Some Arizona Energy Saving Tips!
Those of us who live year round in Arizona, are fairly energy efficient during the summer months because of our higher electric bills; however, during the winter, we need be equally as diligent in exercising care. Just a few small tips will save us the money we would prefer spending on food, clothing, and necessities:
1. Set your thermostat between 66-68 degrees (health permitting) - and at night, turn your thermostat off....stay warm under comforters and blankets. We wear longer sleeved shirts, and flannels around the house during the day to stay comfortable.
2. Keeping our window blinds open during the day with the sun shining in, and closed as it cools down.
3. Change our heater/furnace filters regularly.
4. Weatherize your home including caulking and weather stripping around drafty doors and windows.
5. Install a digital thermostat which enables you to program it to turn down or off while away or in the late evening.
This is just a small sampling of ideas - it does get cold, even in Arizona!
Mesa, Arizona Real Estate. Call me at: 480.216-3334 for information on purchasing or selling a home in Mesa, Arizona or surrounding towns. OR email me: Teri@TeriEllis.com. Feel free to visit one of my websites: HomesAzRE.com, MoveToMesaAz.com or MoveToSunnyAz.com. Or stop by my blogs at: Active Rain; or Phoenix Valley Real Estate Blog
Mesa, Arizona Real Estate. Call me at: 480.382-8711 for information on purchasing or selling a home in Mesa, Arizona or surrounding towns. OR email me: Teri@TeriEllis.com. Feel free to visit my website: HomesAzRE.com, or stop by my blogs at: MesaAzRealEstateVoice and AzLadyInRed!
Terri We could use these tips here in the east, except for turning off the thermostat at night.
Hey, great post. Thanks for the information about your area.
Teri - I also switched to the time of use program that SRP offers and since I am out most of the day, I was turning my thermostat to maximize the savings. I haven't had a bill over $100.00 in quite some time.
Teri - You are probably sweating right now and I am freezing my $#% looking at the icicles forming on the house - LOL Nice tips though:)
Teri: Great money-saving tips!!
I'm amazed at how many people don't change their furnace filters. Most in older Sacramento homes are installed in the ceiling so you see them when you walk through the home -- and they're hanging up there covered in dust and dirt. How can people not notice that? And you're breathing that air. I heard a home inspector (not one I usually hire) tell a buyer the other day that she should change her filters twice a year. What? Monthly -- they need to be changed monthly, especially if you have pets -- or you can buy a 90-day filter for a little more money.
It's one of the things I check when I take a listing. I tell the sellers to change their filter because the buyer will notice it and think they don't maintain the home.
Teri: Great money-saving tips! Those are quite the pics from your previous posts and that was great what you shared in the MeMe.
Jennifer, though it gets cold here in the southwest, it stays pretty warm in the house. Rarely do we get below the 30's at night, and typically over 50 in the daytime. I can't imagine how it is in the east...;-)
Brian, you're welcome. ;-)
Mark, good job...we follow SRP too, and then pay the same price year round. ;-)
Bill, I would not way we are "sweating," but how is "comfortably cozy?" ;-) LOL, your ? is freezing? ;-)
Elizabeth, the furnace filters are a MUST. I warn our tenants to change them regularly as well. All a dirty filter does is make your heat pump or a/c work harder, and raises your electric bill. ;-) We usually do the 90-day...I always look at the filter, and to me, that is indicative of how the sellers take care of their home. ;-)
Pat, glad you stopped by. Glad, too, you enjoyed the other posts. ;-)
Thanks for the tips and the reminders. My husband is on a mission changing all our light bulbs to low energy, I am hoping that helps lower our bills as well.