Learn 8 Easy Steps to Reduce Your Home Energy Bill And These Will Not Cost You a Dime

Before you think about adding renewable energy sources to your home, it may be a good idea to cut down on your home energy usage first. That sounds logical as not doing so is like leaving the windows open while the A/C is running! Maybe that is a stretch but I think you get the point. If you are thinking of adding solar or wind energy to your home, cutting down on your energy usage will only reduce your renewable energy investment.

Change Your Daily Habits: Sometimes the most difficult things to change lie between our two ears. Most of us probably did not arrive overnight at the bad habit of leaving the lights on while no one was in the room, or even worse...not even home. Yet, changing our daily habits can make a significant impact on home energy usage. And the best part, they do not cost us a dime.
1. Reduce Light Use - One of the easiest ways to cut energy costs is to live by the rule: one light on per person in the house. If that is a stretch for your family, challenge them by turning off unused lights until you get down to one light per person. Make a game out it and give a reward to the person who uses the least amount of lights. Sometimes, taking baby steps is the best way to go. And those small changes year-over-year will begin to add big dollars to your bank account.
2. Keep Unused Rooms Closed - There is no need to cool or heat rooms that are not in use such as the attic, basement or laundry room. Close doors and vents in unused rooms to keep the comfortable temperatures where your family is...and at a lower energy cost.
3. Close Garage Door - All day and night the house is either heating or cooling the garage so think twice before sending this stored energy to the wind...keep it! The garage is a form of insulation, and a good idea to keep in mind since heating and cooling costs can count for up to 25% of your energy bill.
4. Close Up Unused Fireplaces - since hot air rises, this is a more important rule in the wintertime. Opened fireplaces will create a natural vent for your hard earned heating dollars to escape.
5. Adjust Thermostat - adjusting the thermostat by 15 degrees for eight hours can reduce your electric bill by 15%. 15 degrees seem a bit extreme...try 5 degrees for a week then progress from there. And with programmable thermostats today that allow you to set your daily and weekly programs, this can make lowering your energy bill a simple chore.
6. Window and Blinds - although this may not have been high on your energy conservation list, opening or closing your windows, blinds or even curtains can have a positive effect on your energy bill. Instead of reaching for the A/C thermostat, try opening windows instead to vent hot air in the summertime, especially the upstairs windows if you have upper floors. Even using a fan near windows to blow hot air outside can be a lower energy usage choice than the A/C. If the A/C or heater is a must, closing the blinds and curtains can be a great way to help insulate your home from the weather. An exception to this rule is if your windows face the sun in the wintertime. In this case, open the blinds and curtains to let the solar energy in.
7. Bundle up or go naked - this one was probably not on your list, at least not on any energy conservation one. Instead of turning on the heater, throw on a sweater instead. And in no time, you will save enough money to buy a new sweater. For those hot summer days, go light on the cotton. How light is up to you, but keep the neighbors in mind if you leave the blinds and curtains open.
8. Cook Outside - instead of using the stove and heating the house, try cooking outside with your barbeque during the summer months. That way the stove, or secondary heater, will not be competing with your home cooling system.
With energy costs on the rise and renewable energy sources requiring an investment in time and money, changing your energy consumption habits to cut your energy bill is the best first step for most. And why not, it does not cost you a thing!

Keith Garrett is a solar energy and wind power enthusiast for the home. His website at [http://www.solarwind4homes.com] offers knowledge and tips to the home owner on transitioning to renewable energy in the 21st century.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Learn-8-Easy-Steps-to-Reduce-Your-Home-Energy-Bill-And-These-Will-Not-Cost-You-a-Dime&id=4051342

Top 10 Ways To Save Money And Energy

There are many ways to save energy and money at home. These are some of the things that I've done.

• #1 I replaced my SUV with the plug-in hybrid Chevy Volt. This saves me several thousand dollars a year in gas since I mostly drive in electric mode. I save even more when gas prices rise.

• #2 I now use a pellet stove as the only means to heat my home. The pellet fuel and the electricity to run the stove cost about $1,000 per year. Pellet stoves aren't a solution but a great way to reduce your dependence on home heating oil sticker shock.

• #3 Insulating your home is one of the best things to do. In the attic, I double insulated my attic floor, put in an attic radiant barrier and an attic solar exhaust fan. I also put an insulating cap on top of the attic stairs. I also installed insulating curtains on all the windows and put window film on the actual glass.

• #4 If you heat your water using electricity, you have a few options. I first started saving by installing a simple gray box hot water heater timer. Setting the timer box to come on for a couple hours in the morning and in the evening was sufficient enough and it saved a lot of electricity.

