July, August, January and February are usually the months
that hurt our pockets the most when it comes to paying utility bills. Start saving money now by following these
simple tips.
One the easiest ways to save on is
to set thermostats at 78°F in the summer and 68°F in the winter. You can expect
a 3% to 5% increase in energy use for every degree you set the thermostat lower
in the summer and higher in the winter. Also consider installing a programmable
thermostat, they are inexpensive and allow you to save even more by setting a
different temperature when no one is home.
Installing ceiling fans can also help reduce energy
costs. What you will find with using a ceiling
fan is that your comfort level will remain the same, but your air conditioner will
run less…which is where you will pick up savings on your cooling bills.
Consider replacing your standard
light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs. ENERGY STAR qualified compact
fluorescent light bulbs provide bright, warm light while using 75% less energy
than standard lighting — they also generate 75% less heat and last a lot longer.
Use storm windows or double-paned
replacement windows to greatly reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in
the summer. Storm windows are relatively
inexpensive, and they also help decrease the outside noise that enters your
home. Give us a call (478) 453-3060 and talk with us about installing storm
windows/doors or replacing single pane windows with energy saving double pane
windows.
An often overlooked
cost saving area is your water heater. Replace that old water heater! Or wrap
water heaters with an insulated blanket. Read the installation instructions and
warranty to make sure this doesn't void the warranty. Another cost saving
method is to lower your water heater temperature to 120 degrees to save money
and energy.
Make sure your home is properly insulated. Start by checking your attic and floors. HouseLogic (a home solutions web site) says that you can save as much as
$600 per year by boosting the amount of attic insulation from R-11 to
R-49. Let us at Mike Wood Builders help
you with any projects that you are thinking about.
For more
ideas and tips Georgia Power has a free online energy checkup at:
