Missed Home Energy Savings

Tools

Story Published: Sep 29, 2009 at 6:59 PM PDT

By Jackie Watanabe

Stacey Bergman tries to cut back on energy costs. She's already replaced old appliances with more energy-efficient ones. She even got a new hot water heater and traded her old light bulbs for more energy-efficient CFLs.

"Our bills have gone down," Bergman said.

While those are all good moves, there are more things you can do to save money.

"Roughly 50 percent of residential energy bills go towards heating and cooling," said Dan DiClerico of Consumer Reports.

DiClerico says you can save about $550 a year in energy costs if you know where to look.

First, focus on eliminating any leaks around doors, windows, and electrical outlets.

"You can check for air leaks with an incense stick," DiClerico said.

You can turn on an exhaust fan in your home and then light the stick and hold it up to any openings. If smoke starts to blow horizontally, there's a leak.

Second, check your insulation. A Consumer Reports survey found only about 10 percent of homeowners have added or upgraded their insulation in the last 3 years.

"A good place to start is in the attic," said DiClerico. "Look for missing insulation where heat can escape, including above the attic hatch door."

And make sure the insulation you already have is thick enough. For fiberglass or rock wool, you want at least 11 inches of insulation. For cellulose, you want eight inches or more. Also don't forget to insulate your plumbing and ductwork

"In our survey, only five percent of people insulated their heating and cooling ductwork," said DiClerico. "It could cost you about $500 to hire someone to do your ducts, but you could end up saving $400 a year."

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