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.

Keeping The Electricity Bill Low

Here in Australia we are now getting into the summer months, yet those on the other side of the world are battening down the hatches for winter. Trying to survive in the current economic climate is a universal challenge, whether it is wondering if you will be able to afford to heat your home this winter and still be able to eat or dreading the electricity bill when the air conditioner has been on all week. The good news is that there are ways to cut energy bills, and you might even get paid to do it.

Around the world many governments, as part of their stimulus plans, are trying to help homeowners cope by encouraging them to make their homes more energy efficient. Some are offering sizable tax credits when you replace your doors and window with more energy efficient models or add insulation to your walls or ceiling. Other governments are offering incentives for commercial businesses and residents to make their own electricity with wind power or solar panels. This of course involves the installation of a Wind Turbine Kits and/or solar panels on your property. Don't worry! We aren't talking about a 60' turbine or hundreds of panels. What we are talking about is a home wind power kit that, tied in with the other points below, can save you a bunch of money.

Much of the heat loss in a home comes from leaky, poorly sealed, and old windows and doors. Technology has made significant advancements in the energy efficiency of windows and doors, so if yours are more than 10 years old it's probably time for an upgrade. Obviously if the warm air (or cool air) continually leaks out you will use a lot more energy trying to keep your home the temperature you want.

I know that, with the economy in the shape it's in, not everyone can afford the expense of buying new windows and doors, tax credit or no tax credit. Many companies now make window kits, which are essentially a plastic sheet you can put over your existing windows to add another layer and prevent heat loss. They are inexpensive to buy and easy to fit.

So if you want to take advantage of the tax credit and buy new windows, that would be great, or you can pay about the same amount to make your own wind turbine and use cheap (free) energy to assist in heating your house. The fact is, if you can do both, you will definitely cut your energy bills whether you are facing summer or winter.

How You Can Slash Your Electric Bill With Wind Power and Common Sense

No matter where you live the extreme temperatures of summer and winter increase the use of electricity, and the associated worry of how to pay those particular bills. During summer you can turn off the air conditioner to save some money. For many winter is harder because you can't just turn off the heat. So how do you effectively cut energy bills? There are many options available to us, it is just that we procrastinate and fail to do anything! The key is to start in a small way and then build up to bigger things.

The first step may be to make sure your home is as energy efficient as possible. Some governments even offer tax credits to those homeowners who buy energy efficient windows and doors. Simply being energy conscious and turning off lights and unused appliances will save power, the key is changing your own attitude, which will cost you nothing.

One of the other ways to cut your power bill is to take a look at the possibility of supplying your own electricity with a free and renewable energy source. That's right! The technology to build a wind powered generator is now readily available, making it possible to have your very own Wind Turbine, which some claim to cut their energy bills in half or more, for the investment of a couple of hundred dollars.

If that type of expenditure isn't in the cards for you right now you can always start by adding insulation in your attic, and filling gaps around windows and doors. Other simple steps like cleaning your furnace filters, installing insulated curtains and blinds can also make significant savings to your energy bill. Another obvious saving is to add a programmable thermostat to your heating system to keep the temperature turned down when no one is home or at night.

In winter if you try to keep curtains open during the day to allow the sunlight to come in you have heated your room for nothing. The trick is to then remember to close the curtains at night to keep the heat locked in. These simple steps can save hundreds of dollars a season. It may even be more fun to stay warm by just cuddling up under a blanket rather than turning up the heat.

Another option is to raise the moisture level, which will not only help prevent dry skin and minimise static electricity it will also make you feel warmer, because moist air feels warmer than dry air. Thus adding a humidifier to your home will allow you to lower the temperature without it feeling any colder.

These are all simple things we can all do to cut energy bills. These things are not hard, they just require us to learn new habits and new attitudes which will also save you money and in the big picture be kinder to the planet too.