Energy saving devices and habits can help reduce monthly bills

Bills -- undeniably a large part of one's budget. A person can save money by cutting down on shopping, entertainment and other expenses, but bills, especially for things such as electricity and water, can't be cut out completely. But there are ways -- some old and some new -- to bring the number down on those payments.

Steve P. Muna, special projects coordinator with the Guam Energy Office, provided helpful tips on how to conserve energy, and your money.

"The most important and inexpensive way to save on utilities would be a lighting retrofit," Muna said. Homeowners can do so by changing out all incandescent lighting and replace them with compact fluorescent light bulbs. Muna said during the first few years the bulbs were available on the market, they were a bit pricey, but now the prices are a lot more reasonable.

Insulation is also key, Muna said. There are many items that can help ensure that your house stays as cool as possible, without pushing your air conditioner to work any harder than is absolutely necessary. According to the manager of Guam Home Center, Mike Wu, roof coating can reflect 90 percent of the sun's heat. Also, a great product for ensuring that cold air doesn't escape is foam insulator. Found in can form, the insulator covers cracks that can be present around window air conditioning units.

Muna also suggested strategically planting trees so their shade can help cool your home at very little cost to you.

"Trees are taken for granted but they protect the planet and will help save you money," Muna said.

Another important tip provided by the Guam Energy Office was to stop "vampire suckers." Vampire suckers, according to Muna, are devices that, even though they are turned off, are still sucking energy. Such devices include televisions, gaming consoles, movie players and cable boxes.

"Those little red lights that show when devices are turned off means that they are still using power," Muna said. Multi-outlets can help cut down on any unused power. Muna suggest plugging all devices around the entertainment center into one multi-outlet. When homeowners go to sleep or leave the house, all they need to do is hit one switch and stop all power flowing to those devices.
Appliance rebates

The Guam Energy Office can also help those in the market for new energy-efficient appliances like refrigerators, washers and air conditioners. The goal of the energy office is to help homeowners purchase more eco-friendly appliances by providing rebate vouchers. Those interested should visit the Guam Energy Office before shopping, as vouchers are only valid at participating retailers.

With a little research and investment, homeowners can save money on their utility bills. Whether it's purchasing items to help with conservation efforts or just picking up new habits -- it can be done.