Want Free Money?
As the temperature outside heats up, here are 15 easy ways to cut back on your home's energy use, putting money back in your pocket:
1. Keep your thermostat at 78 degrees or higher. Use a programmable thermostat, and set timers to kick on 30 minutes before you're scheduled to arrive home.
2. Clean or replace your air conditioner filters once a month during the season.
3. Clean the grill and spines on the outside AC unit.
4. Make sure your home has the appropriate amount of insulation.
5. Seal and insulate AC ducts that run through unconditioned spaces.
6. Plant deciduous trees to shade your home.
7. Run exhaust fans when your shower or cook.
8. Save on operating costs by extending your system's life through professional inspections and regular system tune-ups.
9. Set your home's water heater temperature to 120 degrees. Install energy-efficient shower heads and faucet aerators. Fix leaky faucets, and insulate water pipes.
10. Take a shower! The average bath uses twice as much hot water as a five-minute shower.
11. Install compact flourescent light bulbs. They use one-quarter the energy of an incandescent bulb and last 10 times longer.
12. Install lighting dimmers in some areas of your home.
13. Set your refrigerator temperature to between 37 and 40 degrees and your freezer at 0 degrees.
14. Consider using a microwave or toaster/broiler instead of the oven.
15. Install ceiling fans above areas where you spend lots of time.
Buy one get one half off on lighting dimmer installations from now until the end of September.
