Easy Tips To Save Money At Home.

In this economy we are all struggling and watching every penny we can. We certainly are at my house. The future is a little uncertain right now. Here are some things that we are doing at home and you can do also to save money.

CFL Bulbs are the easist first step.

1. Change your ordinary bulbs to CFL (compact fluorescent light-bulbs) bulbs. You can save $30 or more over the life of the individual bulb. They are inexpensive and last up to 10 times longer than normal bulbs.

2. Install dimmer switches and motion detectors. Dimming your lights by 25% can save you 20% of the electricity you would normally use to light that bulb.

3. Install Energy Star motion lighting for the outside of your home. If it only comes on when it senses movement, you won't be wasting energy. Motion detector lights also act as security lights. The savings add up when the floodlights aren't on all night long.

4. Install a Programmable Thermostat. Your heating and cooling systems are the bulk of your energy bills. Normally they consume more than half of the energy in your home. If you use a programable thermostat, you can regulate the energy you use and maintain a comfortable temperature throughout the day. Average savings for most homes is reported to be around $180 per year.

5. Check all your filters every month and change once every 3 months. Maintain your water heater also. Check it for leaks and rust. I put a water heater jacket on mine to help the loss of energy and heat. So far, so good. The govt. tells me I might save $30 per year in heating costs. We'll have to wait and see.

6. I checked the insulation under my home and I also caulked around my windows for leaks. This was not particularly fun but I felt it was necessary. Hopefully I'll save some bucks from doing this work. I also sealed under my front door where I could see a little sunshine during the day. 

7. I replaced my refrigerator lately with an Energy Star Appliance. That's really all you can buy now. Hey, I'm just trying to save the earth in my own little way. You are supposed to use at least 10% less enrgy when using Energy Star Appliances. 

8. We are also using all of our ceiling fans in my house now and I can really feel the difference. I should have thought of that before. I have noticed a decrease in my electric bill since I started using all the fans and my house is comfortable. other than the fans, I don't feel anymore drafts in my home now. 

I'm pretty comfortable in my home now and the steps we took were pretty easy. I'm saving a few bucks and saving the earth just a little. I hope these little tips will help you save a little money around your house also.