High Energy Bills - GO GREEN with My Handyman

One reason for high energy bills is an increase in the price of electricity or heating fuel. However most homes have in-efficient items, installation issues or components that have failed and are not performing as designed.  Fixing these issues can make your home more energy efficient and comfortable and tame your high energy bills.

My Handyman has some cost effective ideas on how to make your home more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.  Call us and our certified technicians can help you Go Green.

1.  Air Sealing - Air leakage, or infiltration, occurs when outside air enters a house uncontrollably through cracks and openings. Properly air sealing such cracks and openings in your home can significantly reduce heating and cooling costs, improve building durability, and create a healthier indoor environment.  Common sources of a large loss of air is through attic accesses like hatches and pull down stairs. See Attic Stairs Box Cover

1.  Duct Sealing - In a typical house, however, about 20 percent of the air that moves through the duct system is lost due to leaks, holes, and poorly connected ducts. The result is higher utility bills and difficulty keeping the house comfortable, no matter how the thermostat is set.

1.  Replace your Lightbulbs – Energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs last 8 to 12 times longer than incandescent.  Jout one bulb can save at least $30 in electric bills over it’s life.  5 bulbs could save you 50% off your annual lighting bill.

1.  Add Lighting Controls and Dimmers – Motion detectors outside can increase security and decrease energy usage.  Timers and dimmers inside can save you additional money on your electric bill if you don’t want to switch to CFL’s.

1.  Install a Programmable Thermostat – You can save around 10% per year on your heating and cooling bills simply by automatically turning down your thermostat 10 degrees while you are not there or asleep.
   
   
2.  Insulate Hot Water Pipes - Insulating your hot water pipes reduces heat loss and can raise water temperature 2ºF–4ºF hotter than un-insulated pipes can deliver, allowing for a lower water temperature setting. You also won't have to wait as long for hot water when you turn on a faucet or showerhead, which helps conserve water.
   
   
3. Install Low Flush Toilets – Saves 3.5 gallons per flush

1. Replace Showerheads with low-flow heads – You can save between 10% and 16% of water heating costs and reduce your water usage by 20,000 gallons per year.

1.  Fix Plumbing Leaks – A dripping faucet can waste 212 gallons of water per month, a running toilet can waste more.

These are some of the projects you can do yourself or you can call My Handyman for help.  My Handyman certified technicians and employees have many ideas and ways to help you make your home more energy efficient.  We actively research techniques and materials to find the best practices and our experience with thousands of homes per year means our technicians know just how to find and correct your homes problems quickly and correctly.