Your Energy Bills Part 4

Paying for energy is an expensive part of home ownership, and you never know when prices will shoot up.

Preparing for that and making changes now will pay off in a big way and ease the burden of your energy bills.

• Install awnings or solar screens on the sides of your house receiving the most sun. This will help keep your home cooler naturally, using less energy.

• During the heat of the day, keep your trips in and out of the home to a minimum. Do not leave doors open when carrying in groceries or handling other chores, as this adds up to a lot of energy lost each month.

• Use a ceiling or portable fan to supplement your air conditioning, allowing you to keep it at a higher temperature. A fan can make you feel 3 to 4 degrees cooler and can cost as little as 12 cents a day to operate.

• You should have a programmable thermostat allowing you to set the air conditioning a few degrees higher when you are away from home and the heating a few degrees lower during the winter months.

• Turn off kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans when air conditioning is running.

• Consider replacing your very old air conditioning unit with a new, more efficient model. New units use up to 40% less electricity. Make sure the new unit is sized properly for your home.

• Seal leaks in duct work in your attic and anywhere else you can detect and seal leaks. The average home can loose 15-25% of the cooling and heating through leaking ducts.

These helpful, money-saving home improvement ideas are brought to you by Jim Starwalt, RE/MAX Center, 847-548-2625 and Home Warranty of America, Inc.

Jim Starwalt

Thinking of making a move? Log onto my website at www.StarHomeFinders.com and search the Multiple Listing Service from over 150,000 homes for sale. Registering is quick and easy!

Jim Starwalt, Broker Associate RE/MAX Center, Phone: 847-548-2625 Jim@StarHomeFinders.com