• #5 I replaced the gray box timer and installed one of the first Energy Star Heat Pump Hot Water Heaters. The average person will save over $300 per year with one. In simple terms, the heat pump takes the heat that's already in the air and puts it in the water tank. This is much more efficient than powering a heating element in the tank all the time.

• #6 I grow my own organic food for part of the year. For part of the year, I don't have to buy basil, lettuce, tomatoes, zucchini, potatoes, blueberries or strawberries. Once you establish your initial garden structure you'll save money as the years go by.

• #7 You can save $10-$30 per month on natural gas or electricity just by hanging your laundry. You can go even further by getting a centrifuge laundry spinner that squeezes out an extra quart of water before you actually hang the clothes. This three minute laundry spinner will cut the drying time in half whether you hang the laundry or still use a dryer.

• #8 I killed most of the phantom or vampire electrical loads in the house by using properly sized power strips. You'd be surprised how much it costs to power a cable box, a microwave clock, a TV or even a garage door opener when it's not in use. If a power strip is too much of a hassle, they make remote controlled ones now.

• #9 Using less water saves in a few different ways. I use basic adjustable low flow shower heads, dual flush toilets and sink aerators. Less water used means less waste water and less energy needed to heat it.

• #10 I use fans instead of air conditioning unless there's a heat wave. You'd be surprised how cold you get when sleeping with a fan blowing on you. If you have to use AC, experiment by setting it a few degrees higher and using a fan.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SqPOeaYMUw

Benefits of a Home Energy Audit

With the right home energy auditor, there are many benefits of getting a home energy audit. Complete home energy audits can save your money on home energy bills, increase your homes comfort, improve your homes resale value and marketability, help you to take advantage of government incentive, and help the environment.

Save money on your home energy bills

If your home's energy bills are through the roof, then a home energy audit would be a major benefit for you. Your energy bills can be affected by many things. From small spaces around your windows and doors that aren't keeping in your conditioned air, to a large water heater that is using more energy than it needs to. A complete home energy audit will pinpoint the exact ways you can lower your home energy bills.

Not only will a home energy audit identify where you can save money, it will also prioritize the issues so you know which changes would make the most difference for you.

Increase your home's comfort

A key problem that many home energy auditors find in homes is air sealing. When a home energy auditor identifies air sealing as a problem, and fixes the problem, you will literally feel the difference in your home. The changes in your home will be night-and-day, there will no longer be cold drafts in the winter or hot bursts in the summer which will not only make you feel more comfortable, it will also save you money.

Improve your homes resale value and marketability

Another benefit of a comprehensive home energy audit is that it will increase the resale value and marketability of your home. According to a study published in the Appraisal Journal, every $1 decrease in annual energy costs increases the market value of a home by $20. So, you are not only saving money annually, but also making sure that you make money when it comes time to sell your home.

Homeowners that implement suggestions from a home energy audit also increase the perspective buyers' chance of buying their home. Home buyers will be pleased to hear that you have made changes to decrease energy bills and keep the house more comfortable.

Take advantage of government incentives

Recently the government has offered incentives to make energy efficient changes to your home. By receiving a home energy audit you are eligible to take advantage of the government's rebates and tax incentives.

Help the environment

Lastly, a complete home energy audit helps the environment. When you implement the improvements recommended by energy experts you use less energy, therefore reducing the amount of greenhouse gasses and pollution created. When your home isn't expelling as much energy to heat or cool it, to run appliances, or to light your home, you're saving money and helping the environment. 

 

Source: http://www.artipot.com/articles/1113228/benefits-of-a-home-energy-audit.htm

Aspects of a Full Home Energy Audit

Many homeowners are looking for ways to make their home more energy efficient and save money on their utility bills. Often times the energy company that performs a free home energy audit only checks obvious areas like lighting and air sealing.

It is important that your home energy auditor performs a complete home energy audit. Vital aspects of your home that should be checked in a home energy audit include:

*Heating and cooling system: Learning about the energy efficiency of your heating and cooling system is essential. If this is not checked there could be an abundant amount of energy being lost that you do not even recognize. Heating and cooling accounts for a large amount of energy use in your home and can be a major source of energy loss as well. Getting a complete home energy audit that assesses your heating and cooling system is something that you don't want to go without.

* Sealing: Although air sealing throughout your home is an obvious check, make sure it fully evaluates the air sealing. Simply checking around windows is not enough for your energy audit. A proper one should check for air leakage in your attic, foundation, and around any vents that may be letting in unwanted air.

