One Hundred Dollars a Month

Welcome to my 52 Ways to Save $100 a Month series. We’re serious about saving money in 2016. Sometimes it’s the little things and sometimes it’s the big things. I’m here to walk you through some little things that can add up to BIG savings. 52 little things to be exact. Every week, join me back here for another small money-saving tip or idea that might not seem like significant savings until you see the overall yearly savings. It might just blow your mind. So pop in each Tuesday and read a new tip that will help you on your way to save $100 a month!

If you live in an area with extreme heat or extreme cool {or both!}, you are well aware of how much rising gas/oil/propane/power costs are killing your wallet. Because this is not an expense that most can do without {try living in Arizona in the dead of summer with no a/c}, we’re talking about ways to lower that essential bill.

There are a few things you can do that will add up to big savings. Some might take a bit of time to get adjusted to, and others can be implemented immediately. Here are 5 great ways to save on your heating and air bills:

1. Adjust Your Comfort Level: This is one tip that might take some getting used to. Moving your temperature comfort level will take time, but experts say a 1 degree thermostat adjustment will result in a 1% or more reduction of your overall bill.

If you like to jack up your heat in the winter and your body is used to a nice warm house, it will take you a few months to implement this. Start slow. Adjust your thermostat 1 degree for a few weeks, then decrease the adjustment by another degree at the same rate. Your body will eventually adjust to the temperature change and your pocket-book will thank you.

2. Adjust Your Thermostat: If you are planning on being away from the house for an extended period of time, adjust your thermostat accordingly. For extended vacations, try setting your thermostat at 55 in the winter. This will keep your pipes from freezing and bursting, but prevent unnecessary heating expense. If you work long hours, adjust your thermostat while you are at work. No need to keep an empty house toasty warm or nice and cool.

3. Get a Programmable Thermostat: Installing a programmable set-back thermostat will take the guesswork out of thermostat adjustments. They are available for most gas and oil-fueled central heating systems. In this way, you can have the heat/air conditioning turned up before you get up in the morning and lowered just as you get into bed. There are some pretty fancy ones out there now {technology is really your friend when it comes to these}, but most will allow for at least 2 auto adjustments.

4. Get Your Unit Serviced: Regardless of what type of unit you have, getting it serviced once a year is essential. It will keep your unit in great working order and allow it to run as efficiently as possible. You can have a top of the line energy efficient model that is not performing well, and it will suck up all of the potential savings. The key here is to find a trusted, certified technician. An inexperienced or unlicensed contractor can do more harm than good.

If you have a forced-air system, help it run efficiently by changing the filters several times throughout the winter. A dirty filter not only allows for less than stellar air to run through your house, but it can also cause your system to run with less efficiency, increasing your overall costs.

5. Insulate: You can follow all of the steps above and if you don’t have proper insulation, all that savings will leak right on out! Most homes are less than optimally insulated. Installing proper insulation, windows and ducts can help keep these costs down while improving the comfort of your home. Good attic insulation alone can save 20 to 35 percent in heating and air conditioning costs. You can insulate under the floor, around hot water pipes and heating ducts, and in crawl spaces to up your energy savings. Also, good quality windows keep heat from escaping, and in hot climates, keep out half of the sun’s heat energy.

How Much Can You Save: $700+/year  This savings really depends on the climate and house type in which you live. Some of these ideas can save you up to 35% on your total energy expenses. With the average American spending about $2,100 each year to heat and cool their homes {taking into account milder climate areas that rarely run heat or a/c}, the savings can be pretty significant. But even if you only follow one of the smaller tips, you’ll certainly put at least and extra $100 in your pocket this year.

How do you conserve on energy costs in your home? Are there any great tips I missed?

~Mavis

More Ways to Save:

52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Clean Out Your Closet {Week 1 of 52}

52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Break Up with Cable {Week 2 of 52}

52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Barter Better {Week 3 of 52}

52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Change Your Own Oil {Week 4 of 52}