Save Money on Electricity

New Light Bulb Labels Simplify Saving Energy on Lighting

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:50:36 -0500

Saving money on your home energy bills can be as simple as choosing the right light bulbs. And guess what? Choosing the right light bulbs is about to get a whole lot simpler. That's because the FTC is going to start requiring new up-to-date labeling on light bulb packages that will provide much-needed information for consumers who wish to save money on electricity.

New Labels on Front of Package

The first thing that you will notice as different with the new labels on light bulbs is that the front of the package will announce the bulbs' brightness in lumens. When looking at light bulb packages today, we normally see them measured in watts. The difference is that watts measure energy use whereas lumens measure brightness.

You may be wondering how switching away from a measurement that tells you about energy use will help you to save energy. That's a valid concern. However, the problem with buying light bulbs measured in watts is that the same watts can have very different brightness levels depending upon the type of light bulbs you're using (such as CFL vs. LED). You want to choose the light bulb that is going to supply the correct amount of light for the longest period of time. This prevents frequent changing of light bulbs or overuse of light bulbs, which ultimately helps to save energy in the home. And don't worry; you can still get information about the wattage of the bulb by checking out the back label of the package.

Nutrition-Style Labels on Back of Package

The new light bulb package requires that all light bulbs be marked with a label that looks very similar to the nutrition labels we see on our food packages. This is where you will be able to find information about the wattage of your light bulb. You will also find a lot of other information here that will help you make smart lighting choices to save energy around the home.

There are two crucial pieces of information that you'll benefit from on these labels. The first is the estimated life expectancy of the bulb. And the second is the estimated annual cost of using the bulb. By looking at this information, you can easily see if a light bulb is going to be affordable to have in the home and if it's going to last a long time.

How to Use These New Labels

The new light bulb labels will start appearing on packages in mid-2011. Once they do, you can use the information on them to compare one light bulb to another. You can easily glance at the labels to see which light bulb will last the longest, which will have the brightest light, etc. This will allow you to choose long-lasting light bulbs that offer you the right amount of light for the lowest energy costs. Rather than choosing the cheapest bulb at the store, you can truly make an informed decision about the most energy efficient light bulbs for each fixture in your home.

10 Little Ways to Lower your Summer Electric Bills

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:45:32 -0500

Do you want to see your electricity bills drop this summer without having to do anything drastic? Don't worry; there are lots of little things that you can do to start seeing big changes and start saving money on your energy bills.

Here are ten energy saving tips to help you get started with lowering your electric bills this summer:

Clean the air filter on your air conditioner. The cleaner it is, the better it's going to run so it won't have to work as hard to cool the home.
Clean and clear away the home's vents. Your AC unit will also be more efficient if the vents are clean. Make sure that you've also cleared all items away from the vents so that the cool air can easily circulate.
Put white blinds on your windows and keep them closed. The white color will reflect the sun's rays away from the house, which makes the whole house cooler.
Seal up home leaks. Weather-stripping and caulking aren't just energy-savers during the winter months; they also prevent your cool air from leaking out of the home during the summer.
Use fans instead of the AC unit whenever possible. It's often the case that we're only in one or two rooms at any given time. Why pay to cool the whole house when you can use a fan or room AC instead?
Save chores for nighttime. Generate less heat in the house during the day by not using heat-generating appliances like your washing machine. Your AC has to work too hard when you use these machines and the bills go up when they do.
Change out your light bulbs. You can use CFL bulbs or even LED bulbs for much more energy-efficient (and cooler) lighting in the home. There's no time like the present to make that little household change!
Eat raw foods. Alternatively, do your cooking outside. This prevents the cost of using in-home electricity and also prevents the need for extra air conditioning from the kitchen getting too hot. Incidentally, making sure to drink enough cool water will also keep you hydrated and feeling cooler so you need less AC around the house!
Have no-electronics family nights. Unplug the television, the computers and all of the other appliances that use up so much energy and enjoy some good old-fashioned family time instead. You'll be surprised how much your energy bills go down if you do this once or twice a week during the summer.
Plant a tree. If there's one good long-term thing that you could do to reduce energy bills this summer it would be to plant some trees outside your windows. Choose trees with leaves that fall off in the autumn so you'll still get winter sun for the home but the home will be shaded from the harsh summer sun. The less heat that gets in to your house during the summer, the less it's going to cost you to cool it off.

