Saving Energy and Reducing Home Energy Bills While Staying Comfortable
Home energy bills – for heating, hot water, cooking, air conditioning, lighting and appliances – are placing an increasing burden on all American families. Older Americans in particular face unique burdens. Many elders live on fixed incomes and are especially at risk for hypothermia if heating bills become too much to pay in the winter. Elders are also at special risk of hyperthermia (heat stroke) if the household doesn’t have enough money to pay for adequate air conditioning in the summer. Not being able to pay the utility bills can lead to serious medical problems and even death.
Across the country, many home energy bills have doubled in the last decade, especially for heating oil in the Northeast and for propane and natural gas almost everywhere in the country. While individuals cannot do much to affect these rising energy prices, they can take steps to reduce their energy consumption without sacrificing comfort or putting their physical well-being at risk. Most elderly households spend $1000 to $2000 per year on their home energy bills. By learning how to reduce your energy consumption, you may be able to reduce your bills by $100, $200, or more each year.
Here are some practical steps that older Americans can take to reduce their energy consumption:
Reduce the setting on your water heater. Many water heaters have an actual temperature setting, and setting yours to 120° Fahrenheit will provide water that is hot enough without wasting energy or running the risk of scalding anyone in the home. If the water heater simply has a warmer/colder-type setting, consider turning the setting down to a lower level that still provides water that is hot enough for washing dishes and taking showers or baths.
Many other appliances have settings that you can adjust without losing the comfort or convenience you need. For example, refrigerator and freezer settings may be set too cold, with the result that you use more energy than you need to keep foods cold and therefore pay more on your electric bill than is necessary. Dishwashers often have settings to control the temperature of the water or to allow you to turn off the automatic drying feature. Clothes washers usually having settings that allow you to adjust the water level to the size of the load, which means you can use less hot water on a small load, or to use shorter wash-rinse cycles if the load is small or the clothes aren’t very soiled. For clothes dryers, make sure you are not setting the timer for more time than is actually needed to dry the clothes.
Incandescent bulbs use as much as four times the energy as compact florescent bulbs. They also give off a lot of heat in the summer, which can in turn drive up your air conditioning bills. Think about replacing incandescent bulbs with florescent bulbs, especially for bulbs that are on several hours each day – in the kitchen, living room, etc. If you haven’t tried a florescent bulb in a while, the technology has improved, and there are bulbs for most applications (lamps, ceiling fixtures, etc.) that are attractive and will provide adequate lighting levels.
Older Americans have major appliances – boilers, furnaces, refrigerators, air conditioners – that are, on average, older than the typical appliance in other homes. If you have been thinking about replacing an older appliance, or if an appliance fails and you have to replace it, consider buying an “Energy Star”-rated appliance. The Energy Star rating means that the appliance is energy efficient. Even if the initial purchase price is a little higher than a less-efficient model, it almost always costs you less to own and operate the appliance because the money you will save through reduced energy bills will be greater than the slightly higher purchase price. “Energy Star”-rated appliances are clearly labeled as such, and sales personnel where you purchase your appliance can help you understand the ratings and the estimated energy savings.
HELPFUL TIPS: Many utility companies have programs that provide rebates or other assistance to customers who buy “Energy Star” appliances and florescent bulbs. It is always worth the time to call your local utility company or state energy office to see if there are any rebate programs or any other incentives in place to help with the purchase of energy-efficient appliances.
Low-income customers may be able to get substantial assistance with replacing or repairing old or inoperative furnaces and other appliances from the local agencies that provide fuel assistance (formerly the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program or “LIHEAP”) and help to insulate and weatherize homes (formerly the Weatherization Assistance Program). To find the LIHEAP agency that serves your area, you can call 1-866-674-6327 or send an email to energyassistance@ncat.org, making sure to include your town/city, county, and state. In many parts of the country, the agency that delivers LIHEAP assistance in your area will also run the Weatherization Assistance Program. If not, the LIHEAP agency can refer you to the Weatherization Assistance Program agency in your area.
Wasting hot water will increase your natural gas, heating oil, or electric bill (depending on how you heat your water). It is therefore helpful to put in low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators to reduce any unnecessary use of hot water. Older water heaters that are wrapped with fiberglass, not foam, should be wrapped with a water heater blanket that you can usually purchase at the local hardware store. This will also reduce your energy bills.
and NCLC