While there is nothing in the world quite as rewarding as home ownership, the experience can be a double edged sword. Even if your home is brand new, the well trained eye can spot energy leaks a mile away. Window fittings that are just a hair off, lights left on in rooms for hours with no one there and an upstairs toilet that just won't stop running can all run up your power bill. Let's take a look at a handful of common sense things you can do around your home to lower energy bills and your blood pressure.
When it comes to saving energy around the home, it is a good idea to approach the problem in an inverted pyramid style. You want to take on the biggest energy wasters first and then work your way down the pyramid towards the smaller things. You don't want to waste weeks trying to reduce your laundry drying time by 2 minutes when your hot water heater isn't wrapped up in insulation.
If you've ever used a space heater, you have probably thought that they use a considerable amount of energy. In reality, using space heaters as an alternative to central heat can actually be quite economical. A recent study showed that if you simply moved around space heaters in your home all winter, you could save over a thousand dollars per year. Of course, the heaters would have to be energy efficient models and not ones from 20 years ago, but genuine savings are possible.
Next, if you live in the Southern United States, you likely have air conditioning (and bless you if you don't.) As tempting as it is to crank up the AC when you need it, you can save over $500 a year by simply using fans in your home, instead. They don't provide quite the same relief as air conditioning, but they can lead to lower energy bills pretty quickly.
If you live in an apartment, you may not be able to take advantage of the next tip, but if you own your own home, you may want to think about installing a clothesline in your backyard. You can save approximately $150 a year by unplugging your dryer altogether and drying your clothes the old fashioned way.
The home computer is also a bit of an energy guzzler, as well. By turning off your computer when you aren't using it, or by using the sleep mode, you can save almost $100 a year on your power bill. Recent advances in computer technology have put an end to the myth that computers use more energy to start up than they do to simply stay running. By using the sleep mode, you can enjoy lower energy bills right away.
As you can see, lowering your power consumption isn't difficult, and in some cases, it can be fun. Simply use these common sense tips and you'll have a greener home overnight.
Did you know that your roof has a substantial bearing on your electric cost? The use of electric efficient roofing materials can save you a substantial amount of cash. The advances in roofing materials is not often a topic of conversation. This is an area homeowners often overlook when shopping for a house or repairing a roof.
Estimations of savings are based on your climate. The widespread consensus of studies carried out vary from a 20% to 40% savings on electric cost. Can you imagine saving 40% on your electric cost? The changes required can be very simple and often pay for themselves within a few years.
There are many variants that can affect the amount of savings you will achieve by implementing different colors and materials on your roof.
Remember the feeling last time you were outdoors on a warm sunny day wearing a black or dark blue wool shirt. Remember how warm the cloth was against your body? Try to imagine movies of people who live in very hot climates. Do you see light colors?
It may seem profound to understand that part of the solution to a growing electric problem and high electric bills may be as simple as wearing a light colored cotton shirt and not a black wool shirt. The principle of implementing color and material to help in governing how our climate affects us is nothing new. This age old wisdom is now enhanced with new materials.
The use of reflective coatings on roofing materials such as metal, asphalt shingles, and even ceramic tiles is now obtainable to help advance the cooling efficiency of most roofs. The use of white titanium dioxide paint is also very effective. This can be painted on the current roof and not only cuts the expense of cooling by reflecting the suns heat. The paint also may prolong the life of the roof up to 15 years based on its ability to counterbalance UV rays.
The use of reflective paints and materials is not the only way to cut your electric bills. The use of vents may also help you save cash. Outdoor roof vents may be wind powered, solar powered or a static vent that works on thermodynamics. These are low cost solutions that help to aid in displacing the hot air in attics.
The best way to take advantage of this new technology and start saving money is to contact a local roofing company or roofing contractor that is familiar with your climate.
Both Brent Crouch & Ken Fry are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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