Top 10 Ways to Lower your Air Conditioning Bill

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 20:50:08 -0500

In order to avoid expensive summer electric bills, many homeowners will attempt to use less air conditioning in their home. Fortunately, there are many hassle-free ways to lower your AC bill. After consulting with trusted experts in the industry, we've unlocked the top 10 ways to lower your AC bill!

Get a Lower Electric Rate - Perhaps the best way to permanently lower your electric bill and reduce AC costs is to locate an electric supplier offering a lower rate. If your state supports electricity deregulation, you can now reduce your monthly electric bill up to 20% by switching your service to a low-cost supplier.
Use Less AC - Obviously, one of the best ways to lower your AC bill is to simply use less air conditioning. Many of us hesitate to do this, though, because we want to be comfortable in our home during hot summer months. But there are ways to be comfortable and use less AC. For example, set an AC timer to turn off your AC when you leave for work and turn back on shortly before you return home. Another way to lower your AC bill is to turn your AC off at night while you sleep.
Seal Windows and Doors - If your home's AC easily escapes through unsealed windows and doors, it's like tossing money into the garbage can. By weather-stripping or caulking leaky windows and doors, you can reduce your AC bill and energy usage up to 20%!
Check your AC's Filter - In order to maximize the efficiency of your AC unit, clean or replace your AC filter once a month. Air conditioning units with blocked or dirty filters must work harder to push cool air into your home. Keeping a clean filter will not only conserve energy and reduce your AC bill but also protect your AC unit.
Cool Off with Fans - Although fans don't technically make a room's air cooler, they do succeed in making people feel cooler. In fact, using ceiling or floor fans can make a room feel up to three degrees cooler than it actually is.
Buy an Appropriately-Sized AC unit - If you're looking for a new AC window unit, check the Energy Star guidelines to determine the appropriate size you need. An AC unit that is too large or powerful for your room not only wastes energy but also removes less humidity.
Ensure Proper Insulation - Improperly insulated attics and basements can lose up to 50% of a home's cooled air. Ensuring that your home is properly insulated can save you hundreds of dollars a year in AC costs.
Use CFL Bulbs - Although it may sound like a minor adjustment, switching from incandescent light bulbs to CFL bulbs can lower your AC bill. CFLs use 75% less energy and produce 90% less heat than incandescent bulbs; they'll not only reduce your AC bill but also your lighting bill!
Check your Ductwork - Ducts are one of the most important, yet overlooked, aspects of a home: they distribute and redistribute cooled or heated air throughout your home. An improperly installed or leaking duct wastes AC, costing you hundreds of extra dollars a year. To lower your AC bill, ensure that your ductwork is 100% efficient.
Use Window Units - If you live in a large house but typically use only a couple of rooms, consider turning off your central AC and use more-efficient window units instead. Window AC units allow you to cool just the room you're using rather than the entire house. They also bypass your home's duct system which, if not up to code, can waste electricity.

How To Save Money on Your Electric Bill

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 10:32:10 -0500

Reducing the cost of your electric bill is easy. It just requires that you devote a little bit of time and attention to your home. The savings really do add up so the time that you spend will definitely be worth it!

The very first thing that you need to do to save money on your electricity bill is to find out if you're paying the lowest rate possible in your area. It is increasingly common for a region to have multiple providers for electricity. Many people fail to realize this and just pay the area's main provider. However, other providers may be offering better rates. Do some research into your local area to make sure that you are paying the most competitive rates available.

Next you want to make sure that the areas of your home that use electricity are as efficient as possible. This starts with your home appliances. Your washing machine and your refrigerator, for example, should be Energy Star appliances that are highly efficient in their use of electricity. You also want to make sure that the lights you use in your home are energy-efficient. CFL bulbs are highly recommended although new options are also emerging that will be even better at conserving electricity in the home.

Your home heating and cooling is an important area to pay attention to if you want to keep your electricity rates down. The most important thing here is to make sure that your home is properly insulated so that the heat or air you use doesn't escape into the outdoors. It's worth it to get a home energy audit to find out where air is escaping from your home. If you don't want to do this, the least that you can do is to make sure that windows and doors are properly sealed up each year.

