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Plug In To Save
10/30/08 - 02:15 PM
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Mark Jenkins - bio

Bay County, Fla:

If you're looking for ways to pinch a penny, start with your power bill... The best way to immediately cut costs is control your thermostat. It's the largest consumer of electricity in your home and is probably the easiest to control.

Here are some simple truths:

  • Summer - every degree above 78 degrees you'll save 2-3%.
  • Winter - every degree below 68% you'll save 2-3%.

Another energy sucker is your water heater. This eats up 13% of utility costs. Make sure your tank is set at 120 degrees or below. Be very careful when making adjustments, you could hurt yourself badly if you don't know what you're doing. You could purchase a water heater jacket and save $30 a year.

A tankless water heater promises a 30-70% improvement. You'd also qualify for a $300 energy tax cut from the Federal Government.

The air conditioner and water heater are the usual suspects, but small appliances can be deceivingly expensive. Playing video games or planning a quick meal. If it's plugged in your using power. News 13 teamed with Gulf Power to check the wattage of several house hold appliances.

  • Toaster Oven (5hrs a week)
    • $27 a year
    • 1160 watts
  • George Foreman Grill
    • $34 a year
    • 1435 watts
  • Range Oven
    • $83 a year
    • 3500 watts

Ovens, however, can also affect the overall temperature of the room. So not only are you now using energy on your oven, you're using your air conditioning system too.

You don't have to be in the kitchen to heat things up.

  • Blow dryer (7 hrs. a week)
    • $40 a year
  • Iron (1 hr. a week)
    • $33 a year

The Nielson Company says the average person watches four hours of TV every day.

  • 36 inch TV (4 hrs. a day)
    • 126 watts
    • $16 a year
  • 32" plasma HD TV
    • 127 watts
    • $17 a year

"I'd probably say that I use my X-BOX a lot... a couple hours a day, five days a week." At ten hours a week, Drew Baldy pays $1 a year for X-BOX electricity.

"My computer is constantly on all the time. I never turn my computer off," Baldy said.

A 30 watt laptop running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week costs $8 a year. Charging your cell phone over night is less than a dollar.

"A lot of things in your house like that that are consuming power," says Gulf Power Communication Specialist Jeff Rogers. "Some things you have to leave on, but other things you have to turn off or keep unplugged. Make sure your computer is turned off not asleep. You can unplug your printer. Anything that's got a light on it: coffee pot that's got a clock on it you don't need to use you can unplug that and save a little bit of electricity."

From thermostats to light bulbs, there's plenty of ways to save money and energy. You can pick up a list of items at the front the Home Depot in Panama City. The best part is you don't have to be an electrician to cash in.

Thomas Mceniry, a father of three, typically has a $300 power bill. He bought a digital thermostat to cut costs.

"That way I can regulate the temperature is," he said.

Programmable thermostats with the energy star claim to save you as much as $180 dollars a year.

The thermostat also reminds you to change the air filter. Home Depot specialists recommend you change them once a month.

"If the filter is clogged it's not going to get the air through and the Air Conditioner has to work harder," says Rod Cabezas.

There are places you don't want air getting through, namely cracks and holes in the walls. Applying silicone or "Great Stuff" spray could save you 20%.

"Just find the cracks, squeeze the stuff in there and it expands. It's really good stuff that's why they call it great stuff," Cabezas said.

Some other great stuff for your wallet, are energy efficient light bulbs. "I spare no expenses. I keep my lights on all the time," Baldy said. If you're like Drew Baldy you can keep your lights on and still save.

Incandescent light bulbs use almost six times the amount of energy as a compact florescent bulb. A four pack of CFLs last 10 times longer and could save you $180.

Refrigerators with the energy star use half the energy of models sold just four years ago. They're also 10% off sale price. Home Depot appliance specialist Ken Lambeth says front load washing machines could reduce your water bill $25. Just look for the energy star.

"It uses a maximum of 16 gallons as opposed to 60 gallons per top load."

Finally, improving your home's insulation could cut up to 20% on heating and cooling.

If you're not hot on any of these products, you can get a audit form at Home Depot to find other ways to make your home more efficient.

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