How to Slash Your Energy Bill
© 2008 by Kelly Smith all rights reserved
Slash your electricity and natural gas bills using radiant barrier paint or foil, compact florescent
light bulbs, tankless water heaters, and energy efficient windows. And who knows, you might get an
energy tax credit?
Ways to Slash Your Energy Bill
In the past few years the price of electricity and natural gas has risen to unprecedented highs.
That’s not the bad news, believe it or not. The bad news is that it is just going to get worse.
But here’s the good news: you can be proactive and do something about it.
Not one big thing, if you’ve read much of my writing, you know I’m a big advocate of going
green incrementally. Let’s talk about five different home improvements.
There will be an outlay of cash to implement these things but they will pay for themselves over time
and after that, you’ll be money ahead.
Use Radiant Barrier Paint
The paint is made up of two components: radiant barrier “powder” and latex paint. The
powder is mixed into the paint. This radiant barrier powder is typically composed of microscopic
aluminum flakes and porcelain pellets and can be found at name-brand paint stores.
The flakes and pellets act to reflect the sun’s heat back out before it can get into your
attic and home to affect your cooling bill.
The first place to paint is on the underside of your roof sheathing, in the attic. After the roof
is taken care of, you can use it to paint any interior or exterior walls that take abuse from the sun.
Install Radiant Barrier Foil
Radiant barrier foil
is a better alternative to the powder. It’s cheaper and reflects a higher percentage of the sun's heat;
97% compared to paint’s 75%!
The foil is stapled to the underside of the rafters, so it’s not nearly as messy as paint spraying.
And, there’s no need for a respirator.
Convert to Compact Florescent Lighting
You’ll slash your electricity usage dramatically by changing all your incandescent bulbs to
compact florescent bulbs.
Yes, they’re expensive, so if the thought of changing them all at once
makes you grimace, just change out the worst power offenders immediately and change the others as they
burn out.
As an example, these new bulbs will give you 60 watts of light using only 14 watts of electricity;
that comes out to about 75% savings. Not only that, but they’ll last approximately five times longer
than conventional incandescent bulbs. All of a sudden, the price per bulb makes sense!
For special situations such as
monorail track lighting with spot lights or wall sconces, low voltage bulbs
will also conserve energy.
Are Your Contractor-Grade Windows Robbing You?
We all love our windows; they brighten the home and afford a picturesque view. But if your home
has contractor-grade windows, chances are that they’re very inefficient. They’re giving free
passage to the heat of summer and the frigid conditions of winter.
There are some very efficient windows on the market just now, such as the gas-filled window pictured above.
Not only is the glass important, but the frame is as well.
For instance, insulated vinyl: the major difference between insulated vinyl and standard vinyl frames
is improved thermal performance. These frames have hollow cavities that are filled with insulation which
makes them thermally better than standard vinyl or wood frames.
Coupled with high performance glazings, you’ll start to see major savings.
Wasting Money on Your Hot Water? Try a Tankless Water Heater.
A tankless water heater will save you big bucks!
This appliance is making a dramatic and logical entrance into the green movement. Conventional water
heaters keep your water hot at all times, but do you really need that? On demand hot water makes more
sense.
These are just five things you can do to make permanent changes that will lower your energy bills
every month for a one time price. To be sure, you will be spending money up front but check the latest
legislation; in many cases making energy efficiency changes to your home will buy you a income tax credit.
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