High Energy Bills

Diagnosis:

One reason for high energy bills is an increase in the price of electricity or heating fuel. However, it is common to trace high energy bills to an in-efficient component (windows, heating and cooling equipment, ducts insulation) of your home or a failure of one of these components to perform as intended. It is not always easy to pin-point the problem, but fixing it can make your home more energy-efficient and comfortable.

Prescription Checklist:

To improve the energy efficiency of your home start with an evaluation of your homes energy use.

  • To get started today use our Home Improvement Tools to score your home’s energy use and generate a customized list of improvement. You will need one year of your utility bills handy.
  • For best results hire a contractor who is an energy specialist to do an in-home evaluation. A good specialist will use diagnostic equipment to evaluate the performance of your home and generate a customized list of improvements.
  • Improvements may include sealing air leaks, adding insulation (Home Sealing) or sealing duct air leaks. Some of these you can do yourself, but you may prefer to hire a contractor.
  • Turn down the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees F.
  • Replace the light bulbs in your highest usage lights with ENERGY STAR CFL bulbs.
  • When replacing lighting or appliances look for ENERGY STAR qualified light fixtures and appliances
  • Install an ENERGY STAR qualified programmable thermostat, and use it to save energy while you are away at work.
  • Contact your utility and ask if they offer any programs to help lower energy bills.

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