Once you have made the major changes to your electricity supplier and the supplies that you use that generate electricity, it will be time to work on changing some of your own habits. There are many things that you can do to reduce your use of electricity. For example, you can dry clothes on a line instead of in a dryer. You can make sure to turn off all of the lights in the house when they are not in use. The primary rule to follow here is to always remain conscious of how you are using electricity in the home. This will allow you to gradually but continually make changes to keep lowering your electricity bill.

Use Online Resources to Find Cheapest Electricity Rates

Tue, 18 May 2010 11:24:56 -0500

Rate caps on energy have come to an end. Monopolies in the utility industry have come to an end. This means that there is competition in the industry and lower rates are available from different electricity providers. But how do you go about finding the cheapest rates for electricity in your area? The best solution is to go online.

Unfortunately, many people are failing to take advantage of the simplest opportunities out there for finding the lowest rates on electricity. There are two major mistakes that people are making in this area:

1. Going to in-person events to find the cheapest rates. Public Utilities Commissions are trying to spread the word about the fact that there are inexpensive rates available for electricity as a result of changes in the structure of electricity monopolies. To do this, many public organizations are holding in-person events. You can bring your electricity bill to these events to get information about how to switch to a lower-cost provider. This is good for some people who aren’t connected to the Internet however it has its limitations compared to using online resources. These events may not have the most current information from the largest number of providers. Additionally, you won’t receive the additional help, tips, links and resources that are available online for lowering your electricity bill. And finally, you must be available at the time and day that the event is being held to take a advantage of this help.

2. Doing a comparison shopping search online alone. Some people are looking online for the lowest electricity costs by going to different electricity providers on their own to find the cheapest rates. This is a smart move but it can also have its limitations. Simple search engine searches may not always turn up all of the local results, leaving out some of your least expensive options. Additionally, if you don’t fully understand all of the ins and outs of figuring out the true value of electricity then the numbers on these sites may confuse you.

The solution here is to use a company like Lower Electric Bill Today that gives you online access to assistance in aggregating the information available in your area. They do the research for you using all of the companies in your area to find the true lowest rates. Lower Electric Bill Today then provides this information to you so that you can search for further information online. You have 24-hour access to the rate comparisons as well as the additional tips and links that Internet access gives you. This ultimately provides you with the lowest total cost for electricity.

Rebates and Tax Incentives for Energy-Efficient Appliances

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:03:22 -0500

We all know that replacing our old appliances with more energy models will save us money in the long run. They waste less energy and so our utility bills go down. However, we do have to acknowledge that there's an initial investment required to purchase these appliances. This investment can be cost-prohibitive for some people especially during these troubled economic times. Luckily, there are lots of new rebates and tax incentives that make it more affordable for you to invest in energy-efficient appliances right now.

The biggest new program that you should take interest in is the Cash-For-Clunkers program for appliances. This program allows you to get up to $200 back when you purchase certain appliances that have an Energy Star rating. This is a federally funded program but the details on the rebates vary from state to state. More than three dozen different states are participating, though, so it's worth it to see what the offers are in your area. Keep in mind that only $300 million in rebates are going to be given out so it's best to get on the ball if you're thinking about getting an energy-efficient appliance for your home.

You also want to check with your utility companies to see if they are offering any rebates. Many utility companies around the nation are offering rebates to people in their areas who purchase energy-efficient washers and dryers or other home appliances. Obviously this also varies from place to place. One question that comes up is whether you can still get the Cash-For-Clunkers rebate if you get a rebate from your utility company and the answer is yes. You can combine these rebates to get a really good price on your new appliances.

In addition to these rebates, you want to think about the tax benefits that are available to you when you invest in energy-saving appliances. To qualify, you have to be a homeowner and the purchase has to be for your primary residence. This incentive is only available for certain items including specific water heaters and heating and air conditioning appliances. Check EnergyStar.gov for details about getting these tax credits. Additionally, you can receive a tax credit for installing solar energy, wind energy and other renewable resource energy in your home. In both cases, your tax credit can cover up to 30% of the cost of the installation.

