*Keep your refrigerator and freezer full. Food acts as insulation and keeps it cooler longer.
*Install ceiling fans.
*Hang your laundry to dry.
*Shield your house from the sun in the summer by closing curtains and blinds.
*Use natural warming in the winter. On sunny days open the curtains and let the sun warm your home.
*Switch your light bulbs to CFL bulbs..
*Turn off the heat cycle on your dishwasher.
*Lower the temperature on your hot water heater.
*Use your appliances during off peak hours.
*Wash laundry in cold water.
*Only wash full loads of dishes and laundry.
*Install low flow shower heads.
*Get a programmable thermostat.
*Turn your furnace down a few degrees at night and use extra blankets.
*Clean your dryer lint trap.
*Clean your refrigerator coils. Dirty coils will make it work harder.
*Allow your food to cool before putting it into the fridge. Hot food will increase the interior temperature of the fridge.
Have any other suggestions? Please share.
Some we are doing and some we are planning to do:
ReplyDelete*Change air filters monthly(when running air conditioner-doesn't apply here with our type of heat)
*unplug, not just turn off appliances and electronics when not in use
*switch to LED nightlights
*cook with lids on(less heat escapes and is wasted)
*add insulation to basement pipes and around outer foundation walls
*keep plastic covering on basement windows year-round(cover main level with plastic in winter)
*add weather stripping to doors
Yes, insulation is a good one. We added insulation to our attic last year and it has made a huge difference. Hopefully this Fall we will be able to do the outer walls in the basement. We never got around to putting plastic up, but if we had that would have really helped us too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips Maria!
Great tips
ReplyDeleteI think we do almost all of those now! I can't hang my laundry out though, with my allergies every time I have tried it ended badly.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips. We need to try them because our last bill was OUT of control!
ReplyDelete