Top Five Items That Save Money, Save Energy and Cost Less Than Ten Dollars

Everyone is more aware of the need to save energy these days. The current economy has brought even more awareness in respect to saving money by reducing energy use. The products listed here are some of the easiest and least expensive options for being more energy efficient and cutting your energy bills by reducing your energy consumption.

1: Energy Star qualified CFL Bulbs, these bulbs can be found in bulk packs that cost less than $10 and can save thousands over their usage life. CFL or compact fluorescent lights use 75% less energy and therefore cost 75% less to operate than incandescent bulbs.

2: Caulking and Weather Stripping, Using these products which cost a few dollars and take about 30 minutes to properly apply can save as much as 30% on heating and cooling bills. Using these items to seal your home and keep the conditioned or heated air inside will mean your HVAC unit runs less and therefore costs less to operate.

3: Power Strips, These handy gadgets not only allow you to plug in multiple electronic items and protect them from power surges, they are also shown to reduce the energy consumption of the electronics or appliances that use standby power. You can also use the switch on most power strips to completely cut the power to appliances or electronics that use standby power.

4: Low Flow Plumbing Fixtures, shower heads, faucets, and toilets are all available in models that use lower flow rates. These fixtures have features that increase the water pressure while reducing the actual water output to save money on your water bills as well as the cost of heating the water. You can visit Plumber's Surplus for all of your plumbing fixtures and supplies. This link opens in a new window so you can continue browsing this page.

5: Water Heater Insulation Jackets, these can reduce the demand put on your water heater and reduce the cost of operation. If you also reduce the temperature by 10 degrees you can achieve energy and cost savings up to 30%. By insulating the water heater the water stays hot longer and the water heater does not have to operate as frequently therefore reducing energy bills and saving money.

The five tips found here are the easiest and most cost effective ways for homeowners to save energy and save money. Implementing these energy saving tips together can result in significant savings each month. There are many options available for saving energy and in using these tips we are not only saving money but we are saving the environment. View my other pages on Green Energy and DIY Home Improvements for more ideas.