Here’s an irresistible idea. Spend a little, save a lot, and do it all while befriending the environment. It’s possible. By making five simple, inexpensive home improvements, you can go a long way toward saving cash and improving the efficiency and comfort of your home.

Save 30% on your electricity bill.

If you haven’t done it by now, replacing the incandescent bulbs in your house with CFL bulbs will save up to 30 percent on your lighting bill. In addition, CFLs last 10 times longer than traditional incandescent bills, look just as beautiful, and cost about the same amount. It’s as easy as changing a light bulb… and saving big time.

Change your AC filter.

Believe it or not, that flimsy 12” x 12” filter on your air conditioner is a major cause of either saving money or losing money. When an air filter gets dirty and clogged, airflow is drastically reduced. That means that your AC turns into an energy hog, working harder to cool your home. Changing the filter monthly will result in a big payoff.

Plug the leaks.

Leaky faucets aren’t the worst culprits. According to most sources, air leaks are the biggest energy wasters in a home. Invest in some caulk and weather-stripping, and embark on an energy-saving journey to every window and door in your house. The savings will surprise you.

Use low-flow plumbing.

Water costs money. Wasted water is wasted money. Low-flow fixtures, including showerheads and faucets, are an ideal way to save instantly on your water bill. The average home can save nearly $300 per year simply by investing in a few simple screw-on aerators.

Change your thermostat.

Wouldn’t you love it if you could just press a button and save money? You can – just by programming your thermostat. Pre-set the temperature in the summer to around 62 degrees, and increase it in the winter to 78 degrees, and you can save hundreds of dollars in unnecessary energy expenditures.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 11th, 2010 at 4:30 pm and is filed under Easy Energy-Efficiency. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.