Brad’s got some advice on how to cut your utilities from $300 to $30. 

Remember that hoopla a couple months ago when Brad Pitt fessed up to spending the majority of the 90s surfing the couch with a spliff in his hand? The juiciest bit of that interview, covered by gossip rags and I do believe CNN, was that he maybe inadvertently dissed his ex-wife. But the most interesting quote was buried at the end of the interview.

Talking about his houses in New Orleans, he claimed that, “People…who were used to dealing with $300 electric bills, are now paying $30, sometimes nothing.”

Now that is news worth reporting. Why? Because it’s based in reality.

We all have bills to pay and it sucks to fork out more to energy companies than we have to because of shoddy construction or, worse yet, significant failings on our part.

“You build it tight, sealing it; you build in the direction of the sun and the wind; and you use solar and water collection. It’s not that hard to do.”

Brad Pitt, thank you for pointing that out. You’re so sexy and smart.

Well, EcoSalon. You’re quite the looker, too.

Oh, stop flirting.

The next time you find yourself building a house from the ground up, we know that you’ll be taking Brad’s advice. In the meantime, here are 14 other ways to make the abodes in which we reside now more energy efficient this winter so that we, too, can save beaucoup bucks like Brad.

1. Unplug: roughly 75 percent of energy consumed by home appliances occurs while they’re turned off but still plugged in.

2. Drop the Thermostat: every degree you lower in winter and raise in summer can reduce your heating and cooling bills by 1 percent or more. Per the EPA, a programmable thermostat that allows you to set temperatures for different times of day can save you about $150 a year.

3. Get a Blanket: If your water heater is more than seven years old, wrap it up in an insulation blanket to prevent the release of up to 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide.

4. Insulate Your Pipes: if your pipes are warm to the touch, insulate them and you’ll end up paying less for hot water. Hardware stores offer pre-slit pipe foam.

5. Close Off Drafts: sealing drafts and upping insulation can reduce your bills by up to 20 percent, per the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy.

6. Clean Your Furnace Filters: a dirty filter restricts airflow and increases energy demand. Not very sexy, but pretend we’re Tyler Durden.

7. Double the Pane: replacing single-pane windows with energy-efficient double panes can reduce your heating costs by up to one-third. Or get an air-trapping door sweep, which is really cheap.

8. Get Better Bulbs: a quarter of our energy used goes to lights. Per the U.S. Dept. of Energy, if every household replaced one traditional bulb with an energy-efficient CFL, we would save $600 million in utility bills. For us, that’s a $30 savings for each bulb.

That was nice, but you know what really turns me on? Insulation.

9. Neutralize Your Footprint: for every pound of carbon dioxide your home releases, you can fund an environment-friendly endeavor that reduces the amount of greenhouse gases released into the air. They’re called offsets, which can be calculated and purchased at Carbonfund.org and Terrapass.com.

10. Swing Both Ways: a ceiling fan set to rotate counterclockwise creates warm air because air pooled near the ceiling (remember: heat rises) is circulated back into the living space, which could save you 10% on heating costs.

11. Use Storm Windows and Doors: installing them can increase your energy efficiency by 45%.

12. DIY Insulation: also very cheap are seal it yourself window insulation kits.

13. Buy an Energy Monitor: TED (The Energy Detective) is expensive, but according to the company you’ll save 15%-20% on each bill, which could amount to hundreds of dollars each year.  

14. Grow a sweater.

You don’t get more energy efficient than this.

Images: Arch Digest; Parade; IMDB; The Washington Post

The post Brad Pitt Talks Utilities + 14 Ways to Cut Cold Weather Costs appeared first on EcoSalon.

As I await a visit from the solar panel guy this week, I’m doing more layering than the Cake Boss. I even wore two pairs of socks last night under my Uggs, along with leg warmers on my hands. My PG&E bill ran into the hundreds this month and it burns me to think about paying that much for energy since I’m keeping the heat turned off most of the time.

Perhaps I’m like Sarah Silverman’s Nana: I’m not cold, just dying. I look around my drafty nest and see that my daughters are weathering the chilly environs in tank tops and going barefoot on the hardwood floors. Clearly, their circulation is better than mine. My husband, too, never seems to be cold. He grew up in Berkeley and acclimated to the tundra a half century ago. Ever since he added insulation to the doors, he never needs extra layers.

My dog has fleece, a blankie for lounging, as well as an extra coat of winter fur to keep cozy. Guess it’s down to my old tabby cat, Audrey (who is starting to resemble Grizabella) and me, the two creatures in the old cottage bungalow forever seeking the light. While she remains curled up in her round brown cat bed by the fireplace, I go looking for cheap heat – which is  a cheap thrill when you are as cold as me.

Here are some tricks to warm those lovely bones during this stormy, low budget winter:

1. The Hot Water Bottle

The delivery of the soothing rubber canteen is the one act of chivalry still alive in my home. My husband fills the red rubber bottle with hot water from the tea kettle and then screws on the top very tight, and places it beside me on the sofa or bed. It is less wasteful than an electric blanket or heating pad. I used one the other night to relieve muscle ache in my lower back, and fell asleep feeling toasty. The warmth can last up to eight hours if the water is hot enough. They are easy to come by, too, from the old hottie to new handmade versions. For tips on use, visit this site.

2. You Are What You Heat: Diet Can Adjust Body Temperature

Sure, wholesome organic veggie soups and peppery chilies served piping hot will help warm your innards, but did you know other foods can help raise your body temp? According to All Foods Natural, a variety of surprising snacks do the trick, including a handful of peanuts, almonds, and seeds like sesame and pumpkin. Spices like cinnamon, cloves, ginger and pepper are body warmers (i.e. swirl those cinnamon sticks in your tea). It’s probably no surprise garlic and onions boost your furnace while lowering cholesterol and fruits and veggies eaten daily in the winter warm the body by aiding the immune system and circulation. Which foods should you avoid in the winter? White foods, cold drinks, alcohol, processed crunchy things, cucumbers and large amounts of butter. Darn.

3. Cover Those Extremities

Heads, fingers and toes: Covering them outdoors works and so goes it for the indoors, too. A warm woolen scarf or organic cotton turtleneck and socks can be worn with your lounging gear, including your pajamas. And our ancestors weren’t so crazy when they wore caps to bed. I draw the line at donning a beanie and hand warmers after the dinner hour (my family thinks I’m eccentric enough), but keeping the toes warm is big. Even if kids complain they are hot, you should insist they cover up a bit around the house.

4. Quick and Dirty Window Fix

If that cold air is seeping in through small cracks in your window trim and frame, you can seal it with a piece of cloth or even duct tape. I find tape comes in handy for many household jobs. Associated Content even recommends patching cracks in the panes with either insulation board or heavy cardboard to prevent air leaks. Of course, it helps the most if you already have good attic insulation and have taken other measures to stop leaks.

5. Furnace and Filter Maintenance

If you must run your heat daily during the winter to keep the teeth from chattering, good old fashioned cleaning of furnaces and heating units and replacing filters each year can help your systems run more effectively while saving you money on your heating bills. It is suggested you check your filter once a month, because if it is clogged, it can’t do its job.

Images: Daryl Mitchell, TV Lesson; Montana.edu; Allfoodsnatural; Athleta; Tapemanblue

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