6 Easy Ways to Save Energy

Don’t let your home’s gas and electricity needs put you in the poorhouse. There are simple ways to save energy, money and the environment.

We’re now in the middle of winter and many homeowners are feeling the sting of high energy bills. What can you do to ease the strain on your wallet? A recent Parade article describes six ways your family can save energy this winter.

1. Buy new light bulbs. Replacing traditional incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs saves money and brightens your rooms. “This really is a no-brainer,” says Danny Lipford, host of the show “Today’s Homeowner.” “Fluorescent bulbs use 75 percent less electricity than incandescents and can last up to 10 times longer.” These bulbs used to only be available in spiral shapes, but now come in more aesthetically pleasing versions.
2. Program your way to warmth. If your family is like most families, your energy needs will vary throughout the day. Everyone may be at work or school during the day, in which case the house does not need to be as warm as when everyone is home relaxing. A programmable thermostat is a relatively cheap investment and takes only 20 minutes to install. You can typically program several temperature settings throughout the day, such as when you wake up, leave, return and go to bed. If you program the heat to come on before you wake up, you’ll never step out of bed and into a cold room again!
3. Add insulation. One of the “smartest things a homeowner can do,” according to Lipford, is to add insulation to your attic. This keeps heat where it belongs – in your house. As described in the Tip of the Month in this newsletter, there are many environmentally friendly insulation options out there, from recycled blue jeans to newspaper-based insulations. Although these versions may cost a little more, you’ll be ensuring the safety of more than just the environment: you and your family won’t breathe in any stray fibers.
4. Insulate by painting. If one of your winter projects is painting a room, why not insulate your house at the same time? Once you choose your paint, mix a non-toxic ceramic powder into your paint to reduce the amount of heat passing through your walls to the outside. According to Heidi Baker of BeJane.com, a home improvement site for women, “The ceramic particles in the additive create a radiant barrier that reflects heat back into the room. And once you put it on the walls are insulated for good.”
5. Protect your pipes. Purchase insulating wraps for your pipes and wrap the precut foam over cold-water pipes in crawl spaces, the attic and in the basement to prevent them from freezing. Be sure not to forget the hot-water pipes, says Lipford. “Hot water loses heat as it gets to its destination – your shower or sink. Wrapping the pipes keeps more of the heat in, so you can start your shower a little sooner.”
6. Manage the heat. Keep heat away from where it traditionally ends up – the ceiling – by using a ceiling fan. “Move the fan’s switch to reverse, so the blades run counterclockwise,” says Baker. “This pushes the warmth away from the ceiling, down around the walls and into the living space.” Make sure the fan is set on low, or it will actually cool the air instead of redirecting heated air. If you don’t have a ceiling fan, take advantage of the sun’s warmth by cleaning windows and removing outdoor screens to let in the maximum amount of light and warmth.

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