| Money does not seem to go as far as it used to. | | | | We are all looking for an effective way to reduce |
| These recessionary times are really affecting a | | | | utility bills, so you need to see that your loft is |
| monthly budget and it is difficult to remember the | | | | insulated as it can be. Warm air can rise and can |
| good days. The utility bill is one of the biggest | | | | escape through the loft space and you should add |
| challenges and account holders often dread | | | | insulation if you need to. While you are at it, check |
| opening the envelope or logging into their account | | | | all the windows and doors for leaks, as air can |
| each month. Before your expenses get the | | | | come in or go out through gaps. |
| better of you, take some time to learn how you | | | | Energy Star compliant bulbs are as much as 75% |
| can reduce utility bills. | | | | less energy than conventional bulbs. Change out all |
| When you are considering how to reduce utility | | | | these bulbs and reduce utility bills the easy way. |
| bills take a good look at your heating furnace or | | | | When you are not in a room, make sure that you |
| air conditioning units. The air-conditioning unit can | | | | turn off all the lights and remove the plugs, |
| account for a significant part of a typical home | | | | appliances, computers or other items when not in |
| energy bill in a hotter climate. Conversely, during | | | | use. |
| the cooler months your furnace can really work | | | | It is not necessary to run your dishwasher |
| hard in more temperate areas. Check each unit to | | | | everyday and you can save consumption of |
| see if it has been serviced recently and make | | | | water and help reduce utility bills by running your |
| sure that you clean all pipes of debris or mold. | | | | washer every other day or even less frequently. |
| Lastly, change your filters regularly to achieve the | | | | It is okay to reuse glasses during the day without |
| best effect. | | | | re-washing each one and you can even wash |
| One way to look for a reduction in your bill is to | | | | some items by hand for a change. |
| ask your utility company if they will help you by | | | | One of the most cost effective ways to reduce |
| enrolling you in a special power saving program. In | | | | utility bills, especially in older houses, is to install |
| return, the provider will issue monthly credits to | | | | door draft stoppers and draft snakes around |
| reduce utility bills and they will have the option to | | | | windows. Very often older houses can settle as |
| interrupt your service very briefly if they | | | | time goes by and tiny gaps can appear in many |
| experience periods of heavy demand elsewhere. | | | | places, under and around doors and windows. |
| It is in the best interests of the utility company to | | | | These gaps can be very expensive to repair and |
| help you to reduce your bill, so call them and ask | | | | most of the time it is far more cost effective to |
| them if they would send an expert out to analyze | | | | simply place the flexible draft stopper or snake in |
| your usage. He or she should be able to find | | | | all your problem areas. |
| some good ways to save. | | | | |