Quick Tip: Click here for even more ways to save money on energy!
The CNN Money piece titled “Knock $ 4,000 of Your Utility Bill” does a great job of offering simple advice with great payback. Isn’t that what you want? Aren’t you tired of unpractical innovations like a solar powered pocket book, which not only looks goofy, but does nothing to help you save money or reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Many of their simple fixes cost under $ 1,000, some even less than $ 100, but offer payback periods of a year of less. After one year, these fixes become PROFITABLE to you!
I recommend flipping through the slides while they are still up on the CNN Money site at this link:
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/pf/0809/gallery.utility_bill.moneymag/4.html
Let’s take a look at some here:
Cost: $ 500 – $ 1,000
Payback: $ 500 – $ 1,000 / year
Don’t stop here – this one is one of the most expensive with the slowest payback period. This gets better soon. See the other tips below.
Comment on the recommended Attic Tent, which insulates around attic hatches: Amazon.com sells a more economical alternative called Battic Door. Click here for information and pricing.
Cost: $ 15.00
Payback: $ 500.00 / year
Comment: Get Great Stuff Insulating Foam from $ 5.33 / bottle by clicking here
- Insulation Jacket on Water Heater
Cost: $ 40.00
Payback: $ 100 /year
Comment: You wouldn’t need to insulate your water heater if you used a tankless water heater, which creates hot water on demand – fast and efficiently. Make it even more efficient by pre-heating your water with a solar powered water heater on your roof. Click here to see more energy efficient home products including high efficiency appliances like refrigerators and washing machines.
- Schedule a Periodic Service Call
Cost: $ 100- $ 200 / year
Payback: $ 300 – $ 500 / year
Comment: Call us for a referral to a good service company in the Mid-Atlantic region: 443-864-3072.
- Cover the Ducts
Cost: $ 50 – $ 250
Payback: $ 500 – $ 1,500 / year
Comment: The all-time favorite fix-it, duct-tape, can delivery an almost unbelievable payback for its cost. Add a little additional cost to purchase duct insulation and you’re done.
- Use Time-Settings for Heat
Cost: $ 40.00 or Free using BG&E’s PeakRewards as explained below
Payback: $ 500 / year
Comment: While a programmable thermostat is a great energy-saving idea when used correctly and can be installed very easily by yourself, you sometimes have to be careful about which type you buy if you own a heatpump. To make matters simpler, and cheaper, if you live in Maryland’s Baltimore Gas & Electric service area, you can contact BG&E to take advantage of their PeakRewards Smart Energy Savers Program. By doing so, Baltimore Gas & Electric will provide you with a new, digital thermostat and free installation. Furthermore, the digital thermostat is programmable over the internet. You enter the settings on a website, and then they are transmitted over radio to your thermostat and automatically programmed to make energy saving so simple that you are more likely to do it. Note that by agreeing to be in the program, you are allowing BG&E to remotely cycle your compressor on and off at their discretion on peak energy emergency days, but BG&E claims they will only use it a few times per summer. This might cause your indoor air to be warmer or more humid, but that shouldn’t matter to families which commute to work during those peak hours. Since BG&E is able to more efficiently manage their peak power usage, their costs decrease. They pass some of this back to you as a rebate for being on the PeakRewards program. You can learn more about PeakRewards and sign up at Baltimore Gas & Electric’s PeakRewards website at:
http://www.bgesmartenergy.com/peakrewards/what-is-peakrewards
Related Posts:
Vote for Wind Power or Coal Power We Want to Know Why You Like Coal Power?
We're perplexed as to why so many people oppose green power solutions ...
Free Smart Meters: Deal or No Deal? Note: If you are looking for Enigin UL Listed Eniscope Wholesale Pricing, click here!
Would you like to use a Smart ...
Laurel Boys and Girls Club Saving Energy With Energy Maps Note: If you are looking for Enigin UL Listed Eniscope Wholesale Pricing, click here!
In response to their more than $80,000/year ...- Bill Gates Makes Predictions About the Next Big Business Leaders To learn more about opportunities in Green Power click here
To sign up for inexpensive green power for your home or ...
Beware of Washington Gas Energy Services’ Cancellation Charge! [/caption] Please excuse the crinkled graphic ...Washington Gas and Energy Services Cancellation Charges - Click for Full Size
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by 金龍, Green Giveaway. Green Giveaway said: Comment on Comments on CNN’s Knock $ 4,000 off Your Utility Bill by Tweets that mention Baltimore Gas & Electric P… http://bit.ly/a4xWYh [...]
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Victoria Kamsler, Maryland Green Power. Maryland Green Power said: Knock $ 4000 off your utility bill – from an old CNN Money article. Most of these pay for themselves in less than… http://fb.me/ApBKPfoy [...]
Super post, Need to mark it on Digg
GlenStef
Hi,
Everything dynamic and very positively!
Thanks
Zoran
Ugh, I liked! So clear and positively.
Hobosic
Amazing! Not clear for me, how offen you updating your http://www.marylandgreenpower.com.
Not sure that this is true:), but thanks for a post.
Zoran
Hi, Thanks for article. Everytime like to read you.
Thanks
Dirnov
Beware of Time of Use Electrical Power Billing Plans! As explained on this link by Baltimore Sun's writer and apparently agreed upon by many Maryland residents: Time of use electricity billing no help to consumers in BG&E territory
I imagine the same is true in other territories.
Final thought: If you work at home, as many of us are these days, time of use billing might cost you MUCH more than flat electrical power billing.
Beware of Time of Use Electrical Power Billing Plans! As explained on this link by Baltimore Sun's writer and apparently agreed upon by many Maryland residents: Time of use electricity billing no help to consumers in BG&E territory
I imagine the same is true in other territories.
Final thought: If you work at home, as many of us are these days, time of use billing might cost you MUCH more than flat electrical power billing.
Tankless water heaters are a great idea, but if you are going to spend the money on one, you might as well install a solar water heater. After State and Federal Tax Credits, you won’t be paying much more for a solar water heater and you’ll be getting your hot water for free! Why reduce the amount you are paying for hot water if you can eliminate it altogether?
See our website for more information on solar water heaters:
http://www.marylandgreenpower.com
[...] Baltimore Gas amp Electric PeakRewards Program Posted by root 2 minutes ago (http://www.marylandgreenpower.com) Sep 25 2008 comment you wouldn 39 t need to insulate your water heater if you used a tankless mgpc sustainability blog is proudly powered by wordpress Discuss | Bury | News | Baltimore Gas amp Electric PeakRewards Program [...]