Tuesday's Thrifty Tip: Heating & Cooling

Are you looking for another way to save on your electricity?  Did you know that heating and cooling costs account for 50% or more of your energy bills?  Whoa, that is a lot.

There are several ways to save though.

1.  Change your temperature settings.  For heating, don't put it any higher than 68.  Then at night or when you are not at home put it even lower.  If you put your thermostat 10 degrees lower for 8 hours or more a day, you could save up to 10% (or more) a year.  To make this easier (and to see clearly what it is set on) install a programmable thermostat.

2.  Check your air filters.  Your system will have to run more and harder if your air filter is dirty and clogged up.  A couple of dollars for a new filter could save you loads of money.

3.  Call your energy company and ask them to do an energy audit.  Most of them will do one for free.  If not, check around to see if you can find someone that will do it for free or for a low price.  You might check with your library or community outreach center.  An audit can help you figure out some quick and easy ways to cut your energy bills.  Some fixes may cost more but can save you in the long run.  And no one said you have to make all of the changes at once.  Start small and keep making improvements.

4.  Add insulation.  We did this last year, and it made a big difference.  We added insulation in the walls, and under the house (our house is on piers).  We need to add some more to the attic but that will have to wait a little bit longer until we get some more money.  Check out the Department of Energy's Insulation Fact Sheet for more information on insulating your home.

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