When places are found throughout your home that are not sealed properly, it should suggest fixes such as insulation in the attic or basement, caulk and weatherstripping around doors and windows, and foam gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on walls. These fixes will keep in the conditioned air so that you are not wasting energy heating or cooling the outside, unconditioned air.

* Insulation: They are only complete when the insulation in your home is fully assessed. Many homeowners believe they have enough insulation in their home when this may actually be a major cause of energy loss. Simply checking to see if there is enough insulation is not a complete energy audit either though. Assessing your insulation r-value is essential.

The r-value of your insulation determines how well your home is insulated. This value depends on the type insulation that is in your home. A full one will assess this and let you know if you need to improve the insulation in your home to save energy and money.

* Lighting: Lighting is a simple fix, but is not always addressed in a free home energy audit. A proper one should be extensive and definitely address the lighting in your home. With new lighting technologies, the energy you use for lighting could be reduced by 50-75%. Installing energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) throughout your home will save energy and money every month.

* Appliances: It should also include an assessment of the appliances you already have and the way that you are using them. Dishwashers, refrigerators, washing machines, and dryers all must be checked out to achieve a proper understanding of the energy you are already using. When that is established, your home energy auditor should then be able to give you solutions to save money when it comes to your home's appliances.

All in all, it is extremely important that you receive a whole-house energy audit to discover your home's energy efficiency and ways that you can save money. If it looks appealing, make sure that the auditor addresses all aspects of your home and fully assesses every area where you could possibly be losing energy.

Source: http://www.artipot.com/articles/1112441/aspects-of-a-full-home-energy-audit.htm

Selling Your Home For a Profit? Think Home Energy!

The housing market is packed full with a lot of homes right now. It's still a buyers market. The big, small, ready to move in and fixer uppers, and all within your price range as a home buyer. So how do you decide which one to choose as your next home, as a buyer? And if you are a seller, how should you make your home more attractive to potential buyers that your house is selected as the next home of the buyer, among a multitude of other options?

Of course, there are the traditional methods of leaving all the lights on, and cleaning up the site, remove clutter, reduce the furniture count, etc. But from an energy perspective, how do you really make your home more attractive? One of the bonus guides in the professional version of the Home Energy Audit Kit is the Energy Homebuyer checklist, which outlines several important areas of a house to look at in terms of energy consumption and energy loss. As a seller, your job is to ensure that all elements of this list are available for any potential buyer to see. In other words, you should use the list too!
One of the easy things you can do is to highlight the effectiveness or energy efficiency of your appliances, or equipment left at home after you move. The big ones most look for are the furnace, hot water heater and air conditioning units (central air), in addition to fridges and stoves/ovens. Everyone of these has a number of energy labels on them (at least in North America) that shows how much energy the unit uses, and compares it with the most efficient and least efficient model tested in a government laboratory.
Do not worry if the unit isn't a high efficiency (HE) unit, or if not at the top of the measurement scale. While it is important to note, what most people do not understand about these stickers is that it all depends on the buyer's usage. The new owners of this house will not use the device in the same way the seller does. So their costs are different.
Also, make it a point to respond to any energy information when asked. The most common question is "What is the average electricity bill in January? Or July?". Or perhaps they will ask for the heating bill, or natural gas bill. Here's a nifty trick. When people ask for an average or an example of the bill, tell them the budget payment, if known...and be sure to mention the payment type as being budget. A budget payment is the weighted average cost of energy in a period of usually 6-10 months. Most people understand this. It has the added advantage of the smoothing out the peaks and valleys of your usage and costs, so to speak, so you do not have to reveal your electric payment one month was $300 - because when averaged out, you only really paid $126 per month. And what sounds better than a buyer with a limited budget? An electricity bill of $ 300 or a constant, budget-friendly cost of $ 126?
Do not volunteer this information unless asked directly, or if there are appliances that can be a concern for potential buyers. For example, most people are very wary of old furnaces and air conditioners, but what almost no one notices is the insulation is more important than a new HE (high efficiency) oven, furnace, or unit in most cases. However, buyers can not be sold on this house, because the oven, furnace or other appliance is old. You may be able to ease their minds by telling them that budget heat or natural gas payment is average, and give them the budget amount.
There are, of course, many many many more areas of opportunity to help sell your home for more and actually make a profit for yourself. I recommend you check the Energy homebuyer checklist as part of the Professional Home Energy Audit Kit for more tips and of course, follow them!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3705944