Saving on heating and electricity
Mon, 09/26/2011 - 15:17
Heating and electricity bills can take a toll on your paycheck, especially during the cold weather months. Have you discovered ways to save on your bills?
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Saving on Utilities
Three years ago, I was paying $510.00 a month for my LP gas use during the winter months, while keeping the heat turned down to 64 degrees. I then installed an indoor wood burner in March of that year. As of today, I have only filled my LP tank three times, with the last time being two months ago. My tank of gas now will last 10-11 months, being mostly used by the hot water tank. We now can have our home as warm as we want, no more wearing sweat shirts and sweat pants, now it is shorts and tee shirts during the winter months. It can be a bit of a chore to load the stove three times a day, but we don't mind. I bought a semi load of wood for $972.00, delivered three winters ago, and am still using it up, this winter will be the last of it. It has cost me a bit over $300.00 a year for my heat and hot water heat. Our house is 1450 sq. ft., not large, so it heats pretty well, even when our Michigan winters are 5-15°F.
Add extra blankets in the winter
In the winter, we add extra blankets to the bed and make sure all windows and curtains are shut to block out the cold air. I bake often and after I've finished, I turn the oven off but open the door so the hot air heats up the kitchen which helps to heat the house. We don't have heating down here in Australia and our winters do get really chilly in our area. We have a small heater that we plug it in in our living room and then turn on a ceiling fan in our upstairs bedroom to circulate the warm air. We also close doors to rooms not in use so we aren't heating them. In the summer we open all the windows in our house and turn on a ceiling fan to help circulate cool fresh air from outside. We don't have A/C, just ceiling fans, so our cooling bills aren't too bad. We take a dip in the complex's pool to cool down late afternoon which helps on the really hot days.
Find out if you can swich
Find out if you can swich your energy pervider. You can also buy energy saving bulbs for around 3 for a dollar on sale.
Thick Curtains & an Oil/Ceramic Heater
I find keeping thick curtains closed and using my oil heater unit helps with my bills.
Saving on heating
I have found that I can heat my home (living area) by using my gas fireplace. It is much less than heating with my electric heater and isn't so drying. I like to sleep in a little colder bedroom, so I turn off the fireplace just before going to bed and I am fine all night.