High energy bills driving you crazy? What if I told you that you could be paying a lot less? A new survey of more than 2,000 Americans by the
Consumer Reports National Research Center shows nearly half of those polled don't make a habit of lowering their thermostat overnight or when they leave the house. That's just one of several energy-saving moves that can add up to hundreds of dollars a year. In fact,
Consumer Reports says that you can save about $550 a year in energy costs if you know where to look.
Roughly 50 percent of residential energy bills go toward heating and cooling. You can cut those costs by eliminating any leaks around doors, windows, and electrical outlets.
Consumer Reports recommends checking for leaks with an incense stick. First, turn on an exhaust fan in your home, light the stick, and hold it near openings. If it blows horizontally, you've got a leak.
Next—the insulation. The
Consumer Reports' survey found only 12 percent of homeowners have added or upgraded their insulation in the last three years. A good place to start is in the attic. Look for missing insulation where heat can escape, including above the attic hatch door.
Also, make sure your existing insulation is thick enough. For fiberglass or rock wool, you want at least 11 inches of insulation. For cellulose—you want eight inches or more.
And don't forget to insulate your plumbing and ductwork, too. In
Consumer Reports' survey only 5 percent of people insulated their heating and cooling ductwork. It could cost you about $500 to hire someone to do your ducts, but you could end up saving $400 a year.
How and when you wash your laundry can add up to more energy savings, too. It turns out only 38 percent of people surveyed by
Consumer Reports always wash their clothes in cold water. That can save you up to $60 a year. But most people—73 percent—do wait to run a full load in the washing machine. That's another way to cut your costs.
More energy-saving advice is available at:
www.consumerreports.org/cro/home-garden/resource-center/energy-saving-guide/energy-saving-guide.htm.
Consumer Reports has no commercial relationship with any advertiser or sponsor appearing on this Web site.
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