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Home Energy Saving TipsUse these eight home energy saving tips to lower your home energy bills. Check your windows to make sure they're well sealed. A good test is the smoke test. Turn off all fans and your furnace, stand close to a window, and produce smoke (you can use incense). If there's a leak of interior home air to the outside, the smoke will move toward the window. You can buy insulation kits at your local hardware or home improvement store. Buy a Ceiling Fan Because warm air rises, using a ceiling fan in winter will move the warmer air down. Reversible switches come on most models, so you can use the fan in summer to circulate air. The cost of the ceiling fan and its usage costs are quickly made up in home energy savings. Shut Doors If a room is not being used, then shut the door and leave it closed. Use Curtains and Blinds to Control Heat On sunny winter days, open curtains and blinds to let the heat in and shut them when dusk approaches. On hot summer days, keeping curtains and blinds closed will reduce your cooling bill. Realign and Weatherproof Doors Doors can begin to sag from their original tight fitting position. Check the fit of all outside doors and realign them if needed. Also, weatherproof the doors if air comes in around them. Check Your Furnance Hire a HVAC contractor to check your furnace for any inefficiencies or heating or cooling safety issues. This home energy saving tip will not only save you money, but also make sure your system is safe. Clean or Replace Air Filters Check your air filters every month. Change or clean them as needed. Neglecting a dirty filter can reduce heating and cooling efficiency, increase energy bills, and may even cause premature equipment failure. Check Roof Top Insulation Go to your attic and check the insulation. Insulation should have enough air pockets to trap the cold air and push it back from the interior of the house. Old rotten insulation is usually brittle and flat. Replace the old insulation.
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