These days we’re all trying to save money and with the holidays just past we may be feeling a bit blue over our bills. A few adjustments of your energy consumption may just help you regain your financial footing as well as conserve resources.
-Did you know that the average family spends almost $1500 a year on energy bills? Half of that goes into heating and cooling our homes so it’s a great place to start. Installing energy efficient equipment can save as much as 20% on annual energy costs.
-Water heating can account for 14% to 25% of the energy consumed in your home. Turning down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F). will not only save energy, you’ll avoid scalding your hands. This is especially smart for homes with small children.
-You can easily save energy in the winter by setting the thermostat to 68°F while you’re awake and setting it lower while you’re asleep or away from home. By turning your thermostat back 10° to 15° for 8 hours, you can save 5% to 15% a year on your heating bill. The Energy.gov site has some good information on thermostat operation.
-Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning. Keeping the damper open is like keeping a window wide open during the winter; it allows warm air to go right up the chimney along with your money.
-Check all exterior doors for air leaks and weatherstrip and caulk as needed. A one-eighth-inch gap around a door is equivalent to a 6-inch-square hole in the side of your house and causes a lot of energy loss.
-Be sure to replace the air filter in your furnace according to its instruction manual. If you have pets or you smoke you may have to replace the filter more often.
Whether you own or rent your home taking steps to reduce your energy usage will help you save money while still keeping you and your family comfortable. National Property Management is proud to offer money saving tips to help our tenants and homeowners live better, conserve energy and give good old planet Earth a break.
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