Cutting Energy Waste To Save Money

By: Rickie Sol

The holidays are a wonderful time, but opening your utility bill in January can make you drop to your knees. If you are tired of paying high energy costs, here are some things you can do.

1. If you have large sliding glass doors, place something dark under them during winter months. You will be surprised how much heat can be generated from the sun beating on them.

2. If you are going to be out of your home office for more than 20 minutes, turn off all the electrical accessories. Computers, stereos and the like suck up energy if you just leave them on.

3. Check the Pressure in Your Tires – Underinflated tires can reduce gas mileage by 3 to 5 percent and wear out the tires. Make sure to maintain pressures at the top end of the suggested psi of the tire.

4. Consolidate Your Errands – Every time you head out to run errands, you are eating up your car fuel. Try to do all your errands at just one time.

5. Cut Lighting Costs – The lights in your home are huge money wasters. Switch to CFL lights. They last up to 10 times longer and cost less to run.

6. Energy Tax Credit Forms – The government is trying to promote energy efficiency by giving you tax credits for taking action. If you buy energy efficient products for your home, you can claim them on IRS form 5695.

7. Tire Air Pressure – Your tires are the single most important factor in your gas mileage. If they are underinflated, you are dragging them along.

8. Window Energy Wasters – If you turn on the heater or air conditioning, make sure all your windows are really closed. Most sliding windows will catch just before actually closing because of their locking mechanism.

9. Financing Energy Efficiency in New York – If you live in New York, you can get financing for buying energy efficient products for your home. Financing is up to $10,000 and can be used for purchase and installation.

10. Setting Tire Air Pressure – When filing your tires, use the guideline on the tire, not in the owners manual. Tires perform differently, so they are a better source for air pressure.

Daily life is expensive enough without throwing away money. Take a close look at your energy use and see where you can save money. Over years, the dollar figure will be very high.