Released February 2, 2009
URBANA, Ill. -- Still reeling from your last heating bill? University of Illinois Extension consumer and family economics educator Debbie Bartman has ten tips for cutting energy costs in these tough financial times.
"Some of these hints may be familiar to you, but it's always easier to put off taking action when money isn't as tight. In today's economic climate, you're probably extremely motivated to make every dollar work for you. And you'll be surprised how the savings add up," said Bartman.
"Here are ten ideas for saving energy dollars," she said.
1. Turn the thermostat down at night or while no one is home. You can reduce your heating bill by as much as 5 percent!
2. Even better, install an Energy Star-qualified programmable thermostat--set to lower the heat when you're gone and while sleeping.
3. Turn off lights when no one is in the room.
4. While you're at it, replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs wherever possible. By replacing just five, you can save about $60 per year.
5. Unplug DVD players, battery chargers, TVs, and computers when they're not in use. They use energy constantly.
6. Take shorter showers.
7. Fix air leaks around windows, doors, and electrical outlets. Use foam inserts, weather stripping, and caulking.
8. Install storm windows and doors or put up plastic sheeting to reduce heat loss.
9. Insulate attics, exterior walls, under floors, heat ducts, and hot water pipes.
10. Close your fireplace damper when it's not in use to prevent cold air from entering the house.
For more advice on prioritizing bills, avoiding money traps, and coping with the economic downturn, visit U of I Extension's "Getting Through Tough Financial Times" website at http://www.ToughTimes.illinois.edu.
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http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/news/stories/news4651.html
Contacts: Debbie Bartman, (309) 792-2500, dbartman@illinois.edu
Phyllis Picklesimer, (217) 244-2827, p-pickle@uiuc.edu
