*By Barbara Pronin, RISMedia Columnist

 
It’s possible to reduce home energy costs by as much as a third this year by following four simple recommendations.

“Fans, lighting, doors and windows can suck up a lot of energy,” said Do-it-Yourself video host Jeff Meacham. You can improve efficiency and save money in four main areas.”

Ceiling fans – Clean the blades with a dusting cloth and some white vinegar. The reduced weight will make them rotate more easily, reducing the motor effort and saving energy. Also, for maximum efficiency, flip the switch in winter so the fan rotates clockwise, forcing warm air down into the room. Come summer, switch it back so the blades rotate to the right.

Lighting – Spiral shaped CFL bulbs use about a third of the energy of regular light bulbs. (They also emit less heat, so you can save on air conditioning costs in summer.) Switching to the new bulbs can save you as much as $200 per light over 20 years.

Heat loss through doors – Adding a tight seal of weather stripping around your front door provides a barrier against escaping heat. Place the weather stripping along the inner door jambs on both the top and sides. Press snugly into place and check to make sure the door closes fully and securely. Adding a door sweep to the bottom of the door will also help to seal heat in – and stopping the loss of heat is a win-win for your budget and the environment.

Water drips and temps – Fix dripping faucets. A single dripping hot water faucet can waste 212 gallons of water a month, increasing the cost of water and gas or electricity for heating. Set the water heater to 140 degrees or ‘normal’ if you have a dishwasher, If not, set the water temp to 120 degrees or ‘low.’