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Healthy Home Basics - Quick Tips For Saving On Your Energy Bill

By HHI Staff

With the average utility bill for a U.S. home totaling $1,900, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, homeowners are wondering what they can do to make their homes more energy efficient. Danny Lipford, host of nationally syndicated television show "Today's Homeowner," home expert for the Weather Channel and home improvement contributor for the "CBS Early Show," offers these simple tips for saving on your utility bill:

 

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  • Turn It Down: Simply turning your water heater down to 120 degrees and wrapping all exposed hot water pipes can help you cut down on your energy costs. Also, turning the thermostat down 4 degrees on your heating system can make a difference. Opening your curtains and blinds during the day to allow a heat gain will reduce how hard your heating system works.
  • Load It Full: Run your dishwasher, washing machine and clothes dryer only when they're full. When it comes to washing your clothes, use cold water whenever possible. Also, be sure to clean your lint filter and the vent pipe of your clothes dryer frequently to keep the machines running efficiently.
  • Change Your Furnace Filter: Whenever you seal up your home, be sure to change your filter for improved indoor air quality. Use a high-efficiency filter to capture particles such as pollen, smoke, dust mites and pet dander from the air. Changing your filter at the start of every season may also help your heating and cooling systems run more efficiently and therefore last longer.
  • Keep It Tight: Check the exterior perimeter of your home, especially the areas around windows and doors, for cracks and holes. Use weather stripping around doors that may be worn down or damaged and install outlet gaskets to create an airtight seal in the home. Seal cracks or gaps around windows with a caulk gun and a quality exterior caulk.
  • Insulate The Windows: If you have drafty, inefficient windows and purchasing new windows is not in your budget this year, a great interim solution can be a window insulation kit. Simply apply the film and use a hairdryer to shrink wrap the film to your existing windows. Look for kits that include high-quality tape, so the film doesn't fall down in the middle of the season.

 

 

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Healthy Home Basics - Quick Tips For Saving On Your Energy Bill :  Created on January 3rd, 2009.  Last Modified on January 17th, 2010

 

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