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IMP
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I was able to get my electricity bill down to about half of what it was at this same time last year. It was not anyone change I made, but all of these things together that made the difference. As a note, I live in Texas where heat is the issue. Warming the house in the winter is no big expense at all; it is trying to keep it cool in the summer that is the challenge.
I replaced my 47 year old single-pane aluminum frame windows with Pella Imperiva fiberglass dual-pane windows with low-e coating. I did every window in the house and the sliding back patio door for about $7900. It was not cheap but it made a huge difference. The payback will take many years though. Another benefit was the reduction in outside noise. I also recommend the low-e coating; it blocks about 98% of the heat from sunlight entering the house (no more warm spots for the cats to nap on though).
I replaced every light bulb in the house with screw-in fluorescent (except the oven and refrigerator/freezer). They use less electricity and they make much less heat (the enemy in Texas). The color is also much nicer in my opinion (day light, not the warm white bulbs). This cost about $200 total, maybe a little less.
I added about 14 inches of cellulose blown-in insulation on top of the 2 inches of Rockwool and 6 inches of pink fiberglass that was already there. I also added 1 inch thick aluminized foam board panels to the rafters to direct most of the heat towards the ridge vent.
I sealed up several small leaks in the various A/C heating ducts that were running through the attic. I also added aluminized fiberglass insulation wrap to the ducts in a few spots (that did not get covered by the blown-in cellulose).
I replaced the mechanical mercury type thermostat with a 7-day programmable unit. I programmed it to have the house cool when we are at home but raise the temp while we are away. I use 78 degrees while home, 81 while away (This is the summer setting. I have not programmed for winter yet).
I replaced my ~17 year old refrigerator with an Energy Star unit. It seems to be much more efficient than the old unit.
I added ceiling fans to almost every room. I bought 5 fans for about $600.
I wrapped the hot-water heater in aluminized fiberglass insulation. It only cost about $21.
I shopped around for a better electrical rate. I was able to go from about 13.0 cents per kwh to 10.7. This is not an efficiency item, but still reduced my bill. It just took a few minutes on the internet and a quick phone call.
I would love to install a grid-tied solar panel system on my roof. I have a huge South-facing roof section that would be perfect for this. The panels are still just too expensive though.
Please share any other energy saving ideas you may have. I am not really a “greenie” but I love saving money when I can.
I replaced my 47 year old single-pane aluminum frame windows with Pella Imperiva fiberglass dual-pane windows with low-e coating. I did every window in the house and the sliding back patio door for about $7900. It was not cheap but it made a huge difference. The payback will take many years though. Another benefit was the reduction in outside noise. I also recommend the low-e coating; it blocks about 98% of the heat from sunlight entering the house (no more warm spots for the cats to nap on though).
I replaced every light bulb in the house with screw-in fluorescent (except the oven and refrigerator/freezer). They use less electricity and they make much less heat (the enemy in Texas). The color is also much nicer in my opinion (day light, not the warm white bulbs). This cost about $200 total, maybe a little less.
I added about 14 inches of cellulose blown-in insulation on top of the 2 inches of Rockwool and 6 inches of pink fiberglass that was already there. I also added 1 inch thick aluminized foam board panels to the rafters to direct most of the heat towards the ridge vent.
I sealed up several small leaks in the various A/C heating ducts that were running through the attic. I also added aluminized fiberglass insulation wrap to the ducts in a few spots (that did not get covered by the blown-in cellulose).
I replaced the mechanical mercury type thermostat with a 7-day programmable unit. I programmed it to have the house cool when we are at home but raise the temp while we are away. I use 78 degrees while home, 81 while away (This is the summer setting. I have not programmed for winter yet).
I replaced my ~17 year old refrigerator with an Energy Star unit. It seems to be much more efficient than the old unit.
I added ceiling fans to almost every room. I bought 5 fans for about $600.
I wrapped the hot-water heater in aluminized fiberglass insulation. It only cost about $21.
I shopped around for a better electrical rate. I was able to go from about 13.0 cents per kwh to 10.7. This is not an efficiency item, but still reduced my bill. It just took a few minutes on the internet and a quick phone call.
I would love to install a grid-tied solar panel system on my roof. I have a huge South-facing roof section that would be perfect for this. The panels are still just too expensive though.
Please share any other energy saving ideas you may have. I am not really a “greenie” but I love saving money when I can.
). The only place I'm leaving one is in the entryway light. I don't need that one for much light, just to see my way inside the house as I first enter at night, and to light the stairs. Lights are the one thing I won't compromise on for the sake of energy savings. But, I also have good habits about turning off the lights when I'm not in a room, and when I'm home during the day, I often don't have any lights on anyway, because I can get enough sunlight in the windows (that was one of the important things to me as I looked at houses...they had to be bright with just the light from windows, because I prefer just plain sunlight over any kind of lightbulbs).