Methods to reduce your utility costs at home R2

Methods to reduce your utility costs at home R2

Well, we’re all reeling from our utility bills. We are all aware of the rising costs of utilities. So, what can you do to cut energy/utility consumption and costs?

Obviously, the best way to cut your utility bill is to go with a non-utility company source of energy. Solar power or Wind power can be used to warm your house, it is known that geothermal can be used to cool and heat the home. While these are great choices, there are a few simple steps you can take to cut that monstrous utility bill.
Vent Covers – In most homes, there are rooms that rarely get used. A very simple and very cheap way to cut your heating costs is to isolate those rooms from the rest of your home. To do this, you should close the vents in the room. The vents, however, rarely close well. To make the strategy effective, you should buy vent covers and place them over the vents. The covers are a form of plastic and keep heat from coming out of the vents. Next, close the door to the room in question and leave it. By using this strategy, you can effectively make your home smaller by excluding the square footage that has to be heated. The smaller the area, the less energy you will use and save money to heat the home. (for safety reasons use carbon monoxide detectors..
Windows – Windows are the single biggest energy wasters in your home. Your windows must seal tightly. If they don’t, heat will escape out of them causing your heater to fire up over and over. If you make sure your window fit tightly into the frame when closed, you can significant cut the utility bill. It sounds like a small thing, but it really ads up. (it also reduces wind and increases comfort level). During the summer shade you windows with landscaping or owning. (window shades or curtains)
Insulation – proper insulation in your attic and attic fans. For sound insulation use wool insulation.
Programmable Thermostat – Heating your home accounts for fifty percent of your utility bill. While a warm home is necessary for basic living in the winter, the home doesn’t need to be heated all of the time. If there are periods during the day where nobody is home because of work or school, a programmable thermostat can be used to slash your heating costs. Simply program the thermostat to turn off during the relevant time and turn back on before anyone gets home. Cutting four to eight hours off of your heating needs each day will add up quickly on your utility bill, you can also lower the temperature a few degrees. Adding a humidifier can also increase the comfort level and save energy during the winter heating season.
Furnace filter should be checked and changed regularly. Reduce drafts and insulate your air ducts. Wrap your hot water heater to maintain the heat. Insulate your attic and install attic fan(s). Utilize energy efficient light bulbs indoor and outdoor (CFL/LED). Shut off lights and appliances when not in use. Use photocell to turn on and off outdoor lighting. Utilize rebates and tax credits minimize the costs of implementing energy saving methods and supplies/equipment.
During Summer in geographical areas where temperature at night drops bellow 65 degrees, open windows and bring in fresh air with a fan (which is healthier) and shut down the Air conditioning system. (add ceiling fans, install ERV –Energy Recovery Vetilation)
Utilize water saver aerators for you faucets and shower, repair all leaky faucets and toilets, and reduce toilet tank capacity.
Review your telecom/cellphone/internet/cable bill quarterly and modify the service according to your current requirements and available programs.
If your utility bills are completely out of control, there is something fundamentally wrong with your home. You need to go ahead and get an Energy Audit. An auditor will come out and inspect your home. They can then identify the problem, what should be done and provide other tips and methods to slash your bill. Depending on how bad your situation is, an energy audit can cut your utility bill by 50 percent or more and utility bill audit may get you a refund.
Power costs are high and expected to continue to increase for the foreseeable future. Take proper steps to cut your utility bill now and you will reap the benefits for years.
YJay Draiman, Energy Consultant
May  16, 2008
PS
As a homeowner you are faced with only 3 options:
1. Continue to open your wallet and let the utility companies take whatever they want in ever increasing amounts forever!
As the years go by you'll have nothing to show for your money except cancelled checks.

2. Reduce your energy usage by reducing your standard of
living - sweat when it's hot, wear extra clothing and shiver
when it's cold.

3. Cut your energy consumption for Air Conditioning and Heating dramatically by making your home energy efficient. This will increase your home's resale value, and make it quieter and more comfortable.
Reallocate some of the money you saved which you would have normally paid to the power company to cover the cost of making your home energy efficient. (utilizing rebates and tax credits)
The object is to cut your home energy consumption for heating and cooling in half.  To do this the transfer of heat between the outside and inside of your home must be reduced to a minimum by effectively insulating the envelope of the home.  If the Air Conditioning/Heating system doesn't continuously have to come on to maintain the desired temperature inside your home, your electric and gas bill will drop dramatically.  It's that simple.
Under insulated attic space, would be brought up to today's energy efficiency standards, air infiltration rates on exterior doors would be reduced with weather stripping, inaccurate analog thermostats would be replaced with accurate programmable digital thermostats, and poorly insulated single pane windows/doors with aluminum or wood frames-would be replaced with the super energy efficient windows/glass, high performance Low-E glass.  Plus, suspended between the two layers of glass, microscopically thin, transparent, high tech membrane that controls the solar energy in the summer that would normally enter your home.  During the winter, the heat is reflected back inside the home.
Because of the extreme high energy efficiency level the Window obtains, the factory issues each Homeowner a written "Fuel Savings Pledge" which guarantees over 40 percent MINIMUM reduction in energy consumption for cooling and heating.
The vast majority of the money a homeowner pays on a utility bill is for cooling and heating.  The savings generated by cutting energy consumption for heating and cooling in half (combined with Rebates and tax saving offers) can more than cover the cost of the retrofit.
Making your home more energy efficient by properly insulating your attic, reducing air infiltration rates, accurately managing your Air Conditioning and Heating system, and installing the high-tech, super insulating windows with Specialized Glass, your family and your home can get more - much more while your energy/utility provider gets less.
Why would I need an energy-recovery ventilator in my home?
As houses become more and more airtight, it will become more and more common to see energy-recovery ventilators in homes. Air-tightness follows from the use of improved building practices and products, like air barriers, better seals on windows and doors, panelized construction, air-sealing procedures, and sealed-combustion furnaces and water heaters.
People like the benefits of air-tightness in their homes, including improved energy efficiency, fewer uncomfortable drafts, and the exclusion of noise and dust from the outside. What is lost, however, is the natural infiltration that used to carry away the indoor pollutants: carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, cool-weather moisture, cooking odors, and other gases coming from building materials and cleaning compounds.
In old houses, natural infiltration was so effective in removing these pollutants that often, more water was carried away than was generated in the home by the breathing, washing, and cooking of the occupants (thus the need for additional humidification in older homes). Nowadays, that water isn't removed from the new, tighter houses, unless a ventilation system is in use, so windows can be damaged by the moisture build-up. With "run-away humidity" insulation loses its effectiveness, and in severe cases, structural damage can occur.
Even though we do not know everything about pollutants in homes yet, there is real concern. Formaldehyde originating in various board products and insulations caused significant problems in the building products industry. Changes in product formulations to try and reduce the amount of formaldehyde because of possible health concerns have only been partially successful. There are other pollutants that may be of concern. A common one is carbon dioxide, which in excess concentrations can cause lethargy and lack of alertness. We all generate carbon dioxide by breathing, but it can be very effectively controlled by air-to-air heat exchangers. A ventilation system provides better indoor air quality..