Share
Related Topics
Tagged As
With the average utility bill for a U.S. home totaling $1,900, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, homeowners are wondering what they can do to make their homes more energy efficient. Danny Lipford, host of nationally syndicated television show "Today's Homeowner," home expert for the Weather Channel and home improvement contributor for the "CBS Early Show," offers these simple tips for saving on your utility bill:
We do not strictly control Google ad content. If you believe any Google ad is inappropriate, please email us directly here.
- Turn It Down: Simply turning your water heater down to 120 degrees and wrapping all exposed hot water pipes can help you cut down on your energy costs. Also, turning the thermostat down 4 degrees on your heating system can make a difference. Opening your curtains and blinds during the day to allow a heat gain will reduce how hard your heating system works.
- Load It Full: Run your dishwasher, washing machine and clothes dryer only when they're full. When it comes to washing your clothes, use cold water whenever possible. Also, be sure to clean your lint filter and the vent pipe of your clothes dryer frequently to keep the machines running efficiently.
- Change Your Furnace Filter: Whenever you seal up your home, be sure to change your filter for improved indoor air quality. Use a high-efficiency filter to capture particles such as pollen, smoke, dust mites and pet dander from the air. Changing your filter at the start of every season may also help your heating and cooling systems run more efficiently and therefore last longer.
- Keep It Tight: Check the exterior perimeter of your home, especially the areas around windows and doors, for cracks and holes. Use weather stripping around doors that may be worn down or damaged and install outlet gaskets to create an airtight seal in the home. Seal cracks or gaps around windows with a caulk gun and a quality exterior caulk.
- Insulate The Windows: If you have drafty, inefficient windows and purchasing new windows is not in your budget this year, a great interim solution can be a window insulation kit. Simply apply the film and use a hairdryer to shrink wrap the film to your existing windows. Look for kits that include high-quality tape, so the film doesn't fall down in the middle of the season.
HHI Error Correction Policy
HHI is committed to accuracy of content and correcting information that is incomplete or inaccurate. With our broad scope of coverage of healthful indoor environments, and desire to rapidly publish info to benefit the community, mistakes are inevitable. HHI has established an error correction policy to welcome corrections or enhancements to our information. Please help us improve the quality of our content by contacting allen@healthyhouseinstitute.com with corrections or suggestions for improvement. Each contact will receive a respectful reply.
The Healthy House Institute (HHI), a for-profit educational LLC, provides the information on HealthyHouseInstitute.com as a free service to the public. The intent is to disseminate accurate, verified and science-based information on creating healthy home environments.
While an effort is made to ensure the quality of the content and credibility of sources listed on this site, HHI provides no warranty - expressed or implied - and assumes no legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, product or process disclosed on or in conjunction with the site. The views and opinions of the authors or originators expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of HHI: its principals, executives, Board members, advisors or affiliates.
