Cutting Your Energy Costs
Did last month's energy bill send you into a budgetary panic and a Saturday of extreme couponing! Use these 5 cost-blasting energy saving tips to reduce your bill and your money woes.
1) Wear seasonally-appropriate clothes. If it's winter, wear a sweater; or if it's summer, wear short-sleeves. Remember, you already paid for that sweater or blanket sitting in your closet, so use it rather than raising your thermostat.
2) Use a timer for more than just your oven. Timers are great for appliances like lamps and TVs that have a habit of staying on when no one is using them. You can set your timer to turn these items off at 9am when you leave for work and 10pm when you go to bed.
3) Sing a song in the shower. Long showers can raise your energy costs quickly. By singing your favorite song, you can be out of the shower in 2 to 5 minutes. Even your teenage daughter can understand the logic of Lady Gaga in the shower! You can read more about singing to save energy here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6075230.stm.
4) Lower your water heater thermostat to 120 degrees. Why pay to heat your water hotter than you'll use! This is an easy, one-time fix that will save you money from here on out.
5) When you need to replace a Kitchen Appliance, your HVAC System, or even your Television; do your research. The U.S. Department of Energy has a website that helps you find energy saving products and services.
Visit http://www.energysavers.gov and look under the products and services tab.
A big energy bill can put pressure on any household budget. Look around your house for some easy and sustainable changes, and you'll be on your way to a fatter piggy bank!
