The U.S. Department of Energy says home energy costs are expected to rise by more than 10 percent by this summer.
The average homeowner spends about $1,900 on utility bills. You can keep those costs under control without spending a lot of extra money and the best time to make changes is before summer heats up and air conditioning bills rise.
Consumer ratings service Angie’s List surveyed home energy auditors and home maintenance pros for tips to save hundreds of dollars per year on energy bills. Their tips:
- A/C Savings: Each degree you dial your air conditioner above 78°F decreases energy usage and can save the average homeowner about $8 a month per degree during the warmer months. Raise the temperature when you’re not going to be home — programmable thermostats make that chore easy.
- Cool it Down: Lower your water heater temperature to 120°F degrees. Your shower will still be steamy and you’ll save by heating less water. You’ll save about 10 percent on energy bills at that setting. Also, make sure you have that water heater checked regularly.
- The Fridge is Running and Running: Appliances account for about 17 percent of your household’s energy consumption and your refrigerator is a big energy hog. Here’s how to keep it running at top efficiency: Clean the condenser coils at least once a year. Test your door’s seal to ensure it’s keeping the cold air in by closing the door on a thin sheet of paper. If the paper slips, your fridge is wasting energy and costing you extra money. Recommended temperature settings are 37° to 40°F for the fridge and 5°F for the freezer. Stand-alone freezers should be kept at 0°F.
- Seal it Up: Half of the homes in the U.S. don’t have enough insulation. Adding insulation and sealing up air leaks can save on heating and cooling bills every month.
- Stop Energy Vampires: Video game systems use about the same amount of power when they are in sleep mode as they do when they’re in use. Make sure you turn the system off when you turn off the TV.
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