Making the move to a more energy-efficient home is a smart choice. You save money in the long run. Now, with these great rebates and tax incentives, you can also save money on the purchase of the things that you need to get in order to save energy at home.

Smart Gadget Spits Out Your Electronics As Soon As They're Done Charging

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:19:42 -0600

You have probably already read articles about how the gadgets in your home act like vampires, sucking energy out of the house through their chargers. One of the biggest problems that most people face is that they plug their devices in to charge and then forget about them. The cell phone or mp3 player gets fully charged but failure to unplug it means that electricity is being stolen from the home. A new gadget could easily solve this problem. It's called the Outlet Regulator and what it does is spits your chargers out from the wall as soon as your gadgets are done charging.

Let's face it; we need our chargers these days. We plug them in to charge laptops, mobile phones, digital cameras, mp3 players and all sorts of other gadgets. We might try to be responsible about using them. We can use phone applications to have our phones tell us when they're done charging so that we can unplug them in a timely manner. We can try to use solar-powered chargers and other devices. But in the average home, there are still a lot of times when we plug in our chargers and then just forget about them until we need the device that's attached to them.

The problem with this habit is that we're wasting a lot of electricity. As soon as a charger is plugged into an outlet, it starts sucking electricity out of the house. Even if it's not charging anything, the charger is working. The more chargers that you have, the more likely it is that your energy bills have creeped up over the years for no other reason than that the chargers are sitting plugged into the wall.

The Outlet Regulator serves as a genius little device that solves this common problem. It's a gadget that plugs into your outlet. You then plug your chargers into the gadget (similar to how you would plug into a power strip that's plugged into an outlet). The gadget uses a timer circuit and electromechanics to determine when your device is done charging. As soon as it's done, it spits itself out of the wall. All energy consumption ceases and you save money on your electric bill.

Source: http://conorklein.com/index.php?/ongoing/outlet-regulator/

CFL Bulbs are Great; Nanofiber Bulbs Will Be Better

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:22:00 -0600

One of the number one rules of making your home more energy efficient today is that you need to switch out most of your home's light bulbs from traditional bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs (or CFLs). However, this may not be true in the future. It will still be true that you will want to get rid of all of those old inefficient light bulbs that you've got in your home. However, instead of replacing them with CFLs, you might be replacing them with nanofiber bulbs. This new technology is on the horizon and it could make our homes even more energy-efficient than ever before.

The new nanofiber bulbs are, as their name suggests, made from nanofibers which are tiny fibers measuring even smaller than a piece of human hair. Two different types of nanofibers - photoluminscent nanofibers (called PLNs) and nanofiber-based reflectors - can be combined to make highly efficient new light bulbs. Some of the benefits of these new light bulbs as compared to regular light bulbs and CFLs are:

Energy Efficient. Of course, the most important thing is that these new bulbs will be energy-efficient. They should be approximately five times more efficient than standard light bulbs.
Non-Toxic. One huge problem with CFL bulbs is that they contain toxic materials inside of them. Although they are considered greener than regular light bulbs because they are so energy-efficient, this does detract from their overall goodness for the earth.
Better Light. These new nanofiber bulbs are reported to emit a light that is both brighter and warmer at the same time. This makes for a cozy home.
Cost-Efficient. There are no suggested prices for these bulbs out yet but it's rumored that they are going to be cost-efficient, especially when you look at the long-term costs of replacing less energy-efficient bulbs.

The main company that is currently working on getting nanofiber bulbs ready for the public is RTI International. This company hasn't been able to make the product ready for the market but they do say they expect to have this cutting-edge new technology ready within the next five years.

Source: http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/02/12/next-generation-nanofiber-bulbs-on-the-horizon/

5 Unique Ways to Save Money on Your Electricity Bill

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:59:03 -0600

You already know about the basic ways to save money on your electric bill. You turn of your lights when they aren’t in use. You've raised the thermostat a few degrees and wear sweaters in the house. But aren’t there more unique and interesting things that you can do to reduce the cost of your electricity bill? Of course there are!

Here are 5 unique ways that you can save just a little bit more money on your electricity bills:

1. Get a home wind turbine. Harness the power of the wind and use it to provide energy to your home. You can use this little green device to power small appliances in your home. It costs a little bit of money to get one (although you can make your own if your crafty) but it saves you a lot of money on your electricity bills in the long run. You can even get a tax break for using one in some areas!

