10 Easy Ways to Save Money on Your Energy Bill

With winter quickly approaching and fuel prices rising, are you worried about home heating bills?  If so, you are not alone.  Many home owners are cutting corners and taking steps to help them save money on their energy bills.  The following are 10 easy steps that you can do now to begin to save money each month on your energy bills:

1.  Move any furniture items away from heating vents as well as hot and cold air returns. Large pieces of furniture may block the flow of warm or cool air in any room.  After rearranging furniture items blocking air flow, you can begin to see savings on your monthly energy cost.

2.  Change your furnace filter.  Keeping your furnace filter clean can result in energy savings. Do you change the filter every month?  If you do, then your furnace will run more efficiently not only as a heater but also generates the air through the ducts for an air conditioner as well.

3.  Switch to energy saving light bulbs.  Every time one of your light bulbs burns out, change them to energy saver bulbs.  Not only are saving energy, but also buying fewer light bulbs.

4.  Fix leaky faucets.  Faulty faucets can waste gallons of water which can also increase your energy costs.  It’s simple to repair faulty faucets by removing the handle, tightening it with a wrench, and then replace the handle back on the faucet.  You can also easily install a new faucet which costs under $30 at most home improvement stores.

5.  Install a handheld shower head.  Handheld shower heads saves on energy costs by conserving water usage, and as a plus also helps in cleaning the shower.

6.  Never run your dishwasher or washing machine half-full.  Remember that it costs just as much to wash a full load as it does one that is only partially loaded.  When it comes to energy savings using home appliances, you can also save by rinsing dirty dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.

7.  Install weather stripping on doors and windows.  If you are winterizing your home for cold weather, or just want to save on air conditioning costs to prevent cool air from escaping, then you should prepare by using weather stripping. You can find weather stripping at most home improvement stores to better insulate both your windows and doors.

8.  Clean the lint trap from your dryer every day.  Each time you use the dryer, it’s important when cutting energy costs to clean the lint trap after each use. Doing so will not only make the dryer run more efficiently and save you money, but will also eliminate a potential fire hazard.  The dryer’s outside vent should also be vacuumed out periodically for optimal savings.

9.  Repair all cracks in windows.  If you have storm windows with cracks, have them replaced because they are energy wasters.  It’s best to do this before winter so you will save money on your heating bill.  Storm windows are easy to replace and can also be taken to a glass shop and re-glazed to fix the cracks.

10. Partially cook frozen foods in your microwave and use it for defrosting purposes before cooking them in the oven or stove.  Microwaves not only work more efficiently, but also use less energy.  You can definitely save energy when cooking by defrosting frozen foods that can be defrosted before cooking by simply your the microwave.

We hope you enjoyed and use these ten ways to save money on your energy bill!