Low, No Cost Energy Saving Tips

(HIT) - You know that making your home more energy efficient can help you save money. But did you know that making your home more efficient doesn’t take a lot of effort or money? Here are ten, low- or no-cost tips for saving energy from Edison Electric Institute. They’re easy, and you can get started this weekend:

• Clean or replace your air conditioner/heat pump/furnace filter every month.
• Vacuum the refrigerator coils (behind or underneath your refrigerator) twice a year.
• Set your water heater’s temperature to 120 degrees—check it with a thermometer under a tap.
• Install low-flow showerheads and faucets.
• Close vents and shut the doors to unused rooms.
• Caulk and weatherstrip around windows and doors.
• Install compact fluorescent light bulbs in high-use fixtures (note that some compact fluorescents can’t use dimmer switches).
• In the winter, set your home’s temperature to 68 degrees, and lower it when you’re away or overnight. In the summer, set the thermostat to 78 degrees, and raise it when you’re away. A programmable ‘setback’ thermostat can make these changes automatically (look for the Energy Star label).
• Keep the curtains open on sunny afternoons in the winter, and keep them closed in the summer.
• Call your electric utility or visit their Web site for more information.

For a free booklet, "More than 100 Ways to Improve Your Electric Bill", as well as information about making your entire home more energy efficient, please visit www.eei.org/wiseuse.

Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center