These days, there’s a lot of buzz about green home improvements and ways to increase efficiency. Since everyone wants lower utility bills, this is a trend with some staying power. However, not everyone knows exactly which steps to take to start saving, or if the little improvements are worth the trouble. The good news is, you don’t always have to spend money to save money. That is, you don’t have to go crazy installing expensive new products to increase your home’s efficiency-in fact, there are several ways you can slash your energy bills without purchasing a thing.

Here are two fun ways to experiment with increasing your home’s efficiency: follow all of these tips immediately and watch your energy bills plummet, or, each month, add in a new energy-saving strategy and measure the effect each one has on your bills. An important step that you should take as quickly as possible is to improve your home’s insulation. This can be as simple as going around with spray foam and weather stripping, sealing up drafty areas, and as involved as insulating in your attic and under your floors. This will keep the heat out in the summer and in during the winter. If you’re not already in the habit of turning off lights in rooms you’re not using, start now. While a single light 100-watt bulb only costs about 35 cents to run for 24 hours, this can add up over several days in several rooms. If you must have lights on around your home, switch to a lamp with a CFL bulb, rather than an overhead fixture with multiple bulbs.

Next, pay attention to your thermostat. Unless you live in San Diego, it’s just plain wasteful to keep your home 70 degrees year-round. Dress in layers in the winter, and keep your thermostat a few degrees lower. Wearing a sweatshirt and warm slippers around the house isn’t too much to ask in January. Likewise, raise the thermostat during the summer. When the temperature is in the nineties, 78 degrees feels pretty nice. You’ll get even more bang for your buck if your close the vents in unused rooms and shut the doors. Another helpful strategy is to take advantage of the windows: in the winter, open the curtains and blinds to allow radiant heat to naturally warm your home. Your heater won’t have to come on as often to maintain the internal temperature. Close the blinds at night to keep the warmth inside. In the summertime, keep the blinds shut to reduce radiant heat inside, and use ceiling fans or free standing fans to keep the cool air moving.

Here are just a couple more things that will assist you in using less energy. Be kind to your refrigerator: while you are cooking, take a moment to think of everything your will have to get out of the fridge and remove it all at once. This will use less energy than opening and shutting the door. Also, let hot food cool to room temperature so your fridge won’t have to work so hard to cool it. You’ll add years to the life of your appliance. Take shorter showers and install a diverter head to your shower. These cost around five dollars or less, can be installed without any special tools, and allow you to interrupt the flow of water while you lather up, shampoo, and condition. Turn the water back on to rinse.

Creative Energy Exteriors is the leading Williamsburg siding installation company and installers of replacement doors with dedicated service and installation teams serving not only Williamsburg but also Richmond, Fredericksburg, Charlottesville and surrounding areas.

Creative Energy Exteriors is the leading Williamsburg siding installation company http://www.creativeenergyexteriors.com/service-areas/williamsburg.html and installers of replacement doors http://www.creativeenergyexteriors.com/doors.html.

Author Bio: Creative Energy Exteriors is the leading Williamsburg siding installation company and installers of replacement doors with dedicated service and installation teams serving not only Williamsburg but also Richmond, Fredericksburg, Charlottesville and surrounding areas.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: Home, Construction, Repair, Renovation, Green, Energy