Summary: Today concludes part 2 of the Reducing Your Energy Consumption series. I have on the list today about 30 more things you can do to help you save money on your energy bills. Since energy is a large components of your family budget it behooves us to look at ways we can reduce this cost. Join me today as I discuss these ways to help you save. Avoid cooking when the a/c is being used in summer. If you have to cook, try to do it in one day Use microwave instead of oven. Sometimes you gotta do what is easy Use toaster oven if you can rather than the oven If using oven, cook foods together. Put multiple items together in the oven if possible Cook in batches and save for later. Cook all your pasta at one time and save for later in the week. Allow food to cool to room temperature before putting in fridge. Wash dishes by hand rather than the dishwasher reducing hot water heating Use cold water detergent. Full load for washer. Partial loads are less efficient Short showers, smaller baths. When you use water try and spend as little time as possible using it. Multiple people for one bath fill up. We do this at home and it works great. We get 3 baths for the price of one. Purchase propane in the summer when demand is low. Lock your windows, Locked windows create a better seal Watch your water heater temperature. Every 10 degrees lowers you bill 3-5% Thermostat, every 1 degree equates to 1-3% savings Use a digital thermostat. One of the best investments you can buy. Shut the flue or damper in your fireplace or stove. Turn off your gas fireplace pilot light in the summer. Motion sensor lights that come on when someone enters the room. Frees your hands to carry more than one item into a room Turn off electronics when not in use. Set refrigerator to 36-38 and freezer to 0-5. No need to freeze food any more solid than it already is. Be careful about the fridge being to cold. It can freeze vegetable and ruin them. Heat the person not the whole house. Try and use electric heating pads instead of turning up the heat. Shade trees. Wind breaks. Insulate hot water lines. Insulate air ducting. Insulate your hot water heater with a “blanket”, can save 4-9% Clean air filters. Install low flow faucets and shower heads. Keep your fridge and freezer full. Put in water bottles if you need to in freezers Do full load of laundry rather than partial loads. Reuse you towels. Hang clothes to dry. Re route your dryer vent to inside your house in winter. Clean lint trap. Turn off heated dry on dishwasher. When purchasing new appliances look for energy star rated ones. Service you Hvac. Get it tuned up. Clean baseboard heaters and radiators. Dirt on these are not as efficient. Add more insulation to your attic or walls in my case. New windows. Solar hot water. Solar hot air. Make sure your landscaping on south side is deciduous. When the leaves fall it lets in winter sun. Resources from today's show This guy saved 87% on his electric heat bill. Don't forget to leave a comment or send me an email at ric@prepping101.com with any questions or topics you would like covered. Please join us on Facebook or Twitter.
