With winter just beginning, there is no better time to make simple home improvements that will conserve energy and save money on bills.
While old houses have the greatest room for improvement, there are many simple fixes that can be made to new houses to improve their efficiency for a better atmosphere forchild development.
The author suggests not waiting around for the proposed Cash for Caulkers stimulus program, but to get started now. The article offers free suggestions for improving home efficiency such as…
Whenever you leave the house or go to sleep, lower your thermostat down a bit. It has been said, “If you consistently set your thermostat back at night 10 degrees Fahrenheit, you may reduce your heating bill by 10-20 percent.”
You can take this to the next level, by always keeping the thermostat lower and wearing warmer clothes around the house. I know one guy who keeps his house at 55 degrees during the winter. I can’t say I’d be into that, but I am sure his heating bill is a lot lower than mine!
Lower the temperature on the water heater to 120 degrees. If you have smaller children this could be a safety measure as well. 160 degree water coming out of your faucet can be a bit dangerous. Also, turn off the hot water heater when on vacation.
The article also looks at many inexpensive options for reducing home heating bills…
Open windows during the day - especially if they are south-facing. But close them up at night to keep the heat in.
Install Foam Gaskets behind electric-outlet and switch-plate covers.
The difficult economy and concerns about home and vehicle energy costs need not dim your holiday cheer this winter. Frugal, fun, and more Energy-efficiency holiday tips for child education from the Alliance to Save Energy can take the “chill” out of the holiday season by lowering home and vehicle energy bills as well as pollution and greenhouse gas emissions:
Holiday travel. “Over the River and through the Woods to Grandmother’s House We Go” often means either a road trip to get there or a rental car upon arrival. The Alliance’s Drive $marter Challenge website offers road trip tips (http://drivesmarterchallenge.org/money-saving-tips/Default.aspx) and resources (http://drivesmarterchallenge.org/money-saving-tips/fuel-efficient-resources.aspx) such as links for a customized map showing where to find the cheapest gasoline along your travel route as well as information on renting fuel-efficient vehicles and public transportation at your destination.
Honey, what you mean you got me insulation for my holiday present? There’s some good news this holiday season. You can make home improvements that keep your family toasty — and get a tax credit to boot. Add insulation, sealing, high-efficiency windows and a number of other efficient products and not only reduce your monthly energy bills but also save up to $1,500 on your federal income taxes for certain improvements. Details at www.ase.org/taxcredits.
Be an “ENERGY STAR” with energy-saving presents. Electronics, home office equipment, appliances and other products with the ENERGY STAR label — the federal government’s symbol of energy efficiency — not only make great holiday gifts but can also cut related home energy bills up to 30 percent. More potential good news: check out state and municipal energy efficiency incentives and rebates being made available in your area as part of the federal stimulus package as well as rebates from energy companies and product manufacturers.
Lower operating costs and increase safety with LED holiday lights. LED technology (Light Emitting Diode) for holiday lighting is a smart choice. LEDs use 10 times less energy than incandescent mini-lights and 100 times less energy than standard bulbs, last more than 50,000 hours, are safer because they’re virtually indestructible and stay cool — which means they’re safe to the touch and eliminate fire concerns. They are easily strung and don’t overload a typical household’s electrical circuits. If the bulb does burn out, the other bulbs will stay lit, so you can easily replace only the bad one.
To further maximize holiday lighting savings, use timers to limit light displays to no more than six evening hours a day. Leaving lights on 24 hours a day will quadruple your energy costs — and create four times the pollution. And be safe — untended incandescent lights can cause fires, so always unplug your interior holiday lights before going to bed or leaving the house.
Legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk and the Anthem Blue Cross Live Like a Champion Tour rolled into Magnolia Science Academy in Hollywood, California today to teach students the importance of eating healthy recipes for kids and staying active in a fun, interactive way.
As a part of his appearance, the nine time X Games gold medalist unveiled a new addition to the tour, a “Tony Hawk: RIDE Like a Champion” interactive video game experience, which allows players of all skill levels to step onto a revolutionary skateboard shaped controller and use their bodies to perform grinds, ollies and grabs like the pros.
“As a member of the California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, it’s an honor to have Tony Hawk: RIDE featured in the ‘Live Like a Champion’ mobile tour and to be able to share the sport I love with the students of California,” said Tony Hawk. “I am committed to promoting healthy lifestyles and Tony Hawk: RIDE is one more way to encourage people to engage in an activity they can enjoy on their own, as well as with their family and friends.”
Live Like a Champion is an award-winning initiative from the California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and Anthem Blue Cross. The 16-city statewide tour features interactive games and challenging sports-themed activities that encourage students to bring out their “inner champion.”
