More Energy Saving Tips
from the Nov 2005 issue

Last month, Acreage – The Magazine for Rural Living looked at some practical ideas to insulate your home. We realized we had just scratched the surface and with energy prices expected to soar by up to 71% this winter we figured we might offer some additional ideas.

Fall is here and soon winter will have reared its ugly head. Colder weather can bring outrageous utility bills to your door, and if you have been paying attention to the news, there is speculation that everybody will be paying much, much more to heat their homes. We’ve done a little research, and while you may have heard all of this before, we thought a refresher might be in order. Here then are a few things you can do to lower your energy bills this winter and beyond.

Check the Insulation in Your Home
Yes, we covered all this last month…but it needs to be said again. Do not pass this opportunity up. According to the US Department of Energy (DOE) one of the fastest and most cost-efficient ways to reduce energy waste and maximize energy dollars is to check your home's insulating system.

Maryanne and Ken Wiggers, owners of Prairie Foam Insulators in Huxley, IA, warn that even if your insulation is up-to-date, according to your region’s R-Values, you can still lose valuable heat through attic bypasses which are hidden air passageways that lead from the heated space into the attic.

Our friends, the Wiggers, have been implementing the use of a newer type of insulation, called Icynene Foam as a method for solving this problem. A homeowner of Saylorville, IA was pleasantly surprised with how much he saved through the Wiggers’ use of this product. “In that cold winter of 2002, the peak gas bill to heat [my] 4200 square foot home was $85.78. That made a believer out of me.” While we are not necessarily boldly recommending any product this is something rather new and perhaps folks might want to consider this or additional methods to close up the attic space.

Buy Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL's) CFL's are four times more efficient than the incandescent light bulbs most of us buy. Now, you may be thinking, "But aren't they also four times as expensive?" The answer is, “yes”…in a sense. A typical set of four incandescent bulbs is $2.99, whereas a single CFL can cost seven or eight dollars. Here are the reasons you might invest in the pricier of the two:

a) One 17-24 watt CFL lasts as long as eight 100 watt incandescent bulbs (GE guarantees their spiral model will last a minimum of 5 years);

b) 95 percent of the energy an incandescent bulb emits is heat, not light. A CFL uses only a fourth of the electricity while giving off the same amount of light;

c) CFL's are better for the environment.

Install a Programmable Thermostat
According to MidAmerican Energy, the proper use of a programmable thermostat is one of the top three energy-saving measures available to consumers. Again, this measure requires a minimum initial investment in order to save money in the end. A programmable thermostat can cost anywhere from $30 to $100. The benefits?

a) The DOE has found that using a programmable thermostat to turn the temperature back 10- 15% a day for 8 hours can save you as much as 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills. You'd be saving money while you sleep!

b) You don't have to remember to turn the thermostat down before you go to bed, while you are at work, or before going on vacation because you can program your thermostat to remember for you.

c) Adjusting your thermostat manually increases wear and tear on your furnace (or central air in the summer).

Additional Solutions
A couple other money-saving tasks recommended by the DOE are:

a) Caulk, seal and weather strip any seams, cracks, and openings to the outside. Reducing these air leaks can save you 10% on your energy bill.

b) Insulate and seal any leaks in air ducts; and, if necessary, replace old heating/cooling equipment with more efficient models.

c) To improve the efficiency of your fireplace, the Department of Natural Resources recommends installing glass doors with an airtight seal. This way, you can combine the use of your fireplace and central heater without losing the existing heat in your home up the chimney. You can also install an outdoor air intake at the back or side of the fireplace. A fire needs oxygen to burn, and the air intake allows the fire to use outside air instead of stealing oxygen from inside your home.

d) Open your shades in the daytime (allowing in solar heat) and close them at night.

e) Careful landscaping can also be an asset for reducing energy bills. Trees can act as a windbreak; and by placing deciduous (lose their leaves in the fall) trees on the south side of your home, you are blocking the sun in the summer and allowing it through in the winter.

f) Finally, use the "warm" setting when doing laundry instead of "hot." Your clothes will still come clean, but you’ll use less energy.

Time spent creating a more comfortable and efficient home today can pay off when the cold wind starts whistling. For more information on R-Values and insulation, visit the Department of Energy site at www.eere.energy.gov for all kinds of links.

For information on Icynene Foam you can call Prairie Foam at 800-272-3668 or go online to www.PrairieFoam.com.