Four Easy Steps to Reduce Your Energy Costs: A blog that goes over how energy efficient a home can be with some simple steps.

Introduction

When you're looking to reduce energy costs in your home, it's important to think about the big picture. While there are many ways to cut down on cost and environmental impact, one of the first things you should do is make sure that your house is as energy efficient as possible. You can take a few simple steps to make sure your home has optimal insulation and ventilation without having to spend much time or money at all!

Step 1. Change your light bulbs

The first and most obvious step is to switch from incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescents (CFLs). CFLs use 75% less energy than traditional bulbs, and last 10 times longer. For example, the average life of an incandescent bulb is 750 hours—that's about three months if you use it for one hour per day. In contrast, a CFL will last anywhere from 8,000 to 25,000 hours—ten or more years if you leave it on for just two hours every day!

While this may seem like a no-brainer, there are some caveats with using CFLs for lighting purposes: They produce a different kind of light than traditional incandescents (it's more yellowish), so don't expect them to be as bright. Additionally, they contain mercury—a toxic metal that can leak out into soil or water when not disposed properly—so dispose of your old ones carefully by taking them back to the store instead of tossing them in the trash bin or recycling bin at home!

If you're looking for a more permanent solution than CFLs, consider solar-powered lights. These are great because they don't require any wiring or plumbing—simply install them.

Step 2. Plug the leaks.

• Turn off your HVAC system. If you have an air conditioner, turn it off and wait for the home to cool down. Check around doors, windows and electrical outlets for cold air seeping in.
• If you find leaks where insulation is incomplete or substandard, make sure they are filled properly with blown-in cellulose or fiberglass insulation.
• If there are areas in your home that are poorly insulated, consider adding more insulation by spraying foam on its underside (which can be done by professionals). This will help reduce that area’s heat loss during winter months as well as reduce cooling costs during summer months because less energy will need to be used to maintain a comfortable temperature inside the home when temperatures outside rise above 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26 degrees Celsius).

If you are unsure how to do this, hire a professional.

Step 3. Seal your attic hatch

Seal your attic hatch. This is a great way to keep the heat in, and the cold out. You can do it any time of year, but it’s easier to do during summer months when you can open windows instead of turning on fans.

All you need is a piece of plywood and some caulk (get both at Home Depot).

Measure the width and length of your attic door opening, then cut a piece of plywood accordingly so that it fits between the framing members above your door like this:

This will create a small space between the plywood and frame, which is where you’ll want to apply some caulk. Then, push the plywood into place and screw it down to make sure it stays in place. Now that you have your attic door sealed up nice and tight, don’t forget to check the rest of your home for air leaks!

Step 4. Add more insulation

Step 4: Add more insulation.

If you’re going to be insulating, it’s best to really go all out. Attics, walls and floors need extra insulation; ducts and pipes are also candidates for a little more polyurethane foam. The rule of thumb is that if it's an exterior surface—exteriors are at least R-5 per inch; interiors are at least R-13 per inch. Spray foam insulation offers the most bang for your buck because it can go into any nook or cranny you might have in your home—and even where there aren't any!

Blower door test: A blower door test checks how well your home seals against air leakage (the amount of air getting in from outside). You'll need a certified technician to do this test for you; they'll find out exactly how much energy leaks out each day through cracks around windows or doors, poorly sealed windows or doors, gaps in window framing and roofs not sealed tightly enough around chimney flues or attic hatches/vents.

These are simple and easy ways to reduce your energy costs

These are simple and easy ways to reduce your energy costs:

• Changing your light bulbs. You can save a lot of energy by changing your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents (CFLs), which produce more light from less power. CFLs use only one-fourth as much electricity as comparable incandescent bulbs. As of January 2012, the government will no longer manufacture or import 60-watt and 100-watt incandescent lightbulbs, but you can still find them on the market for now. If you have them, try replacing some of them with CFLs before they're all gone!
• Plugging the leaks in your home. A loose window or door is one way a house loses heat in winter—or cool air in summer—so make sure they're double-glazed or sealed tightly if they can't be replaced right away. Attic hatches should also be insulated to prevent warm air leaking into or out of the attic during winter months; this can significantly reduce heating costs over time because it won't result in wasted fuel going up through an uninsulated hatch while simultaneously keeping cold air from coming down through those same areas during colder months when heating systems need extra power to keep up with extreme temperatures outside rather than inside without proper care taken beforehand such as sealing doors closed firmly shut so that no drafts get through before installation process begins diligently instead

Conclusion

By following these simple steps, you will be able to reduce your energy costs and live more comfortably in your home.