Home Efficiency Improvement Tips for the Home

April 21, 2008 By Tisha Kulak

Most often it is the little things gone awry in your home that jack up the cost of your utilities. It may be well worth it in the long run to implement changes now in order to reap the monetary benefits for years to come.

There are several simple things you can do in your home now that involves some of your time and a little extra money. Here is a list of efficiency improving steps to save you cash.

Insulation - Make sure our home is thoroughly insulated, especially those located next to unheated areas of the home such as the attic, basement, or garage.

Temperature - Keep your thermostat set around 65 to 68 degrees any time you leave the house for a time period over eight hours. Invest in a thermostat that allows you to program times for turning on and off.

Replacement Parts - To increase heating and cooling efficiency in your home, make sure you regularly change your air filters.

Air Circulation -  Employ ceiling fans to both cool your home in the summer and use the reverse fan setting to keep warm air circulating lower to the ground in the winter.

Fix Up the Windows -  Use a candle to detect any drafts around windows and doors. Weather stripping or caulking windows works well to keep out the drafts.

Move the Curtains - During colder months, shut curtains and blinds during night time hours to keep out the cold. Keep them open during the day to allow sunlight to naturally warm up the inside.

Air-Tight Windows - For an additional expense, investing in weather-insulated windows that have double panes to keep heat inside the house during the winter but keep it out during the summer.

Low Flow Flushing - The one convenience at home that uses more water than any other is the toilet bowl. A cheap fix can be achieved by using a plastic capped jug filled with water and place it into the water tank to increase the volume of the water. A more expensive, but long-term beneficial solution is replacing an old toilet with a low flow variety, which uses only half as many gallons of water.

Water Heater Options - Keep your water heater set at 125 degrees. Utilizing an insulated blanket wrapped around both your water heater and pipes helps to keep in the heat is the cheapest alternative.

More expensive options include:

• A programmable timer that heats water during the times hot water is most often used
• Investing in a water heater with a high Energy Factor rating
• Consider investing into an on-demand heater that provides lesser amounts of water being heated each minute.

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