November 2005

Energy Cost Savings for Your Home and Car

Natural gas prices will double this year, driving utility bills up 50% or more. For many, this will result in a significant financial hardship. While you can’t control the price of gas - natural or otherwise - there are steps you can take to help reduce your energy costs.

Start by considering these questions:

  • Do you rapidly accelerate and brake when you drive?
  • Are the southern-facing windows in your home dirty?
  • Is the temperature in your water heater over 120 degrees F?

If you answered yes to any of these, you have an opportunity to save energy without spending a cent. For example:

  • Driving less aggressively can help lower your gas mileage
  • During the day, the sun can provide some warmth for your home, especially through windows that face south. Therefore, keep drapes open and your windows clean - curtains and dirt can obstruct the sun.
  • Maintain a reasonable temperature in your water heater (120 degrees F)

Some other quick, easy ways to save energy include:

  • Collect your utility bills. Separate electricity and fuel bills. Target the biggest bill for energy conservation remedies.
  • Check if your water heater has an insulating blanket. An insulating blanket will pay for itself in one year or less!
  • Survey your incandescent lights for opportunities to replace them with compact fluorescents (CFLs). These lamps can save three-quarters of the electricity used by incandescents. The best targets are 60-100W bulbs used several hours a day. New CFLs come in many sizes and styles to fit in most standard fixtures.
  • Clean or replace furnace, air-conditioner, and heat-pump filters.
  • Rope caulk very leaky windows.
  • Insulate hot water pipes and ducts wherever they run through unheated areas.
  • Seal up the largest air leaks in your house - the ones that whistle on windy days, or feel drafty. The worst culprits are usually not windows and doors, but utility cut-throughs for pipes ("plumbing penetrations"), gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets. Better yet, hire an energy auditor with a blower door to point out where the worst cracks are. All the little, invisible cracks and holes may add up to as much as an open window or door, without you ever knowing it!
  • Install a clock thermostat to set your thermostat back automatically at night.
  • Schedule an energy audit (ask your utility company or state energy office) for more expert advice on your home as a whole.
  • Have your heating and cooling systems tuned up in the fall and spring, respectively. Duct sealing can also improve the energy efficiency and overall performance of your system (warm-air furnace and central air conditioners).

Major, more expensive steps that improve home energy efficiency include updating major appliances, heating and cooling systems, windows and insulation. While they may cost a lot up front, they can often pay for themselves in the long run.

When looking to cut costs, remember to consider the utility company itself. For example, there may be additional ways to cut your electric bill by opting for programs and off-hour rate packages that may save you up to $100 a year. Additionally, in Northeast Ohio, most Cleveland city residents have a choice - Cleveland Public Power or First Energy. Charges may vary, so contact your electricity provider for more information.

For detailed lists of tips and recommendations for curbing your energy usage, explore the links below. Not only might you save some money but you are helping the environment as well.

Source: Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy; Federal Trade Commission

Local organizations

Energy Saving Tips for your home

Energy Saving Tips for your car