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7 Secret Ways for Homeowners To Save Energy (and Money, Too)

Did your parents ever give you a hard time when you exited a room and left a light on? Well, they were right (if a tad annoying). Incandescent lightbulbs are the least efficient type of lighting, according to Energy.gov, and therefore waste a ton of energy if left on for no reason.

“When it comes to home budgets, every little bit counts,” says Monty Walker with Screenmobile, a company that specializes in the installation and repair of screen doors and windows. “So by cutting down on heating and air-conditioning costs, you’re adding to your savings account.”

Flipping a switch and turning down the thermostat are two ways to save energy and money on household utilities that everyone knows about. But what is the best way to adjust other day-to-day behaviors when it comes to our lighting, cooling, and heating systems, and how we use and power all of our many gadgets?

It turns out, cutting energy costs is easy to do—once you know the uncommon ways to conserve energy (and save a little extra green in the process).

1. Use awnings

Sunlight streaming through windows can increase the temperature in your home by as much as 20%. It’s no wonder completely shaded windows can help keep your home cooler in hotter months and, in turn, help you save on air-conditioning costs.

“When windows are exposed to direct sunlight, the heat can permeate and, in turn, make your home hotter,” says Walker. “Awnings can help save money as their shade protects from the sun.”

Depending on the type of awning you get, it can reduce the amount of cooling energy you need by 25%, according to the Professional Awning Manufacturers Association. That could add up to savings of about $200 a year.

2. Install a secret valve on your water heater

Three words: thermostatic mixing valve. Sounds fancy, right? But it’s a simple part your plumber can install that mixes cold water with scalding hot water to maintain a safe temperature at the faucets. And this cool little valve can cut your energy costs substantially.

“Adding this valve allows the homeowner to keep the temperature setting on the water heater very high but uses less of the water each time,” says Doyle James, president of Mr. Rooter Plumbing, a Neighborly company. “This can lead to having up to 50% more hot water available for use.”

If you have an old storm door that doesn’t keep your home as insulated as it should, you’re likely losing money by using more energy to heat your home.

“Storm doors keep out the elements,” says Walker. “And keep your energy consumption down.”

Just note that adding a storm door is a great investment if your existing main door is older and not insulated. You could also consider replacing an old door with a newer, insulated one.

According to EnergyStar.gov, installing Energy Star–certified doors can shrink energy bills an average of 12%.

4. Cover your skylights

Skylights are popular features that beautify a home, but they can also be a massive entry point for heat to enter your home.

So how do you fix this? Skylight covers.

“They are essentially a box created out of sun-control screen panels to shade the skylights,” says Walker. Using them to cover existing skylights will lead to as much as a 90% reduction of heat entering the home, which can lower your AC costs.

5. Prevent frozen pipes

Frozen pipes can burst and cost you big bucks when you have to repair a big mess.

“Take a simple preventive step and insulate exposed stretches of pipe that come in contact with cold air,” says James. Look for exposed pipes in the basement, crawl spaces, and exterior walls.

When you find one, James recommends slipping on pre-slit pipe foam to provide the insulation your pipes need to prevent freezing. Insulation can also reduce water heating costs by helping the water reach its target temperature at the tap faster than uninsulated pipes.

6. Clean or replace air filters

AC filters remove dust and debris from the air before entering your system.

“But when filters clog up, the AC unit will not cool as well,” says Lane Dixon, vice president of operations at Aire Serv, a Neighborly company. “It will have to work much harder and use more energy, causing a substantial rise in the electric bill.”

Dixon says dirt in the filter can also shorten the life of your AC since dirt can find its way into the inner workings of the unit and that extra strain on the fan motor can take a toll. He recommends replacing air filters monthly.

7. Close foundation vents

Do you have vents that lead into your home’s foundation? Make sure to close them during the winter.

“Not only will this help prevent your waterline from freezing, but it will also keep the warm air inside the crawl space,” says James.

Most homes come with installed louvers that slide closed. “But if you’re missing those, either invest in louvers or a screen that will cover the vent,” he adds.

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