The Cheapest Ways to Save Money on Your Electric Bill

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  • čas přidán 29. 07. 2011
  • For little to no money you can cut your electric bill. Here's some things I did to our home. Oh, I forgot to say in this video that we also weatherstripped all our doors.
    Intro music by Kevin MacLeod
    Thanks for watching - I love all you folks!!
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Komentáře • 271

  • @badwaterbill
    @badwaterbill Před 6 lety +4

    after watching a number of your video's I have concluded that you are filled with common sense, a little knowledge, and the generosity to share your solutions with us, thanks Jan.

  • @thesaintsofrunescape
    @thesaintsofrunescape Před 10 lety +32

    Put the R Matte boards on my windows on the west and east side of the house. Cost me about $50 for 5 boards. First month I had them was this month (June 2014) I saved 30% on my energy cost (compared to last June) which was $72!!! They work!

  • @studentthe1560
    @studentthe1560 Před 4 lety

    Talk about charisma! You've got plenty of it. God Bless YOU!

  • @ashunderwood88
    @ashunderwood88 Před 8 lety +53

    Haha you are an absolute doll!

  • @b.dharqe5099
    @b.dharqe5099 Před 5 lety +1

    Love your advice and humour. I bet you're awesome to hang with. Thanks!

  • @michaelangel6201
    @michaelangel6201 Před 8 lety +2

    Great video, essentially when you answered a question I was wondering, but a piece of drape on the reflective material...gonna try it with my new home.

  • @NikkiBlackwell
    @NikkiBlackwell Před 7 lety +10

    we live in AZ and my house faces west! this was the best idea ever!!! just did our bedroom and it was always so damn hot! now it's the coolest part of the house. We will be doing the kids rooms next and look forward to see the savings on my bill! Thank you so much!! ps this is the only video I found that uses this type of insulation foam board.

  • @Monscent
    @Monscent Před 12 lety

    And once again a video of yours brighten up my otherwise gloomy day. Thanks alot!

  • @phxmateo
    @phxmateo Před 7 lety +9

    When I lived in Phoenix I planted a hedge around the house, up against the house, to shield the block house from the sun. The first summer I lived there the walls would be warm to touch. The couple summers later when the hedge was over 6 feet tall, the walls were room temperature and the a/c worked less to cool the house from the miserable 6 month summers.

  • @4OneBill
    @4OneBill Před 7 lety +2

    Some great ideas, thanks for sharing.

  • @kianakan96826
    @kianakan96826 Před 5 lety

    You are great! Love your excitement and helpful information! Thank you!

  • @willanaify
    @willanaify Před 9 lety +1

    Good information, thank you so much, brief, to the point, simple instructions, I'm going to try some of these.

  • @beigebiscuit8081
    @beigebiscuit8081 Před 8 lety +2

    funny and informative love the almost not there giggle at the end ☺am going to to do the window covers next summer.

  • @jameslong4012
    @jameslong4012 Před 10 lety +1

    Hi Steeljan. Thank you for your tips. I loves the ideas. Why haven't I thought of that? Wow! I am sure gonna try this. One of the thing I was stuck on my searching was how to check for cracks. Your's is so easy to do on checking for cracks at the Windows.

  • @angelasheppard8477
    @angelasheppard8477 Před 8 lety +3

    Absolutely loved this video.Good tips.

  • @jedwhit1
    @jedwhit1 Před 9 lety +2

    I really enjoyed watching. Fun and helpful.

  • @trywait1979
    @trywait1979 Před 6 lety +2

    wow! thank you for this, I never really knew such little tips can help so much

  • @nareshkoppala
    @nareshkoppala Před 12 lety +1

    Hey Steel Jan, thank you soo much. your representation is superb. This information really helped me a lot. Thank you once again.

  • @astrialindah2773
    @astrialindah2773 Před 10 lety

    BEAUTIFUL!!! Such great and easy ideas.........LOVE it! TY!!

  • @truckpipe
    @truckpipe Před 12 lety +2

    Love that poster tip for the window blocks. thanks Gregg

  • @terriecotham1567
    @terriecotham1567 Před 7 lety +1

    Works good keeping the heat in or cold out in the winter thanks for posting

  • @katdawgaz
    @katdawgaz Před 7 lety +1

    Loved your video! Thanks for posting :)

  • @blessed2breath
    @blessed2breath Před 4 lety

    Solid advice. Thanks!

