Saving money on our power bills is always a great thing. As the new year begins here are a few ideas to help save money and energy. January is usually the coldest month we have here in the panhandle and normally 50% of your power bill is heating and cooling costs.
~Let the sunshine in: for additional warmth, open drapes over windows that receive sunlight during the day. Close them at night, which can reduce heat loss from a warm room by 10%.
~Limit energy use during peak times. In the summer that is 2pm to 7pm and in the winter it is 5am to 9am. During those hours, adjust your thermostat for maximum energy efficiency, avoid washing or drying clothes, delay baths to conserve hot water, and run the dishwasher later.
~Slow cookers use less electricity than an electric oven does. So try some great crock pot meals and if you have a really great one please share by emailing it to debson1999@gmail.com with blog in the subject line. Who knows you may get a special gift from me!
~An average household uses around 45 to 60 gallons of water per day. To reduce energy usage and protect against scalding, set your water heater to no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
~Seal air leaks: caulk around the fireplace hearth and caulk or weather strip around doors and windows.
~Protect your pipes: wrap exposed pipes and water heaters that are in unconditioned spaces.
