Conserving our Resources

Energy consumption is a big concern for many families. Your savings challenge today is to conserve as much energy as possible. Heating and air conditioning can take a big bite out of your budget. Since you're not likely to negotiate a lower rate with the utility company, energy conservation is the best way to lower utility bills. You'll not only save money, you'll be conserving our resources. The type of home you live in can play an important part in determining how much energy you use. Other factors, such as health and lifestyle, can also play a major part in energy consumption. Here are some heating and air conditioning tips that will help your save on energy and trim your utility bill.
Very old homes may not be insulated sufficiently and could benefit from added insulation. When these homes were built, conserving energy was not a big concern and was not given priority during construction. Newer homes have addressed energy concerns during construction and may be sufficiently insulated, but you can still save energy through conserving.

People with certain health problems will almost always require the use of air conditioning in the summer. When you are at home, and have no health problems aggravated by heat and humidity, eliminating the use of air conditioning will save substantial money on your utility bills. Most of us seek some period of relief during extremely hot summer days. If you live near a mall or department store, you may find some relief from the heat by taking a stroll around the mall. Just be careful not to blow your savings on compulsive purchases. Using a dehumidifier can greatly reduce humidity in your home and consequently provide a cooler feeling environment. It will use less energy than air conditioning, which also dehumidifies the air. Use fans (ceiling, floor, window, etc.) for ventilation and increased air flow.

Don't cook during the hottest hours of the day if it can be avoided. Do all baking, if your must bake in the summer, during cooler evening hours. Reduce oven usage as much as possible to avoid putting additional heat in the home. Plan no cook meals, such as sandwiches and salads, during hottest days. When you do cook, use the microwave or barbeque, instead of stove top or oven, for cooking. Avoid or limit usage of any heat producing appliances during hottest hours.

Since we need heat during winter months, it would be hard not to use the heat at all. However, you can save money by using conservation efforts everyday. Home insulation will go a long way in conserving if your home is lacking. This can mean a major home improvement for some families to achieve proper and effective insulation standards, depending on the age of your home. These types of home improvements are tax deductible for most individuals. But, even if you can't afford a major home improvement, you can reduce energy consumption through smaller conservation measures. Window insulation, outlet and light switch insulators, and storm windows are just a few measures that can improve your home's energy efficiency. Prevent heat loss by finding and fixing air leaks in the home.

Wear warmer clothing, layers of clothing are best, during the winter months and reduce the thermostat as low as is tolerable. Bake at night and dry clothes at night, during colder periods, to take advantage of heat from heat producing appliances. Clean furnace filter once a month for best performance. Maintain furnace and air condition units on a regular schedule to keep them operating efficiently. Don't make your furnace work harder than it has to, you'll pay for it. While these are great ways to save on heating and air condition, there are lots of other ways to conserve energy and reduce that bill. More tips to reduce your utility bills on Frugal Friday!