The
average U.S. family spends more than
$1,500 a
year on utility bills. Unfortunately, some of that
energy is simply wasted.
The good news is, there is a lot you can do
to save
energy and money at home and in your car. Start making small changes
today and watch your savings start to add up!
Sealing
and insulating the "envelope" or "shell" of your home —
its
outer walls, ceiling, windows, doors, and floors — is often the most
cost effective way to improve energy efficiency and comfort.
Many
air leaks and drafts are easy to find because they are
easy to feel —
like those around windows and doors. But holes hidden in attics,
basements, and crawlspaces are usually bigger problems. Sealing these
leaks with caulk, spray foam, or weather stripping have a big impact on
improving your comfort and help you achieve lower utility bills.
You may already know where some air leakage occurs in your home, such as an under-the-door draft that makes you want to put on socks. But you'll probably need to search to find the less obvious gaps. Look between foundation and walls, and between the chimney and siding. Also inspect around the following for any cracks and gaps that could cause air leaks
*
Door and window frames
*
Mail shutes
*
Electrical and gas service entrances
*
Cable TV and phone lines
*
Outdoor water faucets
*
Where dryer vents pass through walls
*
Window Air conditioners
* Vents and fans.
Depressurize your home to help detect leaks. On a cool, very windy day,
turn off the furnace. Shut all windows and doors. Turn on all fans that
blow air outside, such as bathroom fans or stove vents. Then light an
incense stick and pass it around the edges of common leak sites.
Wherever the smoke is sucked out of or blown into the room, there's a
draft.
Or just turn on all your exhaust fans (don't need to turn off the
furnace) and try one of these methods:
* At
night, shine a flashlight over all potential gaps while a partner
observes the house from outside. Large cracks will show up as rays of
light. This is not a good way to detect small cracks.
* Shut a door or window on a piece of paper. If you can pull it out without tearing, you're losing energy.
Most experts agree that caulking and weather stripping any gaps will pay for itself within one year in energy savings. Caulking and weather stripping will also alleviate drafts and help your home feel warmer when it's cold outside.
One of the most
cost-effective ways to make your
home more
comfortable year-round is to add insulation to your attic. Adding
insulation to the attic is relatively easy and very cost
effective.
So, seal those
gaps and reduce heat-loss,
turn down that thermostat and maybe add some insulation if your house
is over 10 or 15 years old. Try a cool to the touch space heater like
the
Vornado Touchstone Vortex Heater
Join the growing number of smart homeowners who have chosen to reduce their dependence on foreign oil and the utility companies and install alternative energy systems! .
Many states offer assistance for implementing energy efficiency in the home ( or business ). DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.