Surprising Tips To Cut Home Energy Bills
One way to save some money at home is to lower your utility bill.
Sid Kirchheimer, a contributing editor to AARP The Magazine, says there are a number of small, very easy things you can do around the house that will reduce your energy costs by hundreds of dollars a year.
He goes through them in the current issue, and mentioned several on The Early Show Thursday.
Kirchheimer observes that we use appliances without really knowing how much energy they use.
"My dad used to run around and turn off the lights," he says. "But, it turns out that it's not the lights that are the problem on your energy bill. Lights aren't that big of a deal. An average aquarium can cost as much as $700 a year to operate."
Among the suggestions he made on The Early Show:
AUTOMATE YOUR HEAT
Kirchheimer says, "The easiest way to lower your heating bill is to purchase a programmable thermostat, and some cost as little as $30. You can program it to turn the heat in your home on and off automatically. In my house, the heat comes on at 5:30 a.m. and lowers at 7 p.m. You can save $100 or more a year. We all think we're going to lower the heat when we go to bed and turn it back on in the morning, but we forget. With a programmable thermostat, you just set it and forget it."
BE A WET BLANKET
Have to keep your thermostat up to stay warm? Kirchheimer says: "Every degree lower on the thermostat cuts 3 percent off your fuel bill. But, you want to be warm. Humid air retains heat better than dry air and so, will keep you warmer. The average room has only 15 percent humidity. So, all you need to do is put a pot of water near the heater (radiator). As the warm air blows across the water, it adds humidity to your home and keeps you warmer at a lower temperature.
STOP BEING THE DISHWASHER
Kirchheimer says: "Everyone gets freaked out about the dishwasher, believing it's an energy waster. But you use 40 percent less hot water using the dishwasher than washing the dishes by hand. You waste more water washing dishes by hand. And, you don't need to use the full cycle, you can use the short cycle. You don't need to use the pre-rinse cycle unless the dishes are really, really dirty. And think about running your dishwasher late at night or in the middle of the night. Many electric companies charge less for electricity in off-peak hours."
PULL THE PLUG
Kirchheimer says: "Most of the appliances we have in the house — your coffee maker, DVD player, stove, computer — have digital clocks that use energy. These inactive appliances use as much as 5 percent of the energy in this country. At the very least, you should pull the plug on these appliances when you're going on vacation. Shut off the stereo. Unplug the microwave. Unplug anything with a digital clock. And, if you don't mind the flashing clocks, you can put these appliances on surge protector and shut them off, and only turn them on when you're using the appliance. We forget that the memory chips are always on, even when we're not using the appliance. "
COOK UP SOME SAVINGS
Kirchheimer says: "When you're reheating food, you should use your microwave. It uses 60 percent less energy than reheating on the stovetop. And, most people don't realize it, but you can shut off the burners about two minutes before you're finished cooking something as the heating elements will stay hot and continue to cook the food."
DUST OFF THE FRIDGE
Kirchheimer wants us to clean the fridge. Not the inside — the coils on the back. He says: "The coils are used to expel heat, and if they are dusty, they have a harder time doing that, and it makes your fridge use more energy. So, keep those coils clean, especially if you have dogs and cats. Animal hair can really inhibit heat loss."
In his magazine article, Kirchheimer also suggests, among other things, including the attic door when you insulate that part of your home, and using low-flow showerheads and aerators on kitchen and bathroom faucets.