How To Lower Your Home Energy Bill In The Winter

By Jessica Roberts

Most heat sources are expected to cost more this winter compared to last season.  Recent estimates of heating costs for a typical home show the greatest price jump for natural gas:

• Natural gas = $679 (13% higher)
• Propane = $1,666 (9% higher)
• Electricity = $909 (2% higher)
• Heating Oil = $2,046 (2% lower)

But hefty energy bills don’t need to dampen your winter holiday season. Lower your home energy bill and save money this winter with these 7 simple and effective energy and money saving tips:

1. Start with an Energy Audit: 

• An energy audit will assess the needs and energy efficiency of your home.
• An energy audit can be done by yourself, local utility company, or independent energy auditor.

2. Take Care of Your Furnace:

• Heating the home accounts for 45% of your winter energy bill.
• Set the thermostat to 68°F during the day.
• Set lower during the night or if you are away from home.
• You can save 5% to 15% a year on your heating bill by turning your thermostat back 10-15 for 8 hours.
• Heat pumps, electric resistance heating, steam heating, and radiant floor heating may require specially designed programmable thermostats to get the same results.

3. Take Care of Your Water Heater: 

• Water heating accounts for 18% of your bill.
• Set your thermostat at 120°F to reduce heat lost to the environment.
• Wrap old water heaters with an insulation jacket.
• Insulate hot water pipes for additional energy savings.

 4. Seal Air Leaks: 

• Thoroughly check the interior and exterior of your house for cracks, gaps, and holes. Pay special attention to chimneys, ceilings, plumbing fixtures, furnace flues, electrical outlets, switches, windows, and doors.
• Fill spaces with caulk or spray foam according to the size of the opening.
• Add a door sweep under exterior doors.

5. Upgrade Windows:

• Install exterior or interior storm windows.
• Install a window insulation kit.
• Install insulating window shades.
• Keep curtains and shades at closed night, open during the day.
• Clear south side windows for winter sun to heat your home.

6. Improve Insulation:

• Add insulation to the attic – the most cost-effective way to add comfort all year.
• Add insulation to exterior walls if it still feels drafty.
• Consider adding insulation to crawlspaces and basement.
• Check with a professional contractor for proper installation.

7. Find more Green Living Tips HERE.

Take advantage of these simple home improvement tips and enjoy lower heating costs, reduced energy use, extra savings, added warmth and comfort this winter.

Jessica Roberts is a REALTOR® with Exit Realty Achieve in Smithtown, NY. She specializes in a holistic approach to home buying and selling. As a Certified Holistic Health Coach, yoga instructor, and fitness nutrition specialist, she understands how a holistic perspective to wellness results in optimal well-being. Her former career as a veterinarian developed her focus, dedication, and responsibility to her patients and clients. Her passion is creating the ideal home experience using holistic principles to find balance in the ever-changing economy, community, and environment.

Originally posted at http://jessicaroberts.realtytimes.com/advicefromagents1/item/26644-7-tips-to-lower-your-home-energy-bill-this-winter

Help Lower Your Monthly Bills is a blog dedicated to helping you save money on your monthly bills. We find the best money saving tips and offer them on our easy to navigate blog. We also offer a easy to use workbook that is guaranteed to lower your monthly bills and save you hundreds of dollars a year. Hopefully you find this information helpful and put it to use in your montly budget!

Tips To Lower Your Monthly Electric Bill

Looking to lower you monthly electric bill?  Here are a few great tips to keep that electric bill down!

Use a programmable thermostat.
Lower the temperature (or raise it in summer) seven to eight degrees when you’re not home, and adjust it at least four degrees for the hours that you’re asleep.Annual savings: $180

Unplug electronics when they’re not in use.
Or use the Belkin Conserve Smart AV surge protector ($30, belkin.com), which automatically shuts down players and game consoles when you turn off the TV.Annual savings: $100

Launder everything in cold water.
And to save even more on energy costs, let your laundry air-dry.Annual savings: $103

Help Lower Your Monthly Bills is a blog dedicated to helping you save money on your monthly bills. We find the best money saving tips and offer them on our easy to navigate blog. We also offer a easy to use workbook that is guaranteed to lower your monthly bills and save you hundreds of dollars a year. Hopefully you find this information helpful and put it to use in your montly budget!

How To Lower Your Monthly Cable Bill?

Our blog "Lower Your Monthly Bills" is dedicated to giving you great advice & helpful hints on lowering your montly bills.  This article focuses on lowering your cable bill.

There are over 62 million people who subscribe to cable television in the United States.  Cable companies make a ton of money and rely on YOU, the subscriber to keep making that money.  There is nothing worse to a cable company than a customer cancelling or switching there cable subscription.  Here are a couple suggestions to make sure you are getting the best deal on your cable bill.

First off, cable companies are trying to offer deals for bundling home, internet, & cable for a better price.  If you do not bundle, you should definitely consider bundling your cable bill.  This will save you on average $50 a month alone.  Make sure they do not upsell you on faster internet service or premium cable channels.  Basic cable bundles usually include high speed internet, basic cable tv, and phone service.  On average this should cost around $100 a month.  If you seperate these services, it is about $60 a month each, so bundling saves money.

If you already bundle, just call the cable company and ask them if you have the best package out there.  Cable companies are constantly changing their plans to try to attract more customers and the plan you originally signed up for might not be the best deal anymore.

Ok, so you call the cable company and they have you on the best plan.  That doesn't help you lower your monthly cable bill does it?  Well this is where a little research can pay off.  Check out the competition, see if they have a better deal.  If they do, you can tell your current cable provider that you are thinking about switching because their competitor is offering a better deal.  Your cable provider might try to tell you the service at the other company is not as good and you need to compare apples to apples, this is there first way to try to keep you as a customer.  You just need to be strong and tell them you would like to talk to someone about cancelling your service.  They will most likely transfer you to a second level customer retention specialist.  This person will try to keep you as a customer.  You just need to continue to let them know it is a financial decision, it is just a better deal to cancel and go with the competition.  The representitive will eventually cave and give you a better deal or at least match the competitors offer.  Your cable company does not want to lose you and you can take advantage of this and lower your monthly bill!

Using these techniques should lower your cable bill on average $20-$30 a month, or even more.  Who doesn't like to save over $300 a year by making a phone call?

I hope this article is helpful and saves you money.  Subscribe to our blog on the right to receive all of our helpful money saving tips.  We want to Lower Your Monthly Bills!  We also offer a Comprehensive Workbook that gives you step by step instructions on how to save $100 or more a month on your bills.  To order our Money Saving Workbook Click Here.