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Ask A Minnesota Expert: Five Ways To Lower Your Energy Bill

So many gadgets and gizmos are on the market that claim to save money in electricity and energy in the home. While they may do their part to help, they also tend to come with costs of their own. Minnesotans treasure their heat in the winter and bask in central air during the summer. While temperature extremes cannot be controlled, the way our climate control is set can. Without sacrificing comfort during those long winters or spending a fortune in "energy-saving" products, here are some tips on keeping your energy bill a bit more reasonable.

David Ware
Xcel Energy
5309 W. 70th St.
Edina, MN 55439
(612) 330-5500
www.xcelenergy.com

David Ware has worked for Xcel Energy for the last 10 years and understands the high cost of heating in the winter for Minnesotans. He has helped modify the budget plan to make energy bills more affordable for Minnesotans and is working towards providing free equipment to homes that will also save energy and reduce costs. Ware occasionally makes visits to businesses and homes to help them understand why their bill may have increased over the years. Here are some quick and easy suggestions for making your energy bill a little smaller.

Check Out Your Vents

When was the last time you made sure your vents were clean? They may not even be open all the way. Keeping those heat and air vents clean plays a big role in how much energy it takes to heat your home. It makes perfect sense that a blocked vent will keep the heat from coming through, however, cleaning the vents is a chore usually missed during routine household cleaning. There are also filters in those vents that help prevent blocked vents. The filters should also be replaced regularly — another chore often overlooked.

Washing Machine
(credit: CBS)

Do Your Laundry At Night

When the sun goes down, the cost of energy does as well. Many energy companies charge less for off-peak hours. In Minnesota, most communities get this benefit after 8 p.m. If it can wait, run the washing machine and dryer at night. Laundry continues to be a big consumer of energy, so, aside from doing it at night, you can conserve energy by not overstuffing the dryer. Leave about 25 percent of its capacity for air flow and avoid having to run it twice. Another trick is to wash everything you can in cold water. Hot water uses more energy and cold can be just as effective in cleaning your clothes.

Turn Off Energy-Suckers

Many small appliances contribute little to the energy bill. Small fans or kitchen gadgets don't make much of a difference when they are used a lot. However, there are some appliances and electronics that are notable energy-suckers. The biggest among these are newer gaming systems, television sets and desktop computers. These electronics are a problem because they are often left on all the time. Even in sleep mode, desktop computers drain energy and contribute to a higher bill. The best way to control these culprits is to turn them all the way off when not in use.

Related: Best Ways To Go Green And Save Money

Icy Window In Woodbury, Minn.
(credit: Janet Hartje)

Seal Up Cracks

Almost undetectable but still there, gaps around windows and door frames can make it difficult to keep the heat in. Many older windows also offer poor insulation and can cause an increase in energy usage to keep the house comfortable. Using expanding foam or caulk around these areas may make a huge difference in heating over the course of the long Minnesota winter. Some homes even opt to use plastic sheeting to cover windows completely.

Stop The Browsing!

Believe it or not, the longer you hold open your refrigerator door, the more money it costs you. Keeping that produce and dairy cold takes a lot of energy that can be contained with the door closed. However, holding that door open, even for just 30 seconds, makes your refrigerator work harder to keep those things from defrosting. Know what you want before you hold that door open.

Related: Ask A Minnesota Expert: Decorating Your First Apartment On A Budget

Andrea Wodele is a freelance writer who has lived in the Twin Cities for the last 10 years. Her hobbies include exercising, driving kids around, watching Minnesota sports, and reading self-help literature. Examiner.com.

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