Some habits save hundreds on energy bill

by Center for Personal Finance editors

NEW YORK (9/7/06)--After taking a beating on gasoline prices this year, many Americans are gearing up for another costly hit on home energy costs this winter. But taking some relatively painless steps now will make a big difference in how much you pay later (SmartMoney.com).

This list, compiled from publications by Project Energy Savers by Smartmoney.com, is bound to have some tips you haven't tried:

Lighting Change the bulbs. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, which use 66% less energy. Dust off the bulbs. Dust can cut light output by up to 25%.

Cooking Close it. Each time you open the oven door to check on food, you lose 25% of the heat. Nuke it. Microwave ovens use 40% less energy. And keep the microwave clean--your food will cook more efficiently. Cover it. Use a lid when boiling water--it's faster and uses less energy.

Refrigerator Clean the coils. Use your vacuum attachment to keep dirt from building up. Check the temperature. Put a thermometer in a glass of water in the center of the refrigerator and another one between packages in the freezer. If temperatures are lower than 37 to 40 degrees for the main compartment and zero to five degrees in the freezer, you're throwing money out the kitchen window. Put a lid on it. Uncovered food and liquids release moisture and use more electricity. Fill it up. A freezer that's full runs more efficiently than an empty freezer. If you're low, fill up space with plastic containers filled with water. Unplug the unused spare. It costs about $130 a year to keep a second refrigerator plugged in. Check the seal. Test the door by closing it over a piece of paper--half in and half out. If you can pull it out easily, the latch may need adjustment, the seal may need replacing, or you might need a new unit.

Dishwasher Use energy-saving features. If your dishwasher has an air-dry feature, use it. Wait until it's full. It costs exactly the same to wash one dish as a whole load.

Washer/dryer Clean the dryer's lint filter--after each load. Wash with cold. Use hot water only for very dirty loads.

Water heater Dial it down. Reducing the temperature from 140 degrees to 120 degrees cuts costs by 10% to 15%. However, if you have an older-model dishwasher that doesn't have a booster heater, keep the water heater at 140 degrees to kill bacteria on your dishes. Insulate it. A covered tank could shave 4% to 9% from your energy costs. Drain it. Sediment at the bottom of your water heater tank needs to be drained every one to three years. Go low-flow. Energy-efficient shower heads and faucets use one-third to half the water used by other shower heads. Hurry up, and stand up. Short showers use less hot water. And showers use less hot water than baths.

For more information, read "A Long, Cold Winter? Simple Energy Projects Can Save You a Bundle" in the Home & Family Finance Resource Center housing section.