In today’s economy, pennies saved every day add up every month. It pays to conserve and cut back on the monthly utility bill. With a little thought, many things can be done to reduce the bill. To start energy saving in the home takes very little effort.

Nature provides homes a way to warm up in the winter. Households need to utilize sunshine for warmth. During the day, do not block the sun’s rays. On cloudy days, or at night use heavy drapes to block warm air loss.

The barrier between the glass helps keep cold out and heat in. Update the thermostat to a digital programmable one. Set the heat lower at night. It takes longer to warm up a room then it does to maintain the temperature.

In older homes, where it is impractical to install new windows, plastic can be used. Shrink the plastic to the window with a hairdryer so it forms a barrier. Seal all cracks with putty, insulation or blown in sealant.

Newer appliances use less and do more. Although diligence is still needed to make sure, they run efficient. The appliance has sensors that register the room’s ambient temperature. This makes the unit run longer if the variance is extreme.

Even landscaping can play a role. Owners can plant trees and shrubs to keep cold air away from the dwelling. Planting on the north side provides the greatest benefit. Do not plant trees so close they will overhang the structure, or pose a threat in high winds.

When older bulbs burn out replace them with cooler burning high efficiency ones. Lights left on all day will add up quickly. Idle electronics should be unplugged, phone chargers, computers and so forth.

Emergency heat is just for a crisis. When the furnace goes out is the time to use the high wattage devices. When they are used to supplement the central heat, they will run up the utilities.

The roof is the largest exposed area of any structure. Heat loss can be significant without proper insulation. Heated homes will lose heat through improperly insulated walls, as well. When it is time for a new roof consider adding a thermal barrier under the shingles.

Heat loss can be conductive or convection. Heat will warm up walls, which in turn will conduct to the outside. Poorly insulated walls allow heat to be conducted to the outside. Start today with energy saving in the home with a power audit by the local utility company.

For more energy saving tips and ideas, go to the find energy savings website.