RESOLVING TO SAVE MORE MONEY IN 2017?
Saving more money is a common New Year’s resolution and is, second only to fitness goals, one of the least attained resolutions.
THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS TO SAVE
Saving money doesn’t always require great sacrifice. There are ways to save without giving up on date nights, the vacation you have been planning, or that new technology you have been eyeballing.
CONDUCT A HOME ENERGY ASSESSMENT
Are you throwing your money out the window? A thoughtful inventory of your home energy usage may reveal various ways to save your hard-earned money. Treat your energy assessment more like a treasure hunt. If you look in the right places, you might just uncover a treasure trove of savings.
ENERGY STAR SAVINGS TIPS
According to the EPA, the top energy savers include:
- Proper Attic Insulation & Sealing Air Leaks
- Properly Maintained & Energy Efficient Heating & Cooling Systems
- Using Energy Star Appliances
- Installing Energy Efficient LED Light Bulbs
- Purchasing Energy Star Electronics
WHAT IS ENERGY STAR?
Energy Star certification means a product meets strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
ENERGY COST SAVINGS EXAMPLES
ATTIC INSULATION $800 Per Year
Attic insulation can help reduce your heating and cooling costs by as much as 40% each year. The average home spends $2000 per year on heating and cooling. Upgrading attic insulation could save the average home $800 per year. And while there are upfront costs, the return on investment is one of the best compared to other home improvements according to this study by Remodeling Magazine (Click Here).
HEATING & COOLING SYSTEMS
MAINTENANCE & UPGRADES $180 – $ 400 Per Year / Collectively
If your HVAC equipment is more than 10 years old or not keeping your house comfortable, have it evaluated by a professional HVAC contractor. If it is not performing efficiently or needs upgrading, consider replacing it with a unit that has earned the Energy Star.
CHANGE YOUR AIR FILTERS REGULARLY
Check your filter every month, especially during heavy use months (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months. A dirty filter will slow down airflow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool — wasting energy and money. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system — leading to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure.
PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT
A programmable thermostat is ideal for people who are away from home during set periods of time throughout the week. Through proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat can save you about $180 every year in energy costs.
APPLIANCES
WASHING MACHINES $45 – $265 Per Year
Energy Star Washing Machines use less energy. On average, a new Energy Star certified clothes washer uses 280 kWh of electricity and can save you about $45 a year on your utility bills compared to a standard model.
They also use less water. A full-sized ENERGY STAR certified clothes washer uses 13 gallons of water per load, compared to the 23 gallons used by a standard machine. That’s a savings of more than 3,000 gallons of water, per year!
Is your washer over 10 years old? It’s estimated that there are 76 million top-loading washers, 25 million of which are at least 10 years old, still in use across the country. Washers built before 2003 are significantly less efficient than newer models. Together, these inefficient washers cost consumers $2.9 billion each year in energy and water. If you have a standard clothes washer that is over 10 years old, it’s costing you, on average $210 a year
ELECTRONICS
LIGHT BULBS $50 – $125 Per Year
Energy Star light bulbs use 70-90% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last 15 times longer saving approximately $80 in electricity costs over its lifetime – that’s per bulb. These bulbs produce about 70% less heat, so they are also safer to operate and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling as well.
CORDLESS TELEPHONES $10 – $16 Per Year/ Per Phone
Energy Star certified residential telephones, on average, are 40% more efficient than conventional products. If all cordless and corded residential telephones sold in the United States were ENERGY STAR certified, the energy cost savings would grow to $40 million each year and 635 million pounds of annual greenhouse gas emissions would be prevented, equivalent to the emissions from more than 60,000 vehicles.
OTHER ELECTRONICS $300 – $500 Per Year / Collectively
According to the Consumer Electronics Association, the average household owns 24 consumer electronics products which are responsible for 12 percent of household electricity use.
Energy Star certified audio/video equipment is up to 50% more efficient than conventional models. Blu-Ray players that earn the Energy Star label are, on average, 45% more efficient than conventional models.
The Energy Star can be found on a wide range of equipment such as:
Home-Theater-in-a-Box Systems
Soundbars
MP3 speaker docks
Audio Amplifiers
AV receivers
Shelf systems
Blu-ray Disc players
DVD players
SO MANY WAYS TO SAVE $$$
Keep in mind that the above savings examples are just a few of the ways you can cut your energy costs in 2017. Click here to learn more about how to cut your energy costs and put more money in your pocket this year and for many years to come.
THE ATTIC EXPERTS – ATTIC INSULATION CONTRACTORS
We are the Attic Experts, we offer a variety of cost saving, energy-efficient home upgrades including attic insulation in Chicago and all suburbs.
FREE ATTIC INSPECTIONS
Call us to schedule your FREE attic insulation inspection today at 630.205.3267