Handy Woman's Hint #4

Sorry that I missed everyone last week. I was attending a Handy Man Convention in Las Vegas. Me and the Buds had a great time. Here the Handy Woman's Helpful Hints #4:

15 Energy-Saving Tips

1. Install and use an automatic setback (programmable) thermostat. You can reduce you heating and cooling costs by 5 to 15 percent.

2. Insulate pipes, especially if they pass through an area you don't want heated or cooled.

3. Change furnace filters every month, or more often if needed.

4. Have a furnace tuneup to clean and adjust burners and improve fuel-burning efficiency.

5. Install light controls like motion sensors, photocell switches and timers to shut off lights automatically when they're not needed.

6. Clean the air conditioner condenser coils and fins when you see grass and airborne debris collected on them.

7. Shade your windows with trees, awnings, overhangs, shutters or other devices to keep direct sunlight from entering your home.

8. Replace light bulbs used more than two hours per day with compact fluorescent bulbs. Florescent bulbs last longer and use only one-third as much energy as standard bulbs.

9. Seal the joints of heating and colling ducts that run through attice and basements.

10. Wrap the tank of your gas-burning water heater in a special fiberglass blanket to decrease heat loss. Check your owner's manual to make sure a blanket is recommended for your model.

11. Replace worn-out thresholds and weather stripping around windows and doors.

12. Fix leaky faucets; dripping hot water can cost $35 per year.

13. Buy gas stoves with electronic ignition rather than pilot lights.

14. Reduce hot water usage by replacing high-volume shower heads with low-flow heads (2 to 3 gallons per minute). Save up to $40 per year.

15. Replace recessed light fixtures with airtight models when you remodel.

Hope these helpful hints help save a few dollars and improve our planet.
The Mascot