2. Dine in the dark. The most common times to use lights in your home is in the evening, right around dinnertime, right? Well, save yourself a little bit of money on energy bills by finding creative and fun ways to dine in the dark. A romantic candlelit dinner is an obvious option. Or take a cue from those dining-in-the-dark restaurants where eating in pitch black is designed to cultivate your senses. Do this a few times a week and watch your energy bills go down.

3. Go tech-free for one month. If you really want to challenge yourself then commit to turning off your tech toys for an entire month. Unplug your computer, your television and modern gadgets like espresso machines. This will give you a chance to really see how much electricity you use that you don’t actually need to be using. You don’t have to stay tech-free forever. Just do this to gain some perspective and you’ll probably find that you naturally lower your in-home technology use afterwards as a result.

4. Wear everything in your closet before you do laundry. You’re probably asking what’s the point of this since you’ll still have to use your washer and dryer at the end of the project. However, you can actually save electricity by doing this. For one thing, you’ll find yourself re-wearing items like jeans and sweaters just because you need something to go with the shirts that you haven’t worn yet. You’ll also be able to do even fuller loads than normal when it comes time to do laundry. As an added bonus, you’ll see what stuff is in your closet that you don’t really want to wear and can do some de-cluttering in the process!

5. Take cold showers. This one is really tough for some people but do-able for others. It takes electricity to heat up the water for your shower. If you take a cold shower, you’re going to save yourself that added cost. Plus you’ll probably cut your water bill at the same time since nobody wants to stay in a cold shower for very long!

How to Make your Home Fans more Energy Efficient

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:50:28 -0600

You have already made all of the major changes to your home that are necessary to reducing your energy waste. Now what? Have you taken a look at your home’s fans recently? If not then that’s a great next step to lowering your electric bills even further. By making sure that you’re using energy-efficient fans in the most effective way possible you can increase the energy savings in your home even more.

The main thing that you need to look at is what type of fans you have in your home. You may have a few different types of fans. For example, you may have ceiling fans in the living room and bedroom and built-in fans in the bathroom and kitchen. You’ll want to make sure that all of these fans are as energy-efficient as possible.

The most energy-efficient fans are going to be those that can be easily turned off when they are not needed. You want to make sure that the fan itself is turned on and off by a separate switch from any lights that are attached to the fan. This means that you’ll be able to operate only the fan or only the light as needed rather than turning on both when you only need one. Additionally, you should look for the Energy Star label to make sure that ceiling fans are efficient.

Once you have your fan, you need to use it properly to keep energy costs down. Of course, you want to use the fans only as needed so as not to waste electricity in the home. In areas where you may forget to turn the fan off, such as the bathroom, hook it up to a timer so that it’s not left running. Furthermore, it’s important to make sure that you always keep fans clean so that they run efficiently. Blades should be wiped down and filters should be changed regularly to keep fans operating at their optimum ability.

Make sure that you know how to use your fan to promote energy-saving throughout the home. A simple trick that everyone should know is to reverse the direction of the fan in summer and winter. You want air flowing downward in winter and upward in summer to keep the temperature as comfortable as possible in the home. This allows you to adjust your thermostat a few degrees (cooler in winter, warmer in summer) to reduce electricity waste. Many modern fans have an easy reverse switch that helps to optimize the fan’s efficiency depending on the season.

Did You Know these 10 Facts about CFL Bulbs

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:38:57 -0600

You can save a lot of energy in your home if you choose to switch all of your light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs or CFLs. Don’t know a lot about these light bulbs? Here are ten interesting facts to fill you in:

1. CFLs use 75 Percent less energy than standard light bulbs. You can immediately see how switching to these light bulbs will save money on electricity in your home!

2. Replacing the five most frequently-used light bulbs in your house with CFL bulbs will save you at least $65 per year on your energy bills!

3. A CFL light bulb is going to last about ten times longer than a normal light bulb. This means that not only are you going to save a lot of energy in your home but you’re also going to avoid having to change your light bulbs very often. That’s always an annoying task so this is a great little added benefit.

4. You should look for the Energy Star label. This is a label we look for on appliances to show that they’re the most efficient ones available. Look for this label on your CFL bulbs too.

