(NC)-Reducing your home's energy costs is easier than you think. Consider the following energy-efficient tips from The Home Depot to run your home on as little energy as possible.
Bright idea
• Switching to compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) will save you $35 over the life of one bulb. They use up to 75 per cent less energy than incandescents and last up to 10 times longer.
• Lower the intensity of a bulb by 25 per cent with a dimmer switch and use 10 per cent less energy.
Temperature control
• Keep air from slipping through the cracks by weatherstripping and caulking. Sealing up little spaces will save you up to 20 per cent on your heating bill.
• Automatically regulate the heat day or night by using a programmable thermostat. Doing so reduces your heating bills by up to 10 per cent a year.
• After home heating, water heaters are the second-largest energy user in most houses. A tankless hot-water heater warms water only when you need it, instead of keeping a full tank hot 24/7. You can save up to 50 per cent on your energy bills by making this change.
• Beat cold feet by spreading heat evenly throughout the room with radiant floor heating. It will reduce heating bills by as much as 28 per cent.
Waste not
• Installing a low-flow shower head can save up to $50 a year on your water bill.
• A faucet aerator in the kitchen adds air to the water stream, reducing hot-water use by as much as 50 per cent.
• Insulating attics and basements will reduce your total energy bill by almost 30 per cent.
• Installing Energy Star certified doors and windows will lower your utility bills by up to 12 per cent, as they can minimize heat loss by 30 per cent. Energy Star appliances are also 10 to 50 per cent more efficient than conventional models.
- News Canada