Smart ways to Lower those Utility Bills!

The typical Bay Area family spends about $1,600 a year on home energy bills, and a portion of that energy is wasted. Heating, ventilating and air conditioning units are inefficient, insulation is inadequate, windows leak expensive conditioned air, and those appliances are devouring energy.

This is money out of your pocket, and it's also bad news for the environment. The electricity generated by fossil fuels to power a single family home puts more carbon dioxide into the air than two average cars per day.

Here's how to minimize the energy consumption of your home:

1. Automate or upgrade your old thermostat Using a programmable or automatic setback thermostat to regulate the temperature in your house can save you as much as 10% annually on energy bills. By maintaining peak usage for only the four or five hours a day that you're awake and at home, a programmable thermostat will quickly pay for itself. We can install a high quality, energy-star® certified thermostat in your home and program it for you to match your family's actual schedule for under $200. A new energy-star® thermostat should pay for itself within the first 18-months or less of use.

2. Keep the humidity balanced. The higher the humidity, the harder our bodies have to work to cool off. Most people feel comfortable when the relative humidity is about 45 percent. Humidifiers and dehumidifiers control humidity levels inside the home. Running a portable unit near a forced-air heating, ventilating, or air-conditioning system can work, but a whole-house system runs quieter and requires no water to be added or removed since it connects directly to a water supply and drain. We install both humidifiers and dehumidifiers for a single room or entire home. Call for a free estimate.

3. Install a whole-house fan. Whole-house fans are making a quiet comeback. Look for models that have noise-reduction features. The fans pull in cooler nighttime air through open windows and exhaust the hot air through the attic and exiting through roof or gable vents.  We install several types of whole-house ventilation systems. Call or email for a free estimate for your home.

4. Replace older single pane windows. Manufacturers now offer a wide range of energy-efficient features in replacement windows, including low-emissivity (low-E) glass, which blocks radiant heat with a transparent coating. New energy-star compliant windows make a huge difference in comfort and greatly reduce wasted energy. We can replace your old windows with new energy-star compliant double insulated windows. Call for a free estimate.

5. Give your rooms some spin. Ceiling fans make people feel cooler by moving air across the skin and evaporating moisture. That cooling effect allows most people to raise their thermostats 3 to 4 degrees without sacrificing comfort. Because every degree you raise a thermostat can save 7 to 10 percent on energy costs, a couple of well-placed ceiling fans could save you more than 25 percent on cooling your home, especially if they are operated only when the rooms they are in are occupied. We install all types of ceiling fans and the latest in energy saving fan and lighting controls.

6. Size your next air conditioner or furnace properly to your home Air-conditioners cool best when they run for long periods of time, without frequently cycling on and off Units and systems that are too big work less efficiently than properly sized installations (Also, use the fan on central air-conditioning systems only when the compressor is operating, and rely on ceiling and other in-room fans for any additional air circulation) The correct size depends on many factors, such as the number of windows in your space and how your house was constructed.

7. Shade your home and A/C unit. Properly placed deciduous trees -- those that lose their leaves in winter but block summer sun -- can reduce cooling costs while adding to the curbside appeal of your home. One model indicates an average US household could save from $100 to $250 in annual energy costs just by properly placing three trees. We can supply and plant many types of shade trees on the sunny side of your home. Call for a free estimate.

8. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs These high efficiency, cost effective bulbs generally last longer and typically save energy in excess of 20% over standard incandescent bulbs. Locally, P.G.& E subsidizes these bulbs by paying a portion of the cost to the manufacturer so that retail prices are much lower for consumers   We can replace all of your incandescent bulbs with new, longer life CFL bulbs so you start saving energy right away.

9. Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle. Just flip that switch on the front of your dishwasher from heated to air drying for an immediate energy usage reduction.

10. Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use. Modern CPU's in computers can draw in excess of 500-watts when left on. Turn off your computers, monitors, printers, etc when you are not planning to use them.

11. Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips.  turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power).

12. Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120° F. A very easy way to conserve lots of energy considering the hot water heater is one of the main energy hogs in the home.

13. Install foam insulated pipe wrap. on all exposed hot water pipes running through garages and attics. This saves hot water heater energy and shortens the time it takes for hot water to arrive at the shower or tub. We can install hot water pipe wraps in just a couple of hours in most homes. Your water heater will use less energy afterwards. Call for a free estimate.

14. Install more attic insulation. Increasing the R-factor of your attic insulation can have a big impact on energy losses. We can inspect your attic insulation and if needed, bring it up to the recommended height for maximum energy savings. The right amount of insulation will help to keep the cool in and heat out during the summer months.

15. Take short showers instead of baths.  A quick shower actually uses less hot and cold water than a bathtub filled only half way.

16. Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes. Dishwashers cost the same (full or empty) to run, so fill it up so you can maximize the return on energy used.

17. Check door seals, door sweeps, window seals for any cracks or voids where air can escape. We can do an energy assessment on your home identifying the items responsible for energy losses.

18. Look for the ENERGY STAR® label on home appliances and products. ENERGY STAR® products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy.