12 Ways Homeowners Can Save $5,000 in Under an Hour
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Times are tough, and as the recession rolls on for the foreseeable future, it is important to consider what you can do to save yourself those hard-earned dollars. The good news is that saving money at home is ridiculously easy, thanks to poor environmental standards for homes and appliances. The twelve tactics below, which can all be completed in about an hour are free of any outside costs. They have the potential to immediately save a homeowner $500, and $5,000 over the next decade.
- Set the Programmable Thermostat(s) - Over 70% of US homeowners that have programmable thermostats do not use them. This is a 'must buy' + learn the over-ride and 'vacation' modes. To save money and stay comfortable: For the winter 'heat' go for a set point of 70° or lower, and a for unoccupied day and evening set it back to 62°. For the summer 'cool' go for a set point of 78° or higher, and for unoccupied daytime setup to at least 85° and for sleep time setup to 82°.
- Unplug unused Fridges - If possible, consolidate a few items in an 'extra' fridge and you can save up to $170 per year. Keep kids safe by padlocking the door if necessary. The 'old style' fridges with the big heavy doors are so inefficient that they use over $30 per month of electricity, or over $360 per year.
- Reset your Fridge Thermostat(s) - Go for 38° for the fridge and 0° - 5° for the freezer. The 10° shift from typical settings can save you as much as 25%. At annual costs of $170, the savings is $42. If there are no degree settings go just below the 'middle' level on the dials and test it out.
- Reset your Water Heater - Go for 120° or the 'warm' or 'hot' mode vs. 'hotter'. You can save 5 to 10% on your bills and with households spending $400 / year that's a $30 savings. If there are no degree settings, go just below the 'middle' level on the dials and test it out for a few days.
- Clean the elements that supply and return Heat and AC in each room - Clean the cold air return vent grills, the heat supply registers, any radiators, and the base boards.
- Lock the Windows (Summer & Winter) - Reduce air leakage and secure on casement windows and the horizontal space between the upper and lower sash on double hand windows.
- Place space heaters wisely – Winter - Choose models like 'radiant' heaters that are safer. When placing them make sure to have plenty of air circulation to maximize its performance.
- Place free standing or table top fans wisely – Summer - Choose energy-efficient units, and make sure that they support the cross-ventilation advantages of air flow.
- Move items that block air circulation - Heating and cooling account for over 40% of household utility bills. Every small optimization adds up.
- Turn off the Fridge anti-sweat switch - Newer models include the feature that uses electricity to prevent the door from building up moisture. You rarely even need it in the summer, but definitely turn it off over the winter.
- Close the Damper - Shut the damper on your wood burning fire place in the winter to restrict the warm air from leaving your home. Naturally, open it if your use the fireplace!
- Check the furnace air filter seating - Make sure that it is sitting flush in the slot so the HVAC runs properly and you also get the filtered air. Also 'pleated' filters are typically more effective at filtering air than other materials.
In addition, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) signed into law by President Obama in February of 2009 has created some tremendous opportunities for homeowners such as the following:
- Reducing utility costs
- Producing power
- Financing options
- Buying your first home
- Buying a new car
- Resources for state incentives
Get a copy of the Free Federal Tax Incentive Decoder.
~ Change a Light Bulb. Whenever practical, replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. Replacing just
one 60-watt incandescent light bulb with a CFL will save you Rs. 2660 over the life of the bulb. CFLs also last 10 times longer than
incandescent bulbs, use two-thirds less energy, and give off 70 percent less heat.
~ Use the “Off” Switch. Save electricity and reduce global warming by turning off lights when you leave a room, and using only as
much light as you need.
~ Remember to turn off your television, video player, stereo and computer when you’re not using them. Battery chargers such as
those for laptops, cell phones & digital cameras draw power when ever they are plugged in and are very energy inefficient – pull the
plug n save.
~ Turn off your home/office equipment when not in use. A computer that runs 24 hours a day for instance, uses more power than an
energy efficient refrigerator.
~ If your computer must be left on, turn off the monitor, this devise alone uses more than half the system’s energy. Setting
computer monitors and copiers to use sleep mode helps cut energy costs by approximately 40%. Screen savers save computer
screens, not energy. Start-up and shut downs do not use any extra energy nor are they hard on your computer components. In fact
shutting computer down reduces system wear and saves energy.
~ Buy Energy efficient Products. When it’s time to buy a new electronic product, choose the one that offers less energy
consumption.
~ Use less Hot Water. Set your water heater to moderate temperature to save energy, use warm and luke warm water for bath. Buy
low flow showerheads to save hot water.
~ Wash your clothes in cold water to reduce your use of hot water and the energy required to produce it. Use energy saving settings
on your washing machine and dishwaters and let the clothes and dishes air-dry.
~ Use less Air Conditioning. Adding insulation to your walls and installing weather stripping or caulking around doors and windows can
lower your air conditioning costs more than 25 percent. Keeping temperature at moderate at all times and setting your thermostat
just 2 degrees higher could save enormous amount of energy. The less difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the
~ Heat food intelligently. Allow refrigerated foodstuff to come to room temperature before heating and allow heated foodstuff to
cool down to normal temperature before placing it in the refrigerator.
~ Design lighting and air circulation smartly. Avoid excessive illumination. Please keep only as many fans and lights on as you need. Use
light-colored, loose-weave curtains on your windows to allow daylight to penetrate the room.
~ Decorate your home with lighter colors that reflect daylight. Plant trees and shrubs around your house to gain shade and natural
ventilation.
~ Adopt Sustainable Energies. Term sustainable energy refers to generating energy with an awareness of the future, i.e. in a way
that would enable future generations to meet their energy needs too. Sustainable or renewable energies are found in nature that are
self re-generating such as Solar, Wind power, Water Power (Tidal), Bio fuels and Geothermal heat.
These sources produce clean (or green) energy. And does not lead to climate change and does not involve emission of pollutants.
~ Encourage Others to Conserve. Share information about energy conservation with your friends, neighbors and co-workers, and take
opportunities to encourage public officials to establish programs and policies that are good for environment.
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