How Can I Cut Energy Bills

Now that fall is fast approaching many of us are worried about what natural gas and electricity prices are going to do this winter.  Will we even be able to afford to heat our homes... and still eat?  It' s no laughing matter and if you're concerned and want to learn how to cut energy bills, read on.

The good news is that you really have a lot of options.  There are many things you can do that will help you keep your utility costs under control.  Some of these options are bigger and will generate more savings than the others, but using one, or all, of them can help cut your bills significantly.

Many of these things can be started today for little or no money.  So check out the list and take control of your utility costs:

1. If you can afford it, have your furnace unit checked out by a professional.  If it's in top condition it will run better and won't use as much electricity. 

If you can''t afford to have someone come in you can at least clean or replace your furnace filters.  Do this as often as recommended by the manufacturer.  This is an inexpensive way to help your furnace run more efficiently and save you money.

2. If you have the money, replace old, drafty windows.  You could be eligible for a tax credit if you do this.  If you can't afford that right now at least invest in some window kits that will help block out drafts, some insulated curtains or blinds, and some caulk.  These inexpensive fixes can go a long way to making your windows more energy efficient.

3. Add some insulation to your home.  If you can't afford that try to at least plug up areas around doors, windows, and utility openings in your walls by using expanding foam.  This foam is about $6 a can and can help make your home less drafty which will not only make it more comfortable, it will also help you cut energy bills.

Wind Power - Build It At Home...Today

Many people think that they can't use wind power for their home because they don't live on a farm or have a lot of land.  The good news is that is not true.  Wind turbines come in different shapes and sizes.  You can even put them on your roof.

So now that you know you don't have to miss out on a chance to save money on your electric bill by building your own wind turbine, now what?

Now it's important that you know a little about wind turbines and what you can expect and what you can't expect.

A simplified explanation of how a turbine works is that it takes the energy of the wind, converts it to electricity, and stores the electricity for later use.

A small turbine will obviously make less electricity than a large one.  In order to generate enough electricity for an average home using a small yard sized, or roof sized, turbine you would need more than one.  You would probably need three or four.

Many people wouldn't want that many turbines on their roof or in their yard, your neighbors probably wouldn't love the idea either! But the good news is that while one small turbine won't generate all the electricity you need it will generate enough to save you a considerable amount of money on your energy bill.

Some people save upwards of 80%.  Since the turbine is inexpensive to build and with the savings you'll get it is still worth your while to build your own turbine even if it won't generate enough electricity to completely free you from your utility company.

Save money and save the planet all by using wind power.  It's not hard to do and it can give you a real sense of satisfaction, not to mention a bigger wallet!