It is not secret that in our days we spend lots of money for utilities. Due to the United States Department of Energy, the typical American family spends more than 1,500 USD annually on utilities. There are the ways accordingly to reduce the expanse for that.

Firs of all, we could save on this by buying modern and the most efficient appliances, heaters and boilers for instance. But most of us could not afford himself to spend sufficient money on valuable appliances because of the high price and in some cases to pay in front. Below we show you 15 ideas which can help you to economize in utilities per year.

1. Energy-use Consultation: In many countries, utilities companies provide this service free of charge, or for a nominal fee. Besides there are lot s of volunteer organizations who also provide energy audits. They will investigate and test your home to identify your areas of greatest heating/cooling loss, analyze your past utilities bills, and, in some cases, estimate how long it would take you to recoup the cost of upgrades to your home or apartment.
2. Install Additional Insulation: It can be expensive, however it mustn’t be, and especially considering those attics, basements/crawl spaces, and the areas around utility pipes can be some of the biggest heat suckers in your home. Also remember that insulation will help you even if you live in the tropics. Not only does it keep in warm air when it’s cold, it keeps in cool air when it’s hot.
3. Install Door Sweeps: In case you have several places in your house where you are going to install door sweeps, you can install them on the bottom of your doors and it keep from leaking one to another. Even if you don’t have zones, installing door sweeps on your outside doors, and the doors closest to the outside, can cut down on air leakage. Sweeps are easy to install, and cost cheap.
4. Programmable Thermostat: After installing all above elements, you are not leaking energy, this step is similar to have part of your paycheck automatically sent to your saving account. If you are at work you have to set thermostat a few degree lower than at home. If you multiple heat zones in your house, even better. You can think that this type of method could be expensive but they offer significant savings as well.
5. Use Compact-Fluorescent Bulbs: Using of compact Fluorescent Bulbs is different from that of normal incandescent bulbs. These are the great opportunity to economize up to 75% less energy and it lasts 10 times long.
6. Use Power Strips: If you put your PC, DVD player, and other electronic devices in sleep mode they use some energy as well. If you plug them into power strips, and then turning off the power at the strip gives you to economize in electricity.
7. Maintain/Clean Your Appliances: If you use you appliances for a long time without cleaning it reduces its maximum work because of dust inside. Maintain your Appliances clean and they last longer when they’re well-maintained, and it will knock some money off your utilities as well.
8. Make Your Water Heater More Efficient: If it’s an old heater, chances are it’s not as well-insulated as it could be. (Though be sure to first check the owner’s manual to see if it’s safe to add an insulating cover to your water heater.) Most hardware stores sell insulating sleeves for water heaters for around $20-$30. Likewise, make sure the pipes leading from your heater to the wall are insulated. If they’re not, simple pipe insulation, again available at most hardware stores, should do the trick.
9. Turn Down your Water Heater: If your water heater is set at 140 degrees or above, chances are that you can get away with only setting it at 120. The only thing you might need 140-degree water for is your dishwasher. Experiment a bit and see if you can get clean dishes at lower temperatures.
10. Install a Low-flow Shower Head: If you spend long time in bathroom and you have to install a Low-flow Shower Head. These puppies cost anywhere from $5 to $50. Most of them operate by aerating water. They can help you to economize in your utility expenses.
11. Air-dry Dishes: You use drying cycle on your dishwasher, just set it to clean mood only, and open the door when the dishwasher is done and you’ll save the energy it would have taken to dry all your dishes.
12. Simulate a Low Flush Toilet: There is a new, water-saver toilet, and you don’t have some you can simulate one by putting a clean brick, or a sealed plastic bottle filled with pebbles. This displaces water so that less is used each time you flush.
13. Refrigerator: You have to put hot food outside the refrigerator an hour before you put it in the fridge. Doing like that you don’t waste energy pressing your fridge work extra hard to cool it down. If you have empty space in your freezer, and live in a cool place, freeze plastic containers full of water by putting them outside, and then put them into your empty freezer space, giving the freezer a helping hand.
14. Buy Wisely: If you are planning to buy New Appliances, you must pay attention to their energy ratings: There will be An Energy Star logo put on many appliances that meet federal standards for energy efficiency. Large appliances such as refrigerators, boilers, water heaters, dish washers etc. have yellow Energy Guide tags on them showing you how energy efficient.
15. Consider Tax Breaks/Energy Incentives: It is like that your county or state offers initiative savings on energy-efficient appliances. Discounts may be given for large, expensive appliances that meet certain energy requirements. In these cases you can use your prepaid card for extra discounts.