Saving on Energy Costs--Heating/HVAC

Frugal Friday

We all like to save money. Whether it's finding something on sale or clearance, using coupons or being smart about appliance use, the less we spend, the more we can save for emergencies, college tuition or retirement.

These next weeks on Frugal Friday, we will be addressing ways to save money on energy costs--electric, heating, water, etc. Up this week--saving on heating and HVAC.

• Invest in a thermostat with a timer so the heat/air can be lower/higher when you aren't home.
• Turn your water heater off when you go out of town.
• Turning your thermostat from 72°F to 68°F will save you as much as 15% on your heating bill.
• Close off unused rooms to lower your heating and cooling costs.
• Run an extra spin in your washer for heavy fabrics like denim so you won't have to dry them as long.
• Take clothes out of the dryer when they are still damp, and hang to dry the rest of the way.
• Find air leaks in your home with a flashlight and companion. One shines the light, the other stands on the outside and looks for the beam. Seal leaks and replace weather stripping as needed.
• Wrap your water heater with insulation to save on your heating bill.
• Have your furnace tuned up year.
• Use cold water to wash clothes, and use the moisture sensor, not timer, on your dryer.
• Reduce the temperature (120° is plenty) on your hot water heater.