I found this great post on Be CentsAble, go here to see the rest of the 10 steps.
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Energy costs are predicted to increase 10% or more this winter. That kind of increase is certainly going to take a chunk out of my family’s budget, especially because we have to keep our house warm at night since our toddler is still too young to keep her blankets on.
That’s why I was intrigued when I read that throughout the month of October Home Depot is offering 2 free clinics: “Energy Efficiency in Your Home” and “Saving Money on Your Energy Bills“. (The links above will take you to the same sign-up, follow the prompts and pick your nearest store. Once there you will be able to sign up for any workshop being offered!)
“Energy Efficiency in Your Home” is held every Saturday and Sunday this month and is an hour long. I signed up to go, and I’m glad I did. The second class is part of the ‘Do It Herself’ series offered one night each month. “Saving Money on Your Energy Bills” is offered this coming Thursday, October 23rd at 7pm.
During the hour-long class, we covered 10 ways to make your home more energy efficient, a frugal and eco-conscious choice. Less energy used equals lower bills and a healthier environment. Some tips were more helpful than others, but I learned a lot in a short amount of time.
1. Install a programmable thermostat.
Home Depot estimates that you could save up to $180 in energy costs by utilizing a programmable thermostat. While conventional thermostats are programmed manually, Energy Star thermostats offer a range of options for controlling your home’s temperature. According to your schedule and your temperature preferences you can set a program for your thermostat to follow so you won’t have to think about programming it manually. Automatically lowering your energy costs during the day if you work outside the home adds up to significant savings over the course of year. There are many options available depending on your needs, and the price ranges from around $40 to $100 dollars. Again, Home Depot has an instructional video and tutorial here.
We have a programmable thermostat, but no instruction booklet. My Home Depot guide gave me a great tip to look up the instructions online. However, since I stay at home and our schedule is unpredictable, I don’t think programming the thermostat is the most useful tip for our family.
Go here to see the rest of the 10 steps.
