Five Things You Can Do To Save Energy In Your Home

Install Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
By now most homeowners are aware of the strange looking spiral light bulbs known as compact fluorescents. These bulbs are significantly more energy efficient than regular incandescent bulbs. Looking at their comparative energy consumption we can see the obvious benefit to installing these in your home.

*Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incandescent_light_bulb

Electricity Cost (for 800–900 lumens at a rate of $0.10/kWh)
Incandescent:  60W  x 8000hrs x $0.10/1000 Wh = $48.00
Compact Florescent:  14W  x 8000hrs x $0.10/1000 Wh = $11.20

Over an 8000hr lifetime, a compact florescent bulb pulling 46 watts less will cost you $36.80 less to operate. Now multiply this number by the number of bulbs in your home that could be replaced. You’ll be saving $0.0046 cents per hour, multiply this by say 25 sockets and you’ll be saving $0.12 per hour. Yet more importantly, you’ll be consuming about 1/5 the power you’d consume with regular incandescent bulbs.

Replacement Windows
Replacing your old windows can make a major difference in your home’s heating bill. Additionally, they are better equipped to hold the cool air indoors during the summer months. Installing replacement windows can usually save anywhere between 30% - 40% on your home’s heating bill while increasing the overall value of your home.

Power Outlet Drains
There are several things in your home that casually and discreetly draw power unnecessarily. AC power adaptors, cell phone chargers, and some power cords can aggregately draw a significant amount of power. Purchase a smart power strip that can be shut-off during the nighttime hours.

Programmable Thermostats
These nifty units adjust automatically to your home’s heating and cooling needs. Installing one is incredibly simple. In the winter, you can program it to turn down the heat during the night and turn up the heat in the morning. According to EnergyStar.gov, when a programmable thermostat is used properly, you can save approximately $150 per year on your energy bill!

Homegrown Power
Installing an alternative energy system in your home has some great benefits. Although initially expensive, the purchase price is progressively coming down and your long term monetary and energy savings will benefit. Plus, you’ll be making a great contribution to the environment. The most commonly installed alternative energy utility would be solar paneling. Depending on such factors as space, climate, and budget, this may be a good option for you. You may also want to check to see if your state government supports net metering (when the local electricity provider pays you for energy pumped back into the power grid). The next most common alternative energy source is wind power. Wind turbines are getting smaller and more affordable making it easier for homeowners to purchase, install, and operate.