Eighty-nine percent of us think we're not using as much energy as we did 5 years ago, but 59% also say our energy bills have gone up, according to consumer research by the Shelton Group, a marketing and advertising agency that specializes in energy-efficiency issues.
The 5 Things You Should Do to Show Your Bills Who's Boss
1. Caulk and seal air leaks. Buy a few cans of Great Stuff and knock yourself out over a weekend, sealing penetrations into your home from plumbing lines, electricity wires, recessed lighting, windows, crawlspaces, and attics.
Savings: Up to $220/year, per U.S. EPA
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2. Hire an HVAC contractor to take a hard look at all your ductwork - are there any ducts leaking that need to be resealed? - and give you an HVAC tune-up.
Savings: Up to $330/year, for duct sealing and tune up, per DOE
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3. Program your thermostat. The Shelton Group found that 40% of consumers in its survey admit to not programming their thermostat to energy-saving settings.
Savings: Up to $180/year, per EPA
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4. Replace all your light bulbs with LEDs or CFLs. We suggest LEDs, which have fewer issues than CFLs (namely, no mercury), and although expensive are coming down in price. We've even seen a $10 model.
Savings: $75/year by replacing your five most frequently-used bulbs with Energy Star-rated models, says EPA.
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5. Reduce the temperature on your water heater. Set your tank heater to 120 degrees - not the 140 degrees most are set to out of the box. Dropping 20 degrees could save 6% to 10% on your annual water heating costs, which are 14% to 18% of your utility bills. Also wrap an older water heater and the hot water pipes in insulating material to save on heat loss.
Savings: $18 to $39/year
