subject: Lower Heating Bills With Energy Saving Devices [print this page] Old homes are certainly beautiful, but they come with their fair share of problems. Many homeowners in historic houses soon realize they need to focus on energy saving renovations. Thin attic insulation, inefficient furnaces and drafty windows are just a few of the problems faced. The good news is that devices that are energy efficient will make it easier than ever to update your home, one step at a time. Whether it's energy efficient appliances or lighting, you'll be glad you took the time to assess your home and lower your monthly bills.
The first step toward energy saving comes with a realistic assessment of your home energy use. Plug-in electricity monitors like "Watt's Up" and "Kill-A-Watt" will show you which appliances or electronics need to be upgraded. You can save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, by investing in a $30 energy monitor like this. Similarly, a full-house electricity meter like the "PowerCost Monitor" or "The Energy Detective" will reveal the power usage of electric stoves, air conditioners or other appliances whose cords are hard to reach. This can also be an indication of how much "phantom power" your house uses from electronics or appliances that are left plugged in when not being used.
The next step in your quest to save energy is to invest in some direct power conserving devices for the home. Programmable thermostats can save up to 1% of your energy costs for every degree you turn down the heat or turn up the air conditioning for an eight hour period each day, states the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy agency of the US government. For instance, if you dropped the thermostat from 68 to 61 from 9 am - 5 pm while you're at work, you can cut your heating costs by 7%. Your thermostat will let you automatically time when these temperature changes take place, so you won't even have to think about it.
Smart Power Strips are another one of the great ways to save electricity. For $35, you could divide your electricity uses into three sections: the control outlet, one or more hot outlets and one or more switched outlets. For example, you can plug your desktop computer into the control outlet, the cable modem and router into the constant hot outlet and all the other devices (printers, speakers, etc) into an easy on/off switch outlet.
If you're looking for energy saving methods, begin with what consumes the most power in your home -- notably the heating and cooling. Next, move to energy conservation appliances, energy efficient lightbulbs, as well as both direct and indirect energy efficient gadgets. Each little step you take will help you reduce your carbon footprint and save a few dollars while doing so. As you shop, beware of unscrupulous companies who just want to make a quick buck. Do your homework and do not buy any "energy saver devices" from infomercials.
by: Paul Cameron
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