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Saving Money on Electricity: A Money-Saving Maintenance

by BlondieWrites on September 23, 2009

An electrical appliance that does not work at maximum capacity results in less than ideal performance and higher electricity bills. That is why it is best to save on electricity in order to save more money.

Here is how you can get everything saving up:

1. Keep your appliances clean and well maintained. Regular cleaning and maintenance keeps your appliances in top shape, hence, it will perform better and consumes lesser energy. Energy saved is money saved.

2. Have an annual checkup by a qualified service technician. This can reduce the appliance’s operating costs by as much as 20%, extend the life of the system, and improve its safety and air quality.

3. When using air conditioners, it is best to establish your comfort temperature, and then setting your thermostat at that level permanently. This will definitely save on electric bills because the air conditioning unit takes less energy to cool air four to five degrees than it does to cool air eight to ten degrees.

4. Replace any items that may have been 10 years or older already. Old appliances are most likely not at their optimum efficiency. By replacing them, your electric bills may be cut by half.

5. If you experience a power outage, make sure you turn off the switch on your appliances and allow time to pass before turning the appliances on again when the power returns.

6. In refrigerators, do not overstuff compartments with bottles and plastic containers. Cool air must circulate freely to avoid overworking the condenser.

Also, try not to leave the door of your refrigerator as open as possible or open longer than what is needed. This will have the tendency to allow the cool air to break out.

7. Always try to look for the “energy saving” logo or notes whenever you buy your new appliances. Buying an appliance with a logo that states it consumes lower energy, it will definitely let you save more money on your electricity.

8. Always use energy saving lights or light bulbs. These energy saving lights or light bulbs usually last up to 12 times longer. Plus, energy saving light bulbs consume less energy. Hence, you will be able to save more money just by saving on electricity.

9. Use energy-saving facilities at home like energy-saving windows or energy-saving appliances. This will lessen the consumption of energy and, thus, will let you save on money.

For instance, use a “double-glazed” window instead of the ordinary window.

10. Use insulators at home. This will not let the warm or cool air out, and vice-versa.

Indeed, saving on electricity will definitely save more money.

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3 easy frugal ways to cut energy costs

by BlondieWrites on August 14, 2009

(ARA) – Even though the temperatures are cooling down, it doesn’t necessarily mean the energy bill is going to magically disappear.

The American Lighting Association shares three easy solutions that budget-conscious households can use to immediately save money.

1. Read your labels
Before you purchase another light bulb, lighting fixture or ceiling fan, look for the Energy Star label. Those products have undergone rigorous testing and meet the government’s strictest new guidelines for energy efficiency.

All of the Energy Star products have easy-to-read consumer guides right on the box. At a home center or large retailer, you’ll have to read the packages carefully when comparison shopping. However, a trip to your local lighting showroom will provide all of the information you need to make an informed decision.

2. Ceiling fans are your BFF “In the fall, it’s possible to turn your thermostat to 78 degrees and, if you’re using a ceiling fan, the comfort level would be the same as if the thermostat were at 72,” says Joe Rey-Barreau, education consultant for the ALA and an associate professor at the University of Kentucky’s School of Interior Design. “Obviously, you could turn off the AC and only use the fan. Just remember to turn off fans in rooms that aren’t occupied to avoid wasting energy.”

“Ceiling fans are a great way to make any space more comfortable, add a decorator touch, and save energy at the same time,” adds Cliff Crimmings, vice president of marketing for Craftmade International of Coppell, Texas. “It circulates the air around, taking away heat in the process. The small expense of running a ceiling fan compared to running an AC compressor results in saving hundreds of dollars per year in energy bills.”

“Before purchasing a fan, do your homework,” Crimmings advises. How large is the room? How high is the ceiling? Do you want the fan to blend in with the ceiling or become a major component in the decor? Would you like it to have a light that will take the place of a lighting fixture? Would you prefer to operate it via a remote control or with a wall switch?

“These are all important things to think about, because your fan will last for years. All ceiling fans, because of their design and low energy consumption, will start to save you money from day one; the new Energy Star-qualified models will increase those savings even more,” Crimmings says.

3. Choose the right light source
“Since lighting accounts for approximately 20 percent of a home’s energy cost, changing the most frequently used lights to more efficient fluorescent versions can make a tremendous difference,” says Terry McGowan, ALA’s director of engineering and technology and the owner of Lighting Ideas in Cleveland. “The key is to consider the hours of use — the savings are greater and bulb life is longer when fluorescent lighting remains on for longer periods of time.”

You may have received a compact fluorescent lamp in the mail from your electric company or purchased them on sale at a home center or mass retailer and been disappointed in the quality. According to Rey-Barreau, finding the right CFL for your needs requires a little know-how. “All incandescent bulbs have approximately the same color quality. Therefore, when you buy an exact replacement for your 60-watt incandescent, the color quality will always look the same,” he says. “With CFLs, the process is more complicated. A CFL produces about four times the light for the same amount of energy as an incandescent. To find the CFL that will produce the same amount of light as your existing incandescent, divide the wattage by four.” For example, to replace a 100-watt incandescent, you need a 25-watt CFL.

Then there’s the matter of color. “CFLs are available in three colors, and are often described as warm, neutral, and cool. The warm color will usually be the closest to incandescent,” Rey-Barreau says.

