Utility bills are a boring and expensive fact of life. Depending on where you live, you may be paying for electricity, hot water, gas, phone, Internet or any combination of these! These things add up quickly and more often than not, the more you’re paying for your utilities, the more energy you’re wasting. Without resorting to frontier living, there are a few simple changes you can make to reduce bills and waste.
Altering daily household habits can help reduce energy usage. You could also save money by considering the following measures.
Energy Audit. If you are interested in taking a serious look at specific ideas for your home, many utility companies offer low cost or even free home energy audits to study and define where you could be wasting energy in your house. Contact your local utility provider to find out what services are available.
Professional advice. Professional serviceman may know ways to implement energy efficiency. Seek their advice, especially when buying a new furnace, central air conditioner or appliances. Frequently, energy-efficient systems cost more initially but will save you in the long run. Buy smart!
Read the labels. Read energy efficiency labels carefully. On an energy rated via dollars, a low number means an appliance will cost less to operate. On a label rated via efficiency, a high number means a machine will cost less to operate.
Think ahead. By planning ahead when you design, furnish, and quip your house, you can do a great deal to cut down on energy costs. Do your research regarding insulation and building materials and consider solar panels. When we built our house we situated the house so it was south facing. By placing large windows on the south-facing wall we are able to take advantage of passive solar heating.
Regular maintenance. Routine maintenance on heating and cooling systems and appliances will keep your energy bills down. This includes replacing filters in energy systems on a regular basis.
We may not be able to get rid of our utility bills altogether, but there are many ways to help reduce them.
Nancy on the Home Front 