5. If every single American home took out one regular light bulb and replaced it with one Energy Star CFL bulb, we would save almost three quarters of a billion dollars on annual energy costs!

6. CFL bulbs cost a bit more than regular bulbs ... at first. They pay for themselves within about six months and they end up saving you about $30 per bulb in the long run.

7. There are many different shapes of CFL bulbs. There are spirals, A-shapes, globe shapes, candle shapes etc. There are even three-way and dimmable CFP lights. Shop around to find the right bulb for different places in your home.

8. You can get both indoor and outdoor CFL bulbs.

9. There’s no point in waiting for existing lights to burn out before replacing them with CFL bulbs. You’re just wasting energy while you wait. Replace them with CFL bulbs now and store the other bulbs for use elsewhere or as backup for when your CFL bulbs burn out.

10. The one time that you don’t want to get a CFL bulb is if you need a light that you only turn on for a few minutes at a time. It is not energy efficient to use a CFL bulb in a spot where the light is typically left on for 15 minutes or less (like in a closet). Go ahead and use a regular bulb in those spots.

Source: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=LB

Reducing Electricity Is About More Than Going Solar

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 10:23:06 -0600

One of the best things that you can do around your home if you want to reduce electricity waste is to go solar. However just going solar isn’t enough. In fact, getting too hung up on the need to go solar can actually be a bad thing as far as electricity conservation goes. That’s because people often look to go solar so that they can continue using exorbitant amounts of energy without spending as much money. Learning to cut back on all energy use is a much more effective and efficient way of living.

Going solar is certainly an important step if you are interested in saving electricity as well as saving money on your energy bills. Going solar in the home is increasingly affordable. Getting a solar water heater and choosing to use solar energy panels in your home are great ways to start taking advantage of the energy-saving options that open up when you use alternative energy resources like going solar.

However, you have to do more than just make a few small solar additions to your home. That is because saving energy is about far more than just changing your technology; it’s about changing your mindset. Going solar will help reduce your reliance on electricity. However it shouldn’t be a way to allow you to use just as much energy as you are using now without spending as much money. Instead it should be one step in a lifelong process of keeping your energy consumption as low as possible. This is what will truly be good for the earth - and for your pocketbook - over time.

Changing your mindset about energy consumption isn’t nearly as easy as changing over to solar energy in your home. It requires that you research energy waste, learn new ways of cutting back your use of electricity and keep challenging yourself to be frugal about your use of energy in the home. However there are some small things that you can start doing to begin shifting your mindset. Subscribe to energy-saving blogs to start getting more information. Turn off lights and computers when not in use. Get used to adjusting your thermostat to save electricity. The more that you do the more that you’ll be able to do. Going solar is just one step you should take.

Improve Home Water Use to Reduce Energy Bills

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 10:32:20 -0600

When we think about reducing the amount of energy that we use in the home, we typically think of ways that we can cut back on our use of electricity. That is certainly important. However it is also important that we don't overlook the value of cutting back on our water waste as well. By reducing the water waste in our home we can actually save not only water but electricity as well. Doing this reduces the cost of both our water bills and our electricity bills. It also helps to limit the waste in our home.

The most obvious way that water use and electricity use are linked is with the hot water heater in our homes. Every time that we need hot water we need to use the hot water heater. Making sure that we have an eco-friendly, energy-efficient hot water heater is a great way to reduce electricity waste in the home. Making sure that we don't excessively use hot water in the home adds to the reduction of energy waste from this part of the house.

One great way to reduce your waste of hot water is to implement good habits when using your washing machine. Many people are starting to do their laundry using only cold water. This means that you don't need to use the energy that is required to heat up the water for washing your clothes. This saves a lot of energy waste. Other good tips for smart water and energy saving in the laundry room include always doing only full loads of laundry, doing the laundry all at once so that the machines stay warm on their own and cutting back the frequency with which you wash items like towels and blankets.

The laundry room isn't the only room of the house where you might use a lot of hot water. In fact, you use even more of it in the bathroom. Implementing water-saving tricks in the bathroom can definitely help limit the energy that is waste on hot water. The best thing that you can do in the bathroom is to install a low flow showerhead. The less water you're heating up to shower, the less energy you are wasting in the home. If you're really interested in being conservative with your hot water then you can even wash your dishes in hot water and then use that water for bathing, laundry or cleaning.

