Cut Energy Bills - Do A Home Energy Audit And Harvest Wind Energy

Unless you've been living in a cave, in which case you probably don't worry too much about energy costs, you know that energy costs have continued to creep upwards. The crunch is that our incomes have not kept pace! The fact is we have so many more modern toys as well which all consume energy. But there is hope, you can take back control and cut energy bills by doing an audit and identifying the 'weak spots' in your homes where you are wasting energy.

Simple things like using energy efficient light bulbs and lowering the temperature on your water heater can help save you some money but the biggest energy cost you have are your heating and cooling costs. Finding ways to cut back on these areas can add up to real savings. If you add to that an alternative energy source you can really win.

Were you aware, that the use of a home wind turbine can lower your power bill by as much as 60% or perhaps even more. In other words you will be generating your own electricity to heat and cool your home year round. This amazing technology is improving all the time and can be tied in with a energy audit.

If you want to hire a professional to do an energy audit just call your local utility company for a referral. However, remember that these audits can be pretty expensive and you can do a lot of the same things yourself for free.

The first thing you need to look for are leaks. Any gaps where your heated, or cooled, air is going - right out the window, literally. Finding these holes requires nothing more than some time and careful attention. Simply go around your windows, doors, skirting boards, electrical outlets, and foundations and look for any visible holes.

Once you spot problem areas use caulk, or a foam insulating product, to plug up the gap. Some drafty floors can be fixed with a simple rug, and a gap under a door can be fixed with an elongated sausage dog.

Another thing you need to do is make sure your home has enough insulation particularly in the ceiling space. Check with your local building supply store as to what the proper 'R' value is for your home and location. If you don't have enough insulation you can add more for very little cost. Since windows lose as much as ten times as much heat as the same amount of insulated wall, get some heavier insulated curtains and you might find that makes a big difference.

Cut energy bills by doing a home energy audit yourself. The first step to fixing any problem is identifying what the problem is. You can hire a range of professionals or "do it yourself", whether it is fixing the gaps or installing a home windmill. Don't put it off any longer, fix those leaks and start working on installing your own wind power generator and then you can sit back and enjoy the savings for the many years to come.