Simple and inexpensive ways to make your home more energy efficient

With energy prices at high levels, making sure your home is energy efficient is now more important than ever. Poor ventilation, drafty doors and windows, and insufficient insulation can result in paying higher gas and electricity bills. Too much inefficiency can even result in an energy shortage as a result of having to run your thermostat at colder/hotter temperatures for longer periods of time.

The U. S. Department of Energy estimates that, depending on where you live, the average homeowner can save anywhere from 200 to 800 dollars per year in energy bills by making their homes more efficient. In addition to saving money, making your home more energy efficient benefits the environment as well.

While you may think that improving your energy efficiency will involve massive and expensive repairs, there are actually some very cheap and easy methods to reduce the amount of energy you consume at your home.

Here are some simple steps you can use to take your home more environment and wallet friendly:
Make Sure Your Windows and Doors Are Properly Sealed

Remember those days when your mom would tell you to stop leaving the door open because you were "letting all the air out?" While that was definitely sound advice, some people have doors and windows so drafty that they might as well be leaving them wide open.

Heat and air conditioning lost from doors and windows cost homeowners a considerable amount of money, especially during periods of extreme heat or bitter cold. It is estimated that unprotected windows and doors are the number one cause of poor household energy efficiency.

If you are not sure whether or not your windows and doors pass are giving you your money's worth, try this simple test: the next time it is windy outside, walk around the house with a string or ribbon or other lightweight object. If the string or ribbon moves with the wind when you are near certain areas of the house, then that is a pretty good indicator of where the where drafts are. You can also use a lighter, incense stick of lighted candle—if the flame goes out, then you have found a draft.

If you want a more professional approach, you can hire a technician to come to your home and perform an energy audit, which usually involves performing diagnostic tests that will precisely identify areas in your house that need better insulation.

Once you have located your problem areas, you will now need to seal those air leaks. Weatherstripping your windows and doors will prevent excess air from seeping out, which will prevent excess heat and air conditioning from seeping out of the house. The type of weatherstripping that will work best for you will depend on the location, climate, amount of foot traffic and wear and tear you anticipate in the areas you want to seal.

If you plan on installing the weatherstripping yourself, make sure you apply it to clean and dry surfaces, take accurate measurements before actually cutting the material, and affix it evenly and tightly on both sides. For windows, apply weatherstripping only between the frame and sash. For sealing air leaks in doors, you want to make sure you pick the right door sweeps and apply the weatherstripping snugly on all surfaces, or else the door may not close properly.

You can also use decorations to help conserve more energy. Curtains, blinds and other window decorations help to insulate areas prone to drafts.
Adjust Your Thermostat Accordingly

For maximum energy efficiency, a general rule of thumb is to set your thermostat at 78 degrees during the summer and 68 degrees during the winter. Most thermostats also have a "power save" option that automatically shuts off once the defined "optimal" temperature has been achieved.

This is a much more efficient option then just letting the heat or air conditioning run full blast all day. You may also want to consider turning off (or at least reducing) your heat or air conditioning when you are going to be out of the house for extended periods of time.

If the idea of coming home to a freezing cold or sweltering hot house does not appeal to you, there are a wide variety of programmable thermostats on the market that you can use. These thermostats actually allow you to set what time you would like the heat or a/c to be turned on. For example, if you usually get home by 5, you can set the thermostat to activate itself at 4:30 and the house will be nice and comfortable for you by the time you get home.
Pay Attention to Your Water Heater

While most water heaters are already insulated, you can greatly reduce the amount of heat that the unit loses by adding on to it. The materials for insulation kits can be found in just about any hardware store, and they are usually very reasonably priced.

You can also conserve heat simply by adjusting the thermostat to the heater itself. You can lower the temperature of the thermostat or you can purchase a thermostat that is equipped with a timer, allowing the heater to automatically shut itself off when water is not being used.
Watch Those Appliances

Technology and modern conveniences have without question improved the quality of our lives, but it has come with a price. It may surprise homeowners to learn that everyday household appliances like washer/dryer units and refrigerators account for a whopping 20% of all the energy that is used by your home. If you are looking to conserve, try to look for appliances that do not use as much water and electricity.

If that is not possible, you can still conserve by performing household tasks like cooking and doing the laundry during off-peak hours (preferably in the morning or evening). Wait until you actually have enough clothes to fill a whole load before doing laundry, and don't forget to empty out the lint tray every time you use your dryer. -ecowisdom