Learning how to save money on energy costs is a lesson that we all should learn. It affects our future. Once you are convinced the effort put forth is an investment in time you are now ready to begin your new energy saving regime. Not only will it save you money in lowered energy bills, but you will get satisfaction in knowing you are earth friendly.

First you assign yourself the task of learning all you need to know about your house and its heating needs. You are tired of the high energy bills and are now convinced there are less expensive means of keeping warm in the winter and cool in the winter.

Once you are tuned in to energy saving, you will be amazed at all the ways you can conserve here, lower your heating bill there, while still being quite comfortable. This will take some practice but once you are in the habit of turning off lights and running your washing machine and dishwasher only when you have a full load, being green will become second nature.

Inside the House

On the inside of the house, you should search out the ways heat is lost through windows or cracks, attic vents and doors. You should check all doors for air passage, all windows that may need caulking or winterizing. After you have the inside down pat and know how and where and when to turn on, turn off, not use, unplug and lower and what you, you survey the outside of your home for energy saving measures.

Thermostats that can be set to warm the house only when you are home now make sense to you. You find this exciting and worth the effort and the expense. You should check out this possibility and while doing so engage in discussions about possibly renewing your overall heating system. In time this will prove to be cost-effective.

Outside the House

You start from outside the house and find out where your house is most vulnerable to wind blasts. Where can you plant trees that will help keep the heat in during winter and out during the summer? Your long range planning is taking over and you are now well into your energy saving mode, now and for the future.

On the Internet you can learn about new techniques in lowering your energy bills. You learn to start small and understand that a penny saved here now and then by turning off lights and lowering thermostats adds up to dollars over time.

The advice you learn from the U.S. Department of Energy Web site (www.energy.gov) will help you in deciding how to plan for the future. Reading their reports and explanations will help you think “energy consumption”.

Heading the list on how you can save on energy costs are as follows:

1.      Unplug:

Pull the plug on appliances not in use. Why should you run a freezer when it is filled with food too old? Or why should you leave radios and televisions on when no one is listening or watching? These are wasteful habits and cost money.

Unplug your cell phone chargers. These little midgets that recharge batteries for phones, cameras and what have you burn energy even when not in use if left plugged in. In addition to that they are unsightly and leave a cluttered look to an overwise neat counter top.

Turn off computers when not in use. Or set them to sleep. Or better still, do all your home computer work in one block of time and turn off until the next scheduled time.

2.      Manage your thermostat:  During the winter lower your thermostat to 68 during daytime, 55 at night. In summer time up your thermostat to 78 at least.  Get everyone in the habit of wearing sweaters and warm winter clothing.

In the summer time, use the air conditioner only when absolutely necessary. Open up windows and let fresh breezes blow through your house. It is more healthy and the air that cools will cost nothing. A window fan placed in a strategic window can do amazingly well at cooling.

3.      Let the sun shine in during the day. Sun shining through windows will help warm your home. Keep them closed at night and during hot summer days.  The old fashioned sun rooms had a purpose then, to let in the sunshine, and they stand ready to do the same now.  Why not be in vogue with solar heating on a small scale?

4.      Check your refrigerator to make sure the door seals are tight. Set the temperature at 38 to 42 degrees Fahrenheit, your freezer at 0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

5.      Do not use the small load cycle on your washing machine. Save up for a full load. Use cold water whenever possible. The same goes for the dishwasher. Make sure it is full when it is turned on, but of course do not tamper with the water temperature.

6.      Be conservative with the clothes dryer. In the summertime consider using a clothes line. Or, partially dry your clothes and hang on shower rod to finish drying. This is a great way to de-wrinkle clothes.

7.      Turn out the lights when you leave a room. Open curtains and blinds and use daylight whenever possible.