Utility Bills on the Rise!

Many Americans are struggling to make ends meet these days. When cooler weather arrives, most people are tempted to turn up the heat to stay warm. However, with energy costs rising around the country, taking some cost saving measures can have a big impact on your wallet. Making sure your home is properly winterized will reduce warm air from escaping your home. Provided below are some winter tips to help you stay warm in an energy efficient manner:

1. Set your thermostat to conserve energy. Every degree above 68 adds 4% to your utility bill. By setting your heat to come on at a slightly lower temperature, you can reduce the number of hours that you will need either gas or electricity to adjust the climate in your home in any given month. At bedtime, lower the temperature of your thermostat and add extra blankets to your bed. When you are away from your home for more than 4 hours, lower your thermostat. For best results install a programmable thermostat. The energy that you save will directly translate to financial savings. Central heating air filters should be changed every 30 - 90 days to keep your furnace operating efficiently.

2. Take advantage of daylight hours to heat your home at no cost. To conserve the heat during evening hours or to block out the heat, keep your shades closed.

3. Use less water throughout the day. You can reduce the amount of water that you use by taking steps such as shortening your showers and turning off the water while you brush your teeth. You can also reduce the amount of water that you use by fixing any leaks in your home, no matter how small they may seem initially. A leaky faucet wastes as much as 2,700 gallons in a year! Retrofitting your faucets is also a good idea. Try a low-flow shower head in your bathtub to reduce water output. These inexpensive gadgets can reduce your water flow from 3 to 4 gallons per minute to as little as a half gallon.

4. Wash your clothes and dishes during off peak hours. During off peak hours, electricity is less expensive. You can also save money by air drying your clothes or dishes.

5. Turn off electric appliances when they are not in use. Running your computer or leaving your television turned on can not only increase your electric bill directly, but can also generate additional heat in your home.

6. Switch to energy efficient fluorescent light bulbs. These light bulbs consume less electricity while you are using them, letting you save money on your home utilities. They also last significantly longer than traditional incandescent light bulbs and generate less heat.

7. Adjust your hot water heater usage. Turn your water heater thermostat down to 120 degrees F. If you have a water heater that was built before 2004, cover it with a Thermwell insulating blanket. This should lower your water heating bill by about 10 percent per year. And you can save another 10 percent on your heating bill if you have your furnace serviced about every two years.

8. Add insulation to your home if necessary. Check insulation levels in attics and crawlspaces. By having adequate insulation, heating and cooling costs will be decreased and comfort will be increased.

9. Doors and windows can be a major source of energy loss. To help block the drafts go around all sills and look for cracks, separations, etc. Fill these gaps with some silicone-based caulking to help seal out the elements and conserve energy in your home. Put weather-stripping around your doorframes should save you about $30 per year.Install ceiling fans. Ceiling fans are relatively inexpensive and are typically easy to put in. They help circulate warm air and keep it from all escaping through the ceilings in the winter, while helping cool air circulate in the hot months. They use very little energy.

10. Install ceiling fans. Ceiling fans are relatively inexpensive and are typically easy to put in. They help circulate warm air and keep it from all escaping through the ceilings in the winter, while helping cool air circulate in the hot months. They use very little energy.