Cut Your Energy Costs

Saving money on your monthly utilities can be easier and less expensive than you
might imagine. Every dollar spent on many home improvements can be recovered
through lower electric and natural gas or heating oil bills.  Simple improvements –
many you can do yourself – can yield savings for years to come. And help to reduce
the amount of greenhouse gases being churned out in order to satisfy our energy
needs.

Turn up that thermostat in the summer and use fans to make the room seem cooler.
Replace those incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescents.
Wrap your hot water heater with an insulating blanket. Just be sure that you do not
cover the thermostat on the water heater.

Every dollar spent adding insulation in your crawl space or attic will eventually be
returned via lower heating and cooling bills. And if you install the insulation in 2006
or 2007 you will qualify for a tax credit of up to $500. If you spend  $5,000 to beef up
the insulation in your house you get 10% back in the form of the tax credit next April
– or whenever you file. And you’ll realize savings on your utility bills year after year.
In some parts of the country you could reasonably expect to recover that $5,000
investment in as few as six or seven years.

Can you tap into a home equity line of credit or get a new home equity loan and
make the payments with the money you save on your heating bills? If your home
heating and cooling equipment is over 10 years old you can easily save up to 20%
on your monthly heating or cooling bill by installing a new energy efficient model.
And, enjoy yet another tax credit.

Sealing the numerous points in many houses where air can flow into or out of your
house will yield additional savings. Add some caulk around your windows. Install
weatherstripping around exterior doors and windows. Seal every crack you can find
in your windows and doors. Add an insulating rubber gasket behind outlet and
switch plates in exterior walls. Adding insulation is great. However if you don't stop
the air leaks you may be letting your cooling and heating dollars literally go right
through the wall - or out the window.

Have you checked your duct system for leaks? Even small leaks can cost you. If you
are unsure about repairing or insulating the duct work in your house you might want
to ask your heating and air professional to suggest a cost effective fix.   For more on
saving energy and your hard earned money check out these titles: