There Are Some Great Tips For Improving the Energy Efficiency of Your Home

A typical family in the United States spends around $2,000 on home utility bills, and the worst part is that a large portion of the energy is wasted. A single home uses more fossil fuels during the year and emits more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than two average cars. However, there is a lot that you can do to save money and energy at home, and you can start doing so right away.

The main factor in achieving savings is for you and your family to start an energy-efficiency plan for your home. You and your family need to look at your home as an entire energy consumption system, and you need to view it as having parts that rely on one another.

As an example, start looking at your furnace, not as your heating system, but as part of the home’s heat distribution. The heat delivery begins at the furnace, but there is also a network of ducts involved. You can have the most energy efficient furnace available, but ducts, walls, windows, doors and the attic will waste considerable amounts of Reliant Energy rates without proper seals and insulation.

Take a look at your lighting because that is the fastest way to cut your energy bills if you are not already using compact fluorescent bulbs. If your household is average, you are spending about 11% of your energy budget in lighting, but ENERGY STAR qualified lighting uses about 75% less energy than standard lighting, which can turn out to be a considerable savings.

When you work on the lighting, consider controls light photo cells and timers that will save electricity by turning off the lights when they are not in use. Dimmers also save electricity when they are used to lower light levels. By the way, do not forget to use products that are compatible with CFL bulbs.

Another very fast and effective way that you can save energy is by checking your home’s insulation. This is considered one of the most cost effective ways to make the best use of your energy dollars and reduce wasted energy.

A good system of insulation will include a product combination and construction techniques that protect your home from heat and cold. Therefore, invest in proper insulation and seal air leaks, and watch your heating and cooling bills drop.

And speaking of heating and cooling, set your thermostat as low in winter and high in summer, while being able to remain comfortable. This will also help you lower your heating and cooling bills considerably.

When it is time to replace any equipment, look for products that are energy efficient. There are different types, designs and models, so you should compare energy usage. And make sure you buy enough heating and cooling for the space you have. If you go over or under, you will end up wasting energy.

Those are just a few tips, but they can save you quite a bit on your energy bills when combined. Just one ENERGY STAR qualified CFL will save you about $30 or more in electricity use during the life of the bulb. Imagine what the savings could be if you replace all your bulbs and use them efficiently?