Cut Energy Costs

Cut Energy Costs

Did you know that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 extended the tax credit for buying efficient energy star appliances and taking advantage of energy star tax credits for upgrades on your home through 2010.

You can claim a 30% credit on the cost of energy efficient windows and insulation. You can also get a 30% tax credit on the price of buying and installing solar panels through 2016.

In this economy though, an upfront investment may not be something you can afford. Here are some things you can do now for little or no money that will cut energy costs for you, and see how you can save electricity without expensive upgrades.

Consider your House an Energy System

Courtesy of toddneville

It's your money. Simple weather stripping is not difficult, we just have to make time to do it. Almost half of your electrical bill is from using the heating and cooling systems in your home.

Make sure all windows and doors have good new weather stripping, and be sure your attic, if you have one, has good seals around anything that comes through the floor.

Pipes, duct work and chimneys all contribute to a chance your money will leak out. For $200.00 per year you would get on a ladder right?

Courtesy of Mick Wright

You can cut energy costs in most homes by lowering the thermostat by 5 degrees F in the winter at night, and by 10 degrees F during the day when no one is home.

I have lived in a house with lots of people and a small sized hot water heater. The children learned fast that if they stayed in the shower and sucked down all the hot water before their big sisters got one, that there will be you know what to pay!

Everyone immediately adjusted, and began to take short showers and to stagger their shower schedules because taking cold showers in the winter is a particularly painful experience.

Courtesy of Kevin Dooley

You can do so too. Make a 5 minute shower rule to cut energy costs, and they will adjust. The money you save will be worth it.

Another plan is to purchase energy star appliances such as an on demand hot water heater. These water heaters do not place all their energy demands on keeping a tankful of water hot all the time. They work great and are worth the upfront investment.

Courtesy of rwkvisual

This has always struck me, why on earth would one regularly use warm or hot water while washing clothes? What a waste of money! We are a farm family with lot's of denim and dirt to go around, and I get our clothes spot on clean with nothing more than detergent and cold water.

No one is suggesting you operate your dishwasher in cold water, nor take a cold shower! But if you will drop the water heater temperature from 130 degrees to 120 F. you will see cost savings.

You do also need to insulate the water heater pipes. If your water heater is warm when you touch it, it is being less efficient. Put a hot water jacket on it. Easy.

Courtesy of Mulad

Compact Florescent Light bulbs (CFLs) are the way to go. When each of your incandescent bulbs burn out, replace them with a CFL. They use 1/4-1/3 less energy, and they last -wow- up to 10 times longer that regular light bulbs.

Just not having to drag out the ladder that many times a year to change the light bulbs would cause me to change to CFLs!

I know you probably are not going out and replacing all your appliances in this economy, but when one really gives out and you have to buy, get energy star appliances and take advantage of the governments energy star tax credits program and save up to 30% on your purchase.