“By far the easiest way to find the right CFL for your home is to go to a lighting showroom,” Rey-Barreau explains. “Many have light boxes that allow you to try out different models and compare them directly to incandescent bulbs and to each other.”

Using CFLs in a room that is also lit with incandescents can offer the best visual balance while saving money. “Light layering is an excellent technique,” McGowan says. “There are situations where CFLs and standard incandescent lamps can be mixed so that lighting quality is enhanced. A lighting showroom can help you see this for yourself.”

When replacing incandescents with CFLs, it’s important to consider the application. “CFLs are not ideal for all locations,” cautions Craig Wright, product manager for Progress Lighting of Greenville, S.C. “For example, decorative fixtures with shades pointing downward (or in chandeliers) will reveal the bulb to the living space, which could possibly increase glare and detract from the ambience.” In those cases, using controls such as dimmers and occupancy sensors for incandescent bulbs will help minimize energy use.

For more information about energy efficient lighting options, or to find an ALA lighting specialist near you, log on to the American Lighting Association’s Web site at www.AmericanLightingAssoc.com or call (800) BRIGHT-IDEAS (800-274-4484).

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Can I Expect Heating Oil Prices to Surge This Winter?

by BlondieWrites on December 23, 2008

As if the economic crisis is not bad enough, weather forecasters have already informed us that we are going to have a severe winter. This, coupled with the rise in fuel costs, is sure to cause a great deal of financial stress for most individuals.

According to the Energy Information Administration, “Average household expenditures for all space-heating fuels are projected to be $1,137 this winter (October 1 to March 31), a 15-percent increase over the estimated $986 spent last winter.  The largest increases will be in households using heating oil and natural gas.”

In addition, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration projects that the Lower-48 States are forecast to be 2.4 percent colder this winter compared with last winter.

For homes that utilize natural gas, expect to pay upwards of 18% more this winter. In the Midwest, an increase of 17% is expected.

The EIA states that homes that primarily heating oil can expect to pay an average of $449 (23 percent) more this winter.  Only 7 percent of U.S. households depend on heating oil for winter fuel and most of these households are in the Northeast, where 31 percent of households use heating oil as their primary space heating fuel.  In that region, the average household is projected to pay 24 percent more than last winter as a result of an 18-percent increase in prices and a 5-percent increase in consumption.  Residential heating oil prices in the Northeast are projected to average about $3.90 per gallon during the winter season compared with $3.31 per gallon last winter.

If you utilize propane, your expenses will exceed 11% more this winter. Individuals who live in the West will average an increase of 5% and those who live in the South will pay an average of 16% more for propane.

Finally, for those households who use electricity, the estimates are that there will be a 10% increase compared with last winter. The EIA breaks this down as follows: “12 percent in the Northeast to 59 percent in the South.  On average, electricity expenditures during the winter are projected to rise by 10 percent because of increased consumption and prices. Households in the South are projected to pay 13 percent more this winter on electricity bills.”

This pessimistic outlook requires that everyone try to conserve as much energy as possible this winter. If you have not begun to winterize your home, now is the time to start the process. Purchase energy-efficient light bulbs, unplug appliances when not in use, and check the many resources available online that offer ways in which you can minimize the cost of fuel and energy sources in your home.

This is probably going to be a tough winter but, more importantly, the cost incurred in every household here and abroad may leave you with a lasting chill.




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Save Money on Your Home Energy Costs this Winter

by BlondieWrites on October 20, 2008

By Deborah Taylor-Hough

Approximately 40% of winter home energy bills involves heating. Here are some simple tips for cutting back on your home energy costs this winter:

Heating:
–Change furnace air filters regularly (once a month or according to manufacturer’s recommendations).
–Schedule a cleaning/maintenance call each year for your furnace.
–Install a programmable thermostat.
–Turn down the heat one degree during the day. Lower the heat by ten degrees at night.
–Make sure your furniture and carpets don’t cover or block vents or air ducts.

Insulating:
–Add weather-stripping around doors and windows.
–Install thermo-pane windows in your home.
–Insulate your top floor ceilings and attic.
–Replace window screens with storm windows.
–Close the damper on the chimney flue when not in use.
–Cover your windows with insulated blinds or curtains. Or make window quilts for the winter months.
–Insulate yourself! Wear a sweater and insulated slippers in the house. Buy a down comforter for your bed.

Lighting:
–Use compact florescent lights, especially in outside lighting like porch lights that are left on for long periods of time.
–Use photo-cells or motion sensors for outdoor lights.
–Open drapes when the sun is shining in your windows (helps to provide both light and passive heat), and be sure to remember to close the drapes at night to keep the heat in.
–Turn off lights when you leave a room.

Appliances:
–Insulate your older water heater.
–General rule of thumb: If you aren’t using it, turn it off!
–Unplug electronics and electric appliances when not in use (battery chargers, hair appliances, computers).
–Use a power strip as a central turn off point for electronics, videos games, and computers when not in use..
–Use the right size pot on the stovetop.

Cleaning:
–Always run full loads of both laundry and dishes.
–If you have a newer model dishwasher, don’t rinse dishes prior to putting them in the dishwasher.
–Install an energy efficient showerhead which will not only save on water usage, but also save money on water heating.
–Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. Hot water heating uses 90% of the electricity used to run your washing machine.
–Use the correct water level when washing clothes.
–Don’t over-dry your clothes. Hang to dry — or to finish drying — whenever possible.
–Empty your lint trap before each load.





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