Drafty Homes Lead To Bigger Bills: Ways To Cut Down On Home Energy Costs (NAPSA)—High gas prices at the pump and unnerving utility bills are causing people across America to look twice at how energy is being used in their households. According to the Rocky Mountain Institute, there are many ways for homeownersto reduce home energy bills by as much as 90 percent annually. From immediate penny savers to long-term energy-saving investments, here’s a list of what homeowners can do to save money on energy bills: Start with an audit to determine what areas in the home are losing the most energy. Manyelectric companies will send an auditor out free-of-charge or at a small fee. Floors, walls and ceilings can cause a startling amount of heat loss in the home. Insulation lev- els, which are measured in R-values anddiffer region to region, are often lower than they should be. Work with a qualified contractor to install an adequate amount of quality insulation, such as CertainTeed’s fiber glass insulation, to significantly reduce energy loss. Seal plumbing andelectrical penetrations with caulk to alleviate as much as 15 percent of a home’s energy loss. Replace old lightbulbs with fluorescent ones andinstall a pro- grammable thermostat. Small actions can makea big difference in a home’s energy costs. For long term enhancements, upgrade the home’s exterior with insulated vinyl siding to create a low-maintenance thermal envelope of protection against heat and cold. Replace old windows with energy-efficient varieties that feature low “E” glass. Thermal window systems such as CertainTeed’s Thermaflect glazing system help reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. To learn more about energyefficient products for the home, visit www.certainteed.com or call 800-782-8777.
