Home Energy Solutions - What To Do If I Have a High Energy Bill?

According to Energystar.gov, there some common problems with home inefficiency that can manifest themselves in some easily recognizable symptoms. Some of these include, condensation on windows, very dry air and rooms that are different temperatures. Besides listing the problems, energy star also provides explanations on how homeowners can make simple changes to prevent these problems from happening. The first common problem is a high energy bill.

"Diagnosis: One reason for high energy bills is an increase in the price of electricity or heating fuel. However, it is common to trace high energy bills to an in-efficient component (windows, heating and cooling equipment, ducts insulation) of your home or a failure of one of these components to perform as intended. It is not always easy to pin-point the problem, but fixing it can make your home more energy-efficient and comfortable."

Their solutions? systematically go over each one of the options and fix and/or rule out the reason. So, the first make sure that the price of the fuel or energy source hasn't increased. Then, perform an energy audit of your home to see what places you could be loosing energy. Common leak problems are around windows and doors, or through the attic or basement. They also recommend checking your duct work for leaks or disconnects. This will allow air to leak into the attic and escape from the house, while not cooling or heating the rooms that the air was meant for. They also recommend setting your water heater at a lower setting, upgrading to energystar(R) appliances and CFL light bulbs. *Image used from www.blueline.net.au/images/gallery/lg-05.jpg