Finally, you might want to look into ways that you can use alternative energy to heat the water in your home. For example, if you have a pool at your house then you should look at solar pool heating options. If you have a garden then make sure that your implement proper insulation techniques for hoses so that you don't waste hot water here. By taking small steps to conserve hot water in your home you will make a big difference in the amount of energy that you waste.

Floor-to-Ceiling Weatherizing Tips to Prevent Home Heat Loss and Save on Electricity

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:09:00 -0600

Have you done the winterizing for your home yet? If not then you want to get started on that as soon as possible. The sooner you get your home ready for winter, the sooner you will be able to save money on electricity and save on the heat that escapes from your home. When getting ready to winterize, you want to think about the whole house from floor to ceiling. Start with your home’s foundation and work your way up to the rooftop. Look at every crack and crevice to prevent heat from escaping out of your home this year.

The first thing that you want to look at when you are getting ready to winterize your home is the foundation of the home. Are there are any areas that need to be sealed up? Are there parts of the foundation that animals can burrow in to as it gets colder? If so, you’ll want to make sure that you block those areas off. If animals can get in then the heat can get out!

Once you have made sure that the foundation of your home is ready for the winter then you will want to head indoors. Start downstairs especially if you have a basement. This is one of the most common areas for heat loss in the home. If you have basement windows then you should cover them up with plastic to prevent heat from escaping during the coldest months of the year. You also want to wrap up any pipes or plumbing that may be exposed down in this cold part of the house.

Now you are ready to move up to ground level. You will want to take care of windows here as well. You probably don’t want to cover these with plastic but you may want to add storm windows or weather stripping to reduce heat loss. Treat your doors in the same way to make sure that energy isn’t escaping out through the gaps between your floor and your door. Another important thing to do at ground level is to make sure that you have insulated your water heater properly to prevent heat loss in this crucial area of the home. Finally, consider turning down your thermostat and throwing on a sweater to limit the amount of heat that you use in your home.

Now you are ready to head up towards the ceiling. If you have high ceilings then you might want to install some roof insulation or attic insulation. Heat rises and you can prevent a lot of heat loss by doing this. Another simple thing that you can do is to reverse the direction of any ceiling fans, which will cause the warm air to re-circulate downwards and will help keep the house warm. Take a look at your vents and ducts. Close any vents that are in rooms that don’t need to stay heated all winter. Make sure all ducts are clean and there are no unnecessary drafts here. Now look at your chimney; does it need to be cleaned out to make your fireplace more efficient at heating your home this winter? Do all of these things now and you’ll be ready for the rest of winter!

Reduce Electric Use with Energy Star Appliances

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:08:35 -0600

There are two very important reasons that you want to do all that you can to reduce your use of energy in your home. The first reason is that the earth needs you to stop using up energy because its overuse is causing toxic levels of greenhouse gas emissions. The second reason is because the less energy you waste at home the more money you're going to save on your personal electric bills. Being green and being frugal are both important things in our society right now so you'll want to find ways to cut back on your use of electricity. The simplest way to do this is to switch over to Energy Star Appliances.

Although you might have heard this name before, it's possible that you don't know exactly what Energy Star is. It's one of those things that we've heard here and there but most of us haven't bothered to research. If you were to take it upon yourself to do that research what you would learn is that Energy Star is a joint endeavor between the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Department of Energy. This tells you right up front that the two-fold goal of Energy Star is to save the environment and to properly use energy.

Appliances that have received the Energy Star are products that are certified as being eco-friendly and low on electricity waste. This is based on the guidelines that have been set forth by the two departments which oversee this program. That sounds legitimate enough but you probably want some facts about whether or not you really save anything when you use Energy Star appliances. The fact is that you do.

Statistics indicate that Energy Star use in 2008 resulted in a total of $19 billion saved on American utility bills. Furthermore, the use of these appliances reduced greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of getting rid of nearly 30 million cars. That's a huge savings in both money and energy waste. It doesn't matter what your motivation is for wanting to go greener in your own home. It could be because you want to save a buck or two on your electric bills. It might be because you have an eco-conscience. Either way, switching from current appliances to Energy Star appliances is a smart move to make.

