The places where energy goes in and out of a home can end up costing a small fortune in energy bills. Home energy experts recommend making a few simple changes to windows, doors, and the garage so that you don't lose money because of them.
Before sending the bill, the envelope was sealed.
Homeowners should make sure their windows and doors are sealed "like an envelope" or they could end up cooling the whole neighbourhood. In fact, it's thought that heating and cooling systems account for about half of all utility costs every year. To see if your doors and windows let in draughts, look for light under or around the door and condensation around the windowpane, which is a sign of cooling loss. Also, make sure the attic is properly insulated and not letting air out.
A Few Tips:
Put thick, long-lasting weatherstripping under your garage door to stop this common energy loss. You can use polyurethane insulation or fibreglass to wrap your ducts.
Seal any cracks between the wall and the window trim with weather stripping and caulk. Putty any loose window panes and replace any broken glass to help the windows stand up to strong winds.
The Shrink & Seal Window Kit, which is sold at Lowe's stores and on lowes.com, is a cheap way to fix draughty windows. It fits standard windows and is put on with the help of a hair dryer, which shrinks and seals a clear film over the window.
Whirlpool Corporation's Gladiator GarageWorks Chillerator is the only ENERGY STAR-qualified refrigerator designed for the garage. It is the only refrigerator that can be used in the garage. It uses 15% less energy than the current federal standards, saving an average of $487 in energy costs over the course of its lifetime.
"Upgrading appliances wisely is one of the easiest ways to save money on utilities," said Richard Karney, Manager of Energy Star at the Department of Energy (DOE). Most people can't imagine how much energy older appliances waste. ENERGY STAR appliances are part of a programme run by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) to help people save money and the environment.
Whirlpool did a survey and found that 42% of American households have an old refrigerator in the garage. Studies show that a 10- to 15-year-old refrigerator costs an average of $82 more in utilities each year than an ENERGY STAR-qualified refrigerator bought today.
