt incandescent bulb. Fluorescent bulbs also last about
ten times as long!
In the summer,
keep drapes and curtains closed on the sunny side of the house. In
the winter, open those drapes and curtains on sunny days to take
advantage of the sun's heating power. Close all drapes, blinds or
shades at night in winter to make use of their insulating
properties.
Use an exhaust fan
to pull excess heat and humidity out of the kitchen and bathroom
in the summer. Be aware, however, that exhaust fans can rapidly
pull the heat from your house in the winter.
Perhaps the most
often quoted hint for saving energy in the home is to set
thermostats at 68° F in the winter and 78° F in the summer.
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