Energy Conservation and Home Heating Tips
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Small Changes that Make a Big Impact on your Energy Consumption!
It's easy to make small changes to your lifestyle that can impact your heating bill and energy consumption. It's much easier thank you think! Don't watch your money fly out the window, put it where it belongs...in your pocket! Follow this easy list of heat-saving tips and you can save up for that new hybrid mini van you've been dreaming about (just kidding!).
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- More new homes conserve energy
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Bundle Up and Bust out the Sweaters
Save energy by bundling up on clothing
Bundle up! As much as we love to turn up the heat when it gets cold, sweat it out under a sweater or sweatshirt. At night, you can reduce the temperature since you were warm under the blankets. Enjoy the winter, enjoy the cooler weather and watch the snowfall or winter scenery! You can save a bunch of energy and money by merely layering your clothing. However, don't drop the heat too low--it's usually recommended the lowest you keep your house is 55-60 degrees to keep the pipes from freezing. For every degree the temperature is turned down, you save 10% of your energy use. For example, if you're heating bill comes to $100 and you have the heat at 70 degrees all day and night, turning down the heat to 69 will save you $10 on average. Another degree will save you $9, and so on. Programming your Thermostat
Save energy by programming your thermostat
A programmable thermostat will keep your home at the appropriate temperature all year. For example, while you are at work, you can reduce the heat, programming the thermostat to kick back on right before you arrive home. Then, the thermostat can lower again during the night for a more comfortable sleep. The heat can kick back on before work if you prefer, then lower during the day (if no one is home). Look Good, Feel Good!
Add Drapes and Stay Warm
Open your curtains or drapes on the north side of your home on sunny days. The solar energy will heat from this side of the house since light from the north is constant. A heavier drape also will help keep the warm air in at night. And while bare windows might be a favorite among home buyers right now, keep in mind that this will literally let the savings fly out the window! Keeping out the Cold
Insulate everything to keep out the cold and keep in the warm
Insulate your windows and doors. Storm doors and storm windows add an extra layer of insulation to your home. While most of the heat or cool air escapes through these spots, storm windows and doors add a barrier of sorts between your heated home and the elements. Think of it like a blanket around the house. Plug the Holes!
Find the energy and money sucking gaps in your home
Find draft spots in your home and plug them. Whether it be by adding a door snake, adding or replacing weather stripping, or finding random holes near your baseboards to fix, valuable heat is escaping from your home. Caulk any gaps or use insulation, it's very easy and you can find out detailed step by step guidelines anywhere through a quick search engine search. Spread the Heat
Distribute heat evenly so the thermostat can get a correct reading
Ventilate and use ceiling fans. Heat, even in the winter, is conserved best by good circulation. Your thermostat will more accurately read the temperature and heat will be evenly distributed instead of staying over in the corner or up near the ceiling all day. It's your money up there, pull it down with a fan! Not to mention, you'll be cooler in the summer as well with a good ceiling fan. However, just be sure to clean the fan with a good duster (they sell ceiling fan dusters everywhere) and to ventilate now that you've closed your home up so well. The pollutants and mold can build up quick. Cracking a window for a few minutes with some cross ventilation is recommended, as opposed to all-day ventilation with one window.
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Are Fireplaces Efficient?
Make sure your fireplace isn't costing you instead of saving money!
Know the truth about your fireplace! It's actually less efficient to use a fireplace. The chimney disspells most of the heat, as well as the heat from your thermostat heater. Only about 10% of the heat from a fireplace goes into the house. To efficiently use your fireplace, close the door to the room you are burning in to seal it off and not let the heat from the rest of the house escape. Properly close up your chimney when not in use to keep cold air out and warm air from escaping. Top sealing dampers which are attached to the top of your chimney will also help keep warm air in that you've paid for. Search "fireplace efficiency" in a search engine for complete information.
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Fetching RSS feed... please stand byGetting into Hot Water
Make your hot water heater work its most efficiently
Turn down the hot water heater and use a bit less hot water. Energy efficient dishwashers will use less hot water and energy, the end result saving money, heat, and water. A new, more updated, efficient hot water heater might be worth your while too. Research which ones to buy and which ones will fit in your home appropriately by using online reviews, guides and sites like consumer reports. You'd be surprised what a quick online search of 'hot water heater reviews' will pull up for you! Next, and perhaps the harder part, get someone knowledgable and experienced to install it safely. There are others way to save on hot water, and you can find out again by doing a quick search on 'hot water efficiency.' Energy star is a widely recommended seal of approval on efficient products like dishwashers, washing machines and refridgerators. They also have online tips for keeping your home energy-efficient. Energy Saving Books on Amazon
Go Solar!
Save money and energy by using the natural powers of the sun to attract heat
Keep in mind solar heating--the old time way of heating. Black attracts heat, so black drapes and rugs will attract some heat into your home during the day if the drapes are pulled back. White reflects heat. Keeping this in mind, you could do some additional heating or cooling in the appropriate months just by changing your decor.
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Have a Home Energy Saving Tip You'd Like to Share?
Share any additional ideas or comments here!
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lakeerieartists
Apr 2, 2009 @ 12:41 pm | delete
- I have to admit that I cannot live in a cold house, but I am trying to do many of the other things on this list. Great tips.
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RolandTumble
Feb 13, 2009 @ 3:30 pm | delete
- cool. 5* & lensrolled to my eco-lens
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Iatjad
Dec 18, 2008 @ 12:07 pm | delete
- Very helpful tips! Small changes in the way we do things can save so much energy. I also have a lens with more energy conservation tips. Please drop by sometime :)
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MerryM Dec 15, 2008 @ 4:31 pm | delete
- these are some great ideas! And how fun is the licence plate purse? 5*s
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ayharford
Dec 5, 2008 @ 1:16 pm | delete
- Great Lens! When it comes to Energy Conservation, we tend to look in a small perspective. But your lens talks about in a bigger picture and small implement we can take in our daily life! Also feel free to visit Solar Electricity!
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Green tips and eco friendly products
Reduce Your Energy Use with CFL Bulbs
Lower your bills and energy consumption with energy efficient light bulbs
Earthmate EP2352AK 23-Watt Super Mini-Spiral CFL 2700K Bulb, 6 Pack
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CFL bulbs will lower your energy use, as well as your energy bill. The other bonus: you won't have to change your light bulbs anywhere near as often! You'll start seeing savings in your electric bill immediately.
