| This article is the third one in the series of plugging the | | | | sun to enter the house when you want it warmer, and |
| money drain article series. There is one more article | | | | pull shades or use sheer curtains when you don't wish |
| coming after this article. You should also read the first | | | | it to. To help cool you can open your house up at night |
| two parts of this article series. | | | | when it is cool, shut windows early in the morning, and |
| Because our utility bills come every month, there is | | | | open them again when the outdoor temperature |
| great potential for savings. Comparing utility companies | | | | becomes cooler than the outdoors. |
| may offer some savings but your greatest savings will | | | | Refrigerators use a lot of electricity. A refrigerator ten |
| likely come from having efficient appliances, keeping | | | | or more years old may use about twice the energy of |
| them regularly maintained, and using conservation. | | | | a new, efficient one. Taking averages into |
| Heating and cooling your home is often the greatest | | | | consideration, the old one might be costing you about |
| utility expense. Older furnaces can be very inefficient | | | | two hundred dollars more a year to run than a new |
| and now might be a good time to calculate how | | | | one. With any refrigerator, regularly check the seals for |
| quickly a new heating system can pay for itself. | | | | leaks and vacuum the coils and vents as they collect |
| Energy efficient window replacements may also pay | | | | dust. |
| for themselves in a short time. In the mean time, check | | | | Water heaters, whether electric or gas, are another |
| your house for areas where there is heat or cooling | | | | costly appliance and worth special care. With tanks, |
| loss. Check your attic for adequate insulation, insulate | | | | much of the cost is in keeping the water hot when it is |
| heating ducts and plug any leaks in them, choose | | | | not in use. Newer water heaters are much more |
| window coverings that will help you preserve heat or | | | | efficient than older ones. On-demand tank-less heaters |
| cooling, change the filters on your furnace every | | | | or solar water panels might be something you want to |
| month, seal drafts around windows and doors, and | | | | look into. In the mean time, get an insulation jacket for |
| especially, do not heat rooms when they are not in | | | | your tank if the tank does not have insulation, and |
| use. Wear weather appropriate clothes around your | | | | insulation for your hot water pipes if you have not |
| house. Choose temperatures for your home for when | | | | already done so. Set the tank thermostat to 125 |
| you are awake, sleeping, and away at work. | | | | degrees Fahrenheit. Sediment builds up in the tank and |
| Air conditioners are very expensive to run, so try to | | | | reduces it's efficiency, so follow the manufacturer's |
| reduce your use of them. Ceiling fans can be used to | | | | instructions for regular maintenance. |
| help with both heating and cooling. You can also take | | | | Other appliances that use hot water, such as your |
| advantage of the changing outdoor temperatures in | | | | dishwasher and clothes washer, will have settings that |
| any day to boost your heating or cooling. Allow direct | | | | conserve energy. |