Source: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=about.ab_index

How Much Money Do Energy Efficient Bulbs Save

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 10:59:23 -0600

One of the best things about saving energy in your home is the fact that this almost always translates to saving money. By working hard to have a more energy-efficient home, you get to reap the benefit of spending less cash each month on your energy bills. This means that you are saving the earth at the same time as you are saving yourself from the ongoing cycle of too-high bills. It’s smart to be aware of just how much money you save as you save energy in the home because this will motivate you to keep on saving the earth in any way that you can.

One of the easiest things that you can do to save both money and electricity in the home is to switch from standard light bulbs to energy-efficient light bulbs. These green light bulbs can be bought at nearly any store that sells light bulbs today. They cost a little bit more than normal light bulbs but they save you a lot of money in the long run.

Just how much money can you save by switching to energy efficient light bulbs? The answer depends on how much you use your light bulbs and how many different light fixtures you have in your house, of course. However the average savings turns out to be quite a bit for most families. Consider the fact that approximately twenty percent of your electricity bill comes from the energy that you spend on lighting. Then consider the fact that energy-efficient light bulbs use approximately two thirds less energy than standard light bulbs do. That results in a lot of energy savings when you make the switch.

Energy-efficient light bulbs also last a lot longer than standard light bulbs. This means that they need to be replaced with new bulbs much less often (approximately one tenth of the time that is needed before replacing standard bulbs). The average savings in total is about $30 per light bulb over the lifetime of each light bulb. Add up the number of light bulbs in your house and you’ll quickly see why saving money in this way could definitely motivate you to start using energy-efficient light bulbs to save the earth.

Source: http://environment.about.com/od/greenlivingdesign/a/light_bulbs.htm

10 Easy Ways to Reduce Household Electric Use

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 10:47:07 -0600

Can you think of what the number one reason to reduce household electric use might be? You’re smart if you answered that it will save you money. You’re also smart if you answered that it’s good for the earth. Both of these things are true and both are good reasons to start cutting back on energy use in your home.

Here are ten easy ways that you can reduce your household energy use:

1. Make the move to energy-efficient light bulbs. These light bulbs use approximately two thirds less energy than standard light bulbs do. Each energy-efficient bulb saves you about $30 over the lifetime of the bulb when compared to a normal light bulb.

2. Switch over to Energy Star appliances. These appliances have been certified as low-waste products. They save you a significant amount of money each month by reducing your energy waste in the home.

3. Invest in a solar water heater. Although they cost a lot at the time of purchase, a solar water heater is going to save you a lot of money in the long run. It’s also going to save the earth.

4. Go solar in a bigger way. Now is a great time to invest in solar panels because the economy has forced their price down. Switch to solar throughout the home and you’ll be wasting a lot less energy.

5. Weatherize your home. One of the biggest wastes in the home is the release of a home’s heat through poor insulation. Make sure that your windows are sealed, your floors have rugs on them and there are no gaps around your doors.

6. Replace showerheads and faucets with low-flow designs. You might think that this is designed to save water. However it also saves energy because it reduces the waste of energy used to heat water.

7. Get comfortable being a little bit colder. Turn your thermostat down a few degrees, put on a sweater and watch your savings add up.

8. Use your washer/dryer intelligently. Ideally you would wash your clothes by hand and hang them in the sun to dry. If that’s too much work for you then at least make sure that you’re always washing only full loads. Also, do as much laundry as possible at once. This helps because the dryer will maintain its heat from load to load which means that you don’t need to dry your clothes for a full cycle before taking them out and putting the next load in.

9. Open the curtains. A lot of people waste too much energy lighting up their homes with their indoor lighting system. If you’re home during the day then you should turn off your lights and use the natural light coming through the windows to see in your house.

10. Turn things off. Your computer doesn’t need to be on all day. Your printer certainly doesn’t need to be on all day. The television doesn’t need to constantly be watched. Turn everything off in your home when it’s not in use. Try to use things (like the TV) less and instead enjoy non-electric activities like reading, playing board games and having long conversations.

For more information on reducing energy use try lower electric bill or energy savers.