Frugal Friday: Reduce Utility Bills

Frugal Friday: Reduce Utility Bills

Enjoy lower Utility Bills

Reducing monthly bills is just one more way to save money on your household budget. While air conditioning and heating are responsible for a good portion of utility costs, there are other areas where you can take measures to conserve energy and save on utilities. Here are some additional conservation tips to help reduce utility bills and save money.

Hot Water Heater:

1. Blanket your water heater with an approved insulation jacket
2. Set hot water temperature at 120 or lower (unless you have a dishwasher, follow recommended guidelines)
3. Insulate hot water pipes
4. Use cold water in washer rinse cycle
5. Clean and maintain water heater. Drain water from bottom of water heater tank to remove sediment, at least one or two times per year.
6. Take showers instead of baths
7. Reduce wasted water. Fix leaky faucets promptly

Small Appliances and lights:

1. Use florescent bulbs
2. Turn off small appliances and lights when not in use
3. Install and use dimmer switches to reduce energy used by lights
4. When buying new appliances, look for ones with auto shut offs to reduce wasted energy
5. Unplug TV, cable box, computer, and other electronic devices while away from home

Large Appliances:

1. Use the energy saving cycle on the dishwasher and wash full loads only
2. Clean drains and / or filters regularly on all applicable appliances to increase efficiency
3. Only wash clothes when you have a full load
4. Use the smallest pan possible when cooking, and cover pots to retain heat
5. Reduce stovetop and oven use. Use a crock pot, toaster oven, or microwave whenever possible
6. Turn off burners and oven just before cooking is completed
7. Reduce oven heat loss. Avoid opening oven door during baking
8. Avoid excessive opening of refrigerator door
10. Let hot items cool before placing in refrigerator
11. Make sure door gaskets have a tight seal on refrigerator
12. Ask your local utility company to do an energy assessment on your home

If you are on a low or limited income, you may qualify for assistance in replacing or repairing furnaces and refrigerators. The Weatherization Assistance Program is designed to assist limited income families with reducing their energy usage by providing installation of energy conserving measures, as well as offering furnace cleaning and tuning. Eligibility is based on Energy Assistant Program guidelines. Contact your local Department of Housing and Community Development to see if you qualify. Also, inquire about income guidelines for other energy assistant programs like utility bill payments. Many families qualify for energy assistance and do not take advantage of this service.

Use as many energy conservation tips as possible to complete your savings challenge and reduce utility bills. Then, practice these tips year round to conserve energy and enjoy lower utility bills. Add insulation products as can be afforded in attics, basements, crawlspaces, around windows and doors, pipes and hot water heater to reduce heat and air loss. Each little savings will add to the cumulative value of your conservation efforts and mean more savings on your energy bills.

Next in this seven part series - PART 6: Save on Family Entertainment
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