There’s no getting around it…energy costs are increasing and it is reported that the “average” U.S. household will pay $2,300 this year on residential energy costs. Of that amount, heating will account for almost 45 percent. According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration homes heated with natural gas will pay about $30 more compared to last winter, while those heating with electricity will pay about $80 more.
If you’re interested in cutting these costs, here are some easy things you can do.
- Turn down the thermostat. Lowering it by just 1 degree can reduce heating energy costs up to 5 percent–between $35 and $70, depending on the fuel used to heat the home.
- Plug leaks.
Even the smallest gaps between windows and doors can collectively add up to big energy losses. Simply plugging these leaks with caulk or other materials is something that most homeowners can do themselves and is the first action that should be taken to combat high heating fuel costs. Once these leaks are sealed, homeowners should also consider installing proper insulation, especially in the attic and crawl spaces. By doing these two things, American households can reduce home heating costs by up to $180-$340 per year, depending on the fuel used.
- Don’t heat empty space. About 80 percent of space is usually not being used at any given time. Closing vents in unoccupied rooms and using small space heaters (make sure they are fairly new and up to current safety standards!) to heat occupied areas can save a significant amount of energy and money.
- Use a programmable thermostat. The initial outlay of about $100 can save American households up to 10 percent on their home heating bills–up to $90-$170 a year.
- Set the hot water heater to 130 degrees. Use cold water when washing clothes to save more energy and reduce bills for water heating.
- Replace the most used lighting bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. The result will be a savings of about $135 over the lifetime of the bulbs.
- Look for the label when replacing systems. When choosing a new heating and/or cooling system, windows, or appliances, consumers should purchase models with the ENERGY STAR label.
- Save gas on the road with a few simple measures. Tune the engine (4 percent savings), use the recommended grade of motor oil (1-2 percent), keep tires properly inflated (up to 3 percent), curb aggressive driving (10 percent on average, but could be as much as 33 percent), and remove unnecessary weight from the trunk (2 percent per 100 pounds). Of course, you can save even more by carpooling, taking public transportation, riding a bike or walking.
- There’s an apps for that! – In fact there are many.
One of the most exciting of the lot is Tendril Vantage Mobile’s solution. The app, slated to start launch in 2010, will be serve as an interactive energy management platform that will allow consumers to see their real time energy consumption and cost fluctuations. Another engaging feature is the ability to control appliances and thermostats remotely.
Licensed in Virginia, Maryland, and D.C., Kevin Koitz, with The Koitz Group @ Long and Foster RE specializes in high end Washington DC real estate and surrounding luxury communities in Montgomery County Maryland & Northern Virginia. Visit his Bethesda Real Estate blog or his Chevy Chase Real Estate download film
guide to get a flavor for some of finest communities in the DC Metropolitan Area.
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