Twelve Ways to Save $5,000 in Under an Hour

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.

1. 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°.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. Move items that block air circulation - Heating and cooling account for over 40% of household utility bills. Every small optimization adds up.
10. 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.
11. 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!
12. 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.

GREENandSAVE.com is a free resource for anyone that wants to save energy, money, and the environment. The articles, product reviews, online tools, and return on investment calculations are researched from a diverse range of public and private sector sources. Overall, the company is passionate about saving money as well as creating healthy homes, offices, and lifestyles.
The twelve tactics listed above are ranked in order of their Return on Investment. Those at the top take less time to pay you back and each one of these ideas will save you money. For more complete Return on Investment information, see the best ways to Save Money at GREENandSAVE.