This article will give you tips and advice on how to cut costs and save money on utilities at home.
Step 1
LIGHTS/TV - Don’t turn on or use excessive lights. Only use what you need and when you leave a room, turn the lights, TV or other products off. You can also buy energy efficient light bulbs.
Step 2
TEMPERATURE SETTINGS - Try to keep the temperatures on your air conditioning, heating, refrigerator, etc., set at a temperature where you are comfortable but not to an extreme. The more extreme you keep your temperatures set to, the more the appliances will have to run and the more it will cost you to maintain.
Step 3
VINYL SIDING - If you have a frame house, putting vinyl siding on it is a great way to insulate your home from the heat and cold and in exchange, you will use less energy heating and cooling your home and it will cost you less.
Step 4
REPLACEMENT WINDOWS - If your windows are old and drafty, replacing them with new windows will also help protect against the environmental elements such as extreme heat, cold, and wind and again, it will cost you less to heat and cool your home.
Step 5
WEATHER STRIPPING - Check your doors, windows, and any air conditioner units and make sure you don’t have any cracks where wind, rain, cold, or heat can get in or out. If you do, buy some weather stripping at your local hardware store and insulate them. It’s cheap, very easy to install, and will save you energy and money on the heating and cooling costs.
Step 6
INSULATION - You can also buy spray in insulation and spray it into your walls or any cracks or crevices where wind, heat, or cold can get in. You can buy this spray insulation at any hardware store and it’s easy to use and the more insulated your home is, the less it will cost to heat and cool.
Step 7
REMOVE AIR CONDITIONERS IN WINTER - It’s a good idea to remove window air conditioner units in the winter. They tend to let air in around them or through vents which makes it harder to heat your home in the winter. If you can’t or don’t want to remove the window unit, you can also cover it with some plastic or an air conditioner cover. This will help to keep the cold out and the heat in, which will help keep costs down.
Step 8
CLOSE DOORS/WINDOWS - Make sure that all of your doors and windows are closed so it will be easier to heat and cool your home. Don’t leave doors open and let your heating and cooling out because this will make your unit run more and it will cost you more.
