Here are some things you can do to slash your energy bill this winter; some take only a minute and don't require any upfront investment:
Lower the water heater temperature
You can change the temperature on both electric and gas water heaters, according to Bruce Harley's Cut Your Energy Bills Now: 150 Smart Ways to Save Money & Make Your Home More Comfortable & Green. He suggests setting the temperature on the lowest setting comfortable -- no lower than 50 C.
Upgrade your refrigerator
Energy Star models require about half as much energy as models manufactured before 1993. Consider a new fridge if you purchased yours before 1990, says Harley, an engineer and technical director of Conservation Services Group, a national, non-profit energy services firm based in Westborough, Mass. The firm provides energy-saving strategies to consumers and businesses, among other things. He suggests looking for a model with a top freezer, which uses 10 per cent to 15 per cent less energy than one with side-by-side doors. Avoid energy-wasting features like through-door ice and water dispensers.
Change the furnace setting
Don't leave the furnace fan running all day, says Harley. Switch the setting to auto and save on your electric bill.
Consider weatherstripping
For doors that weren't meant to be exterior doors, install a new weather-stripping kit. For older double-hung windows that can be loose and leaky, Harley recommends pre-formed, V-shaped weatherstripping.
Don't use the fireplace
Fireplaces are less efficient at heating homes than furnaces and produce a fair amount of pollution, according to Harley. Use it occasionally for the mood, he says. Then make sure it's shut down when you are not using it. Make sure the damper is closed when the fireplace is not in use and that it's a tight seal, says David Lupberger, home improvement expert for ServiceMagic.com, a free service to connect homeowners with prescreened contractors. You don't want the heat in the house to escape through the chimney, he says.
Replace old equipment
Check the manufacturing date of heating, water heating and air conditioning equipment, says Harley. If it's more than 15 years old, consider replacing it. Better to do it now than wait until it breaks down, he says. Replace it with the most energy-efficient unit you can find.
Consider a programmable thermostat
Program the thermostat so it lowers the temperature at night and during the day when no one is home, says Harley.
Get a home energy assessment
An assessment will identify things like air leaks, missing insulation and leaky duct work, says Harley. He recommends looking for someone certified as a home energy rater. Consumers should also check with their local utility company or government organizations to see if significant technical support or help paying for the work are offered, says Harley.
Check electrical outlets for air leaks
Outlets can be like holes in the wall letting in cold air, says Lupberger. Consider insulated covers, he says.
Wrap the water heater
Consider purchasing an insulation blanket and wrapping it around your hot water heater, says Lupberger. That will keep the heat from escaping.
Check your heating and cooling system
If you have a central air-conditioning unit, hire a qualified person to check the refrigerant charge and air flow through the system, says Harley. He says you should only need to do this once unless something seems wrong. If you have a gas furnace, have it cleaned and tuned every three years, he says.
Change the light bulbs
Get rid of standard incandescent bulbs and replace them with compact fluorescent light bulbs, said Lauri Ward, president of Use What You Have Interiors. Energy Star qualified CFLs use about 75 per cent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer, according to Energy Star.
Check insulation
For older homes, check exterior walls and attic for insulation, says Harley. If there is no insulation in the walls or only a little in attic, consider hiring someone to install it.
Check ducts.
If there is ductwork in the attic, chances are it probably has a lot of leaks in it and needs to be sealed, regardless of the age of the home, says Harley. If you have ducts that need to be sealed, get a referral from the home energy auditor or look for someone who is certified, says Harley.
Unplug appliances
The things that tend to use electricity when they are plugged in, even when they're turned off, include televisions, DVD players, digital video recorders, printers, fax machines, and computers, says Harley. Use a power strip for things that don't need to be on when you're not at home. For the computer, Harley says don't use the screen saver; turn the monitor off or put the whole computer in standby. Also unplug cellphone chargers when the phones aren't charging, he says. The same rule applies for hand-held vacuums.
-- The Associated Press
