Cut Your Energy Costs by $1,500
August 31, 2009 by Jennifer Chait
Filed under energy saving
The cover story of the October issue of Consumer Reports is releasing some strategies that when used together may cut energy costs by a whopping $1,500. Bonus, saving energy is also a green perk.
The piece covers how homeowners can take their home’s energy efficiency to the next level through more-efficient product upgrades and additions as well as simple, low-cost and even no-cost upgrades and actions.
Bob Markovich, home and yard editor of Consumer Reports says, “According to our recent nationally representative survey, of more than 2,000 Americans, only 12 percent added or upgraded their home’s insulation in the past three years and just 5 percent had insulated their heating and cooling ductwork — quick fixes that save you money for years to come.”
Consumer Reports looks at four key categories in the October issue…
- Heating and cooling
- Water
- Recycling
- Electricity
Consumer Reports notes that the Heating & Cooling category is the area where homeowners can save the most. Some of their tips include…
- Use a combination of caulk, foam board, expandable sealant, and weather stripping to mask leaks.
- Check insulation levels; if the attic has less than 11 inches of fiberglass or rock wool or less than 8 inches of cellulose, you should probably add more.
- Get a programmable thermostat.
Water Consumption is an area where you may be able to save more than $400 annually, and most of those savings, according to Consumer Reports is simply by stopping drips and leaks. Other tips…
- Upgrade to water-efficient fixtures.
- Watch the water heater; lower the temperature to 120 F and insulate hot-water pipes.
Electricity Use was another good place to save money and the changes here are easy. By simply changing 10 incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs and replacing three major appliances with energy-efficient models, you could save hundreds per year.
Recycling is an awesome category to see, and I’m glad CR decided to include it in their report. While recycling only saved about $250 per year, many people found it easy to do and thus lowered their garbage bills. According to CR, you should try RecycleBank, which “Lets people put all of their recyclables in one container instead of separating them by type then it weighs the container and issues rewards or points redeemable at local retailers, the average households get $250 worth.” They also note you should redeem bottles deposits as millions of dollars are unclaimed every year.
The full report on energy-saving products — including Consumer Reports tests of pellet stoves and solar water heaters, and tips on saving energy costs — is in the October 2009 issue of Consumer Reports Magazine. It’s also available online at www.ConsumerReports.org.
[image via stock.xchng]
