A few ideas to help lower your utility bills this winter:
o Wrap your hot water heater in an insulating jacket.
o Schedule an annual tune-up for your heat pump, furnace or boiler. Your utility company may provide this service.
o Hire a professional to seal and insulate leaky ducts, and to ensure that the airflow distribution system serving your heating equipment is operating at peak efficiency.
o Clean or replace filters on forced-air furnaces, seal flues in fireplaces you don't use, install drapes or some other covering on windows, and seal holes around plumbing and heating pipes.
o Install a programmable thermostat that will automatically lower night time temperatures.
o Check caulking and weatherstripping, and repair where necessary.
o Close your foundation vents in the winter if there's a crawl space under your home.
o Close the doors to rooms that you don't use.
More ways to realize lower utility bills.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Options for lower utility bills
The news is not good for heating bills this winter. Many economists are predicting double digit increases in the costs we pay to heat our homes.
Homeowners faced with rising heating and cooling costs have several options for improving the energy efficiency of their home. In addition to adding insulation to the attic, many homeowners have replaced their windows with more energy efficient windows.
Storm windows cost much less than replacement windows, and they have the potential to save nearly as much energy. This is especially true for some of the new storm window products that are available with a low-e coating. As with replacement windows, it is important to pay careful attention to sealing all air leakage pathways when mounting the storm windows.
If your wall cavities are poorly insulated, or uninsulated, this is a great opportunity to blow insulation into this empty space. People are often reluctant to tackle this job because it involves cutting small holes into their home’s exterior walls, and the patched holes are sometimes noticeable.
This will save you more energy, and more heating and cooling dollars, than anything else you can do to your walls. Most homeowners find it necessary to hire a contractor for this job. Most contractors will let you choose either loose-fill cellulose or fiberglass.
The goods news is - homeowners have many options to cut heating costs this winter and realize lower utility bills year round!
Homeowners faced with rising heating and cooling costs have several options for improving the energy efficiency of their home. In addition to adding insulation to the attic, many homeowners have replaced their windows with more energy efficient windows.
Storm windows cost much less than replacement windows, and they have the potential to save nearly as much energy. This is especially true for some of the new storm window products that are available with a low-e coating. As with replacement windows, it is important to pay careful attention to sealing all air leakage pathways when mounting the storm windows.
If your wall cavities are poorly insulated, or uninsulated, this is a great opportunity to blow insulation into this empty space. People are often reluctant to tackle this job because it involves cutting small holes into their home’s exterior walls, and the patched holes are sometimes noticeable.
This will save you more energy, and more heating and cooling dollars, than anything else you can do to your walls. Most homeowners find it necessary to hire a contractor for this job. Most contractors will let you choose either loose-fill cellulose or fiberglass.
The goods news is - homeowners have many options to cut heating costs this winter and realize lower utility bills year round!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Lower your utility bills - add insulation now!
Heating bills are projected to jump by well over 10% this year. One of the simplest ways to save on your heating ( and cooling ) bills is adding insulation in your attic! Experts seem to agree - insulation will pay for itself in lower utility bills.
Heating and cooling account for over half of the energy used in the average American home. Inadequate insulation and air leakage are leading causes of energy waste in most homes.
Adding insulation to your home:
* saves money and our planet's limited energy resources
* makes your house more comfortable by helping to maintain a uniform temperature throughout the house
* makes walls, ceilings, and floors warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
The amount of energy you save will depend on several factors: where you live; the age of your house; the living habits of your family; the type and efficiency of your heating and cooling systems; and the fuel you use. Once the energy savings have paid for the installation cost, energy conserved is money saved - and saving energy will be even more important as utility rates continue to rise.
Many Home improvement centers will loan you the equipment you need to blow in cellulose insulation. Or you can hire a pro to come out and do it for you. However you choose to get it done - you can start saving on your utility bill as soon as this winter!
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