Reduce Your Utility Bills This Summer

Here in Houston, the utility bills are already making us sweat. So we can either crank up the AC and face the steep bills or crank it down and face the heat. Despite what we may think, there are some small changes that you can make to cut your bills without compromising on your comfort.

Here are five tips I pulled from this recent article about how to cut costs this summer:

1. Make sure you change your air filter every month and get your system checked by a professional every year. Don’t ignore your system until something goes wrong!
2. Make sure your house is leak-free. A professional auditor can test your home or do a quick test yourself. Feel around baseboards, windows, doors, light switches, and sockets for air leaks. Fill the problem areas with foam or caulking. Click here for a full, do-it-yourself guide. Sealing your house properly can save up to 20% on your bills!
3. Use a programmable thermostat so the temperature can rise when no one is home. Many people that have this feature don’t use it but it can save up to 30% on your bills!
4. When your old light bulbs go out, replace them with compact fluorescents. They save money on your electricity bill and generate less heat to help save on AC. 
5. Make sure to turn off your unplug your electronics when you aren’t using them. DVD players, one-cup coffee machines, cell phone chargers, and entertainment centers being turned off will together make a significant difference in your bills. 

Just think: rather than senselessly burning money away by letting your bills run rampant, you could make a few small changes and use the savings to do something fun. There are many more little things you can do to cut costs this summer. Check out this article on MSN Real Estate for more suggestions.