Tip 3: Devices to Regulate Energy Use

With the increased awareness of the many virtues of conserving energy has come a wide range of products designed to help homeowners conserve energy, often with little or no sacrifice.

Consider purchasing and installing some of these devices:

• Programmable thermostat Here's a real energy saver. Turn the heat/air conditioning down at night, or during the workday if there is no one home.
• Timer for off-peak hot water Stop heating water when it isn't being used anyway!
• Clothes line Go low-tech and hang clothes out to dry. In the winter, consider an indoor rack placed in the same area as your furnce - the warm air will allow clothes to dry in less than a day.
• Power strips to turn off all appliances at once Did you know that many devices consume energy even while they are apparently off? Most televisions use low power settings to await your next use with an instant response. The clock on your microwave - probably not the only one in your kitchen - or on radios throughout the house. The jack to recharge your cellphone! Many of these can be safely and easily turned off using a simple power strip with an on-off toggle.
• Carbon Monoxide detector This won't save energy, but it might save a life. Dangerous gases, in particular carbon monoxide can build up in tightly sealed houses, Here's peace of mind with a very small cost.
• Wrapping for in-window air conditioning units Give air conditioning window units a nice winter coat. Easy-to-install wraps will keep the warm air in and the cold air out.
• Install rubber gaskets behind outlets and switch plates on exterior walls.
• Ceiling fans Warm air rises. Ceiling fans help circulate it so it stays warmer at ground level.
• Lower your thermostat and hot water settings
• Consider purchasing a humidified. Moist air feels relatively warmer, as you know from hot days when the humidity is high. The same principle works indoors. Raise the humidity and lower your thermostat and you can still enjoy relative comfort. The Department of Energy estimates that you can save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills by simply turning your thermostat back 10° - 15° for eight hours each day. You can do this automatically without sacrificing comfort by installing an automatic setback or programmable thermostat.