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What You can do to help slow down the dial

The typical American family spends close to $1,862 a year on their home's utility bills. Cooling and heating your home uses more energy than any other system in your house. Unfortunately, a large portion of that energy is wasted. By using a few inexpensive energy-efficient measures, you can reduce your energy bills by 10 percent to 50 percent. Follow these simple tips to save on your utility bills and conserve energy. Remember that the easiest way to save energy money is to conserve energy.

Easy steps to reduce energy consumption

1. Just a few degrees change in temperature levels can make a big difference in the amount of energy used. During summer, keep your thermostat between 76°F and 78°F. During winter, keep your thermostat between 66°F and 68°F - it could save you up to $29 a year*.
2. Use lights, TV and other appliances in an energy-conserving way. A very important tip that is usually forgotten is to turn off all electric appliances when not in use. Look for ways to utilize daylight, reducing the time the lights are on.
3. Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater – 115°F is comfortable for most uses. Additionally, try to use less hot water in the bathroom, kitchen and laundry. For every degree you lower the temperature, you could save $4 a year.
4. Close vents in unused rooms - it could save up to $100 a year.
5. Clean dryer lint filter every time you use the dryer - it could save up to $66 a year.
6. Take showers instead of baths - it could save up to $28 a year.
7. Wrap hot water heaters in an insulation blanket - it could save up to $20 a year.

Long-term steps to reduce energy consumption

1. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs are more energy-efficient and last longer than traditional light bulbs. If you replace 25 percent of lights in high-use areas with fluorescents, you can cut your lighting energy bill by about 50 percent.
2. Install a programmable thermostat to save energy. When used properly, programmable thermostats could save about $100 a year*.
3. One of the quickest dollar-saving tasks you can do is caulk, seal and weather strip all seams, cracks and openings to the outside. You can save 10 percent or more on your energy bill by reducing the air leaks in your home. Caulking openings between heated and unheated spaces could save you up to $40 a year.
4. Windows can account for 10 percent to 25 percent of your heating or air conditioning bill. If your home has single-pane windows, consider replacing them. New double-pane windows with high-performance glass are available on the market. If you decide not to replace your windows, install exterior or interior storm windows, which can reduce heat loss through the windows by 25 to 50 percent. Estimated savings for a typical home from replacing single pane windows with Energy Star qualified windows are approximately $300*.
5. When you buy new appliances, select energy-efficient equipment. Look for the EnergyStar® and Energy Guide labels. These appliances have been identified as being the most energy-efficient products in their classes. You can save approximately $80 a year if you change to Energy Star appliances*.
6. .Invest in a good insulating system. Adding insulation in the attic, basement, floors and walls is a good way to improve your home’s energy efficiency. If your home is not well insulated, it can easily lose heat during winter and cool air during summer. Upgrading your attic’s insulation could save you up to $300 a year. Insulating your basement could save you up to $160 a year. 

Home Energy Audit

1. If your energy bill is too high, you should consider a home energy audit. This will identify which parts of your house use the most energy. You can conduct a simple home energy audit yourself or you can contact an independent energy auditor for a more comprehensive examination.
   For example, you can check your home’s insulation system, holes or cracks around your walls, ceilings, windows, doors, light and plumbing fixtures, switches, and electrical outlets that leak air into or out of your home. You can also make sure your appliances and heating and cooling systems are properly maintained.

Visit the Energy Star Web site (www.energystar.gov) and take the Home Energy Yardstick, which in five minutes will tell you if your energy use is above average.

As you can see, there are plenty of things that you can do on your own to help reduce your utility bill. The next step is to have Burkholder's optimize your equipment to run efficiently all year long. Sign up for a maintenance contract now and get started saving money today.