Conserving on household heating energy costs 2008

Today I want to dicuss energy costs of running a household.

Our utilities cost our family a mid-sized fortune and now more than ever we have decided that the costs have to be cut.

Two months ago we had propane delivered, it cost us $425.00 to have our tank filled .
That was nuts, But had to be paid.
We just had more delivered yesterday because we were running at just 12% left in our tank.
$440 and it was only filled to 70%
And our coldest months arent even here yet, their February and March.

At this point we will be re-installing our woodburning heater .
We used it in the past, it's stored in our storage building and we removed it when times werent as tough.
Now we will be re-installing it im sure.

If you own your home and if you can aquire one I would suggest installing it .
The cost of heating is basicly eliminated by using a wood burning heater.

We live on 6 acres, in the country and own our home here in Alabama so wood heaters are not uncommon .
Dead trees are pleantiful in our area and most ther homeowners will allow you to cut dead trees from there property just for the taking.

If you live in a more citified area of the world you might wanna ask around and see what your neighbors would think because the smoke from a wood heater could be overwhelming outside to some people, even though with my way of thinking It's not your neighbors who are paying your heating bill lol.

There are many new models of woodburning furnaces or woodburning heaters available these days, even some that can be stored outside and vented into your home.

Other ways to cut the cost of using oil, propane or natural gas for heating/cooking would be...

1.) If you use gas to cook , When cooking, use the smallest pot or pan needed and cover it. The cover keeps heat from escaping, thus decreasing the time needed to bring its contents to a boil.

2.) Use low heat on your stove if possible and/or turn it down once it reaches the boiling point.

3.) Don't open the oven door any more than nessesary, heat that escapes will have to be replaced.

4.) If you plan on baking more than one item, try to do it all at the same time without allowing the oven to cool between items.
It takes alot of heat to pre-heat an oven.

5.) Kill two birds with one stone and dont cook as much, or make casseroles, use a crock pot, use the microwave...Any one or a combination of these things will use less energy than cooking an entire meal on the stove or in the oven ...and also may lower your grocery bill by cooking less.

6.) Keep your heating and cooling systems well maintained. A small investment in periodic maintenance is good insurance against larger repair bills. Just as important, it will prolong the life of your heating and airconditioning
systems and ensure that they operate at maximum efficiency.

7.) Insulate ducts that pass through unheated spaces, check the duct work occasionally every year or other year if they run under your home making sure small rodents and animals havent chewed or destroyed anything.

8.) Inspect furnace filters at least every other month and clean or replace them as needed.

9.) Install a programmable thermostat. It will allow you to turn your heat/air-conditioning up or down automatically with predetermined settings.If you can't afford that right now then keep your setting at the lowest posistion without causing anyone to be to hot or too cold, turn it down considerably at night when you go to bed and will be under toasty covers.

10.) Block off any heater vents to unused rooms, and keep the doors closed to those rooms.

11.) Insulate your windows, around your plumbing and floors if possible.
We use a roll of plastic purchased for $3.00 at the dollar store. It covers every window in our home..When we take it down at winters end we store it in an empty box labeled window plastic for the next year and prevent that recurring cost.
We also use old towels or stained clothing bound for the garbage to stuff the gaps around any plumbing where air comes in , it stays all year round without being removed.
Use throw rugs on bare floors not only to help insulate them but to keep your feet warm.
If it's at all possible go underneath your home and inspect or install insulation to your floors from the outside.

12.) Check the weather stripping around doors.
Many doors have outdated weather stripping, replace it with new weather stripping.
Staple folded clothing strips or strips of old foam from a cushion , into the gaps if you don't have the money to buy weather stripping....anything that stops heat and air from escaping will help drasticly.

13.) Most every county in the united states has a community action agency or similar group/agency that will help low income families and elderly insulate their homes whether their owned homes or rental homes.
They will help with insulation, replacing windows,underpinning on mobile homes, and many other areas....it's definately worth checking into.

14.) Use electric fans and ceiling fans in front of your heaters to circulate and distribute the heat if you dont have central heat, remember heat rises so the idea is to move the highest areas of heat on your ceilings to eye level or below.

15.) If you have a gas or electric hot water heater , turn it down to 120 degrees, waste not want not. If your hot water heater is over 15 years old it's time to flush it out also.

16.) Plant small trees and bushes along your home on all sides or atleast the sides that the wind blows most often.

17.) Close draperies or curtains at night and on cloudy days and open them on sunny days. Note: Set your couch in front of sunny windows for added warmth.

18.)Install your storm doors and windows if you have them, if not check into buying some new or used.

19.) Dress warm. Wear layers of clothing,and use more blankets while sleeping or watching television.

20.) My feet stay cold , it doesnt seem to matter the room temperature so on most days I wear two pairs of socks ... remarkably once my feet are warm so is the rest of my body.

Last year over the summer we had one of the hottest summers on record, I believe they said there were 29 straight days of temperatures over 100 degrees, so we will be posting an article on cooling conservation to help with the costs of air conditioning.