Ways to Save Money on Your Energy Bill

Looking for some great ways to cut some serious dough off of your heating bill? With the rising prices of gas lately, it is a huge deal to save as much money as possible. If you have a special someone in your life, cuddling makes an incredible way to create some heat and enjoy each other’s company. Whether you curl up on the couch for story time with your toddler, or curl up to a good movie with the love of your life you will both be warmer and can trim a few degrees off of the thermostat.

A programmable thermostat is a great idea if you have a steady schedule. Simply program the thermostat around your schedule so that the heater is on while people are actually in the house, preferably with an approximately 30 minute window prior to warm the house back up to the preferred temperature. This way you are able to shave money from the energy bill every day with no extra work on your part. It is also a good idea to lower the temperature a few degrees overnight while everyone is curled up under their warm cozy blankets.

Scientific data says that moist air retains heat. To use this to your benefit, get a humidifier and you can turn down the thermostat a few more degrees even while you are home. These few degrees can mean huge savings over the course of the year.

If you have a gas powered heating system, it is a very good idea to have it cleaned at least once a year. This keeps your furnace working in top-notch condition and burning cleaner. With fewer problems, it will burn less gas, which will equal savings on your energy bill month after month.

Do you have a dishwasher? If so, make sure it is set to air dry; your dishes that is a lot of wasted energy to have the heat dry your dishes. Same can be said for the laundry. What is the point of washing clothes for 10 minutes when a 6 minute wash would do just as well. Over the course of a year that can be a substantial savings. Also, consider that if you keep the lint catcher on your dryer clean your dryer will function better and use less energy, also shorter drying cycles will help lower energy costs.

Replace furnace filters and filters on the air conditioner, as they are dirty. Make sure the filters are clean so that they operate much better. Once again, an efficiently running machine uses less energy than a machine that is choking on lots of dust.

Do you realize that heat can escape through your window air conditioner? If you can remove, it this is always best, otherwise cover the air conditioner with a plastic cover, and make sure that is tight. Another great way to reduce energy is by helping your heater and air conditioner work less. Make sure all ceiling fans are rotating properly for the season. Doing this will ease the burden on equipment and lower energy costs.

Check the temperature on your hot water heater. Lower it down as low as possible while still being comfortable. This means that the water heater will be heating less, and create some huge savings quickly and effectively.

Did you know that by cutting down on your usage of hot water you could reduce your energy bill as well as water bill? A shower on average uses less than half the amount of water as a bath. Another easy way to save water is turning off the water while you brush your teeth. Turn it back on to rinse and you have saved a nice chunk at the end of the year.

Keep closet doors closed. There is no reason to be heating them, same with other storage areas, the attic included. Heating these areas are a waste of money plain and simple, the less space your heating the lower your energy bill will be. This is a very basic concept that is mostly common sense when people think about it, but how often do you think about it? Most people do not think about it at all.

While these are just suggestions, they do not apply to everyone’s situation. You should be able to adapt these tips to work for your lifestyle. With minimal adjustments in your lifestyle, it is very possible to save some money off your energy bills month after month.