  • @CoreyMurnaghan
    @CoreyMurnaghan Před 10 lety +1

    Well put, excellent ideas!

  • @evesgirls4897
    @evesgirls4897 Před 8 lety +8

    Thank you. You're cool. Smart lady and you share your knowledge:)

  • @taniag9411
    @taniag9411 Před 5 lety

    Glad I came across your video. Throughly, enjoyed watching you. Ty.

  • @dannytwork920
    @dannytwork920 Před 9 lety +1

    Like your idea about the foamboard. We will try it.

  • @JaimsD
    @JaimsD Před 8 lety +3

    wELL I LOVE YOURE IDEA'S.
    With the money prob's people have been having lately this should definitely help

  • @kimarakas8982
    @kimarakas8982 Před 8 lety +6

    Thanks for posting this video! What a great idea. We have suffered with the sun beating down on our west facing windows since we bought our house 5 years ago. This spring while waiting for our central a/c to be repaired, I couldn't bear it any longer. We ran to our local lowes and found the exact insulation board you spoke of. We bought a cheap roll of duct tape and tidied up the seams right there in the store, after they cut the pieces to our measurements. We could feel the difference as soon as we slid the pieces into our windows!!! Thanks again for saving us a 6th year of sweltering in the blazing Georgia sun. We anticipate seeing a nice reduction in our electric bill as well - but even if we didn't, the $50 we put out for this, is TOTALLY worth the cooler temperatures we feel inside our home.

    • @steeljan
      @steeljan  Před 8 lety +1

      +Kim Arakas So glad this helped you Kim. Stay frosty ;-)

  • @MsLee-oh7hy
    @MsLee-oh7hy Před 4 lety

    Awesome video ❤️ I made some panels with aluminum foil and cardboard. I love that they block out SO much light!

  • @catthouser9032
    @catthouser9032 Před 5 lety +1

    Great tips. I've had the AC guys out here I don't know how many times with our Central AC unit and no one ever suggested shading the unit. And yep our unit sits directly in the Sun.

  • @thevikingwolfpack836
    @thevikingwolfpack836 Před 6 lety +7

    Paint one side black an holes top an bottom an flip them for the season for passive solar heating in winter an the shiny side for summer

  • @acityshrub9235
    @acityshrub9235 Před 10 lety

    You are so funny and helpful - thank you!

  • @AmyACox
    @AmyACox Před 11 lety +2

    My house is like an oven in the summer time. My ac runs all day (it's sitting in the sun) an I have a picture window. It doesn't help that my next door neighbor (to the west of me) cut down ALL of his trees. So now my home gets full sun at the hottest time of the day. I appreciate your tips I am going to give them a try. You are awesome, thank you!

  • @bredwhiteblue9804
    @bredwhiteblue9804 Před 9 lety +22

    I just went to the "dollar" store, and bought up several automobile foil windshield shades. Then, I measure my home's window. I cut the shades to fit the windows, (one doesn't do the job, so I have to adapt two or more shades to fit) and use white duct tape (looks nicer) to tape the sections together to fit the window. The shade is attached using self-stick "Velcro", attaching the "fuzzy" side to the window frame, and the "scratchy" side to the shade. Then, when you want to remove it, just (carefully) pull it off.
    I also did this in several of my kitchen cupboards that heated up in the afternoon sun. I just put one or two "Velcro" tabs at the top, back of the cupboards, and pressed the shade against the back. It keeps my cupboard contents cooler. (Once, during a really hot Summer, before using the shade, I had several cans of food explode inside the cupboards - what a mess!)

    • @heal0152
      @heal0152 Před 6 lety +1

      AHHH!! IT IS TOO MUCH FOR ME TO READ

    • @PrimateProductions
      @PrimateProductions Před 5 lety +4

      Rinaldo Kiissa holy shit at the dumbasses these days!! That little tiny paragraph was just too much for your poor little brain to process?? What the hell do you do in real life when it is necessary for you to read more than a few words..like instructions for something or an important letter from someone or when your illiterate kid (since in definitely seems to run in families) is going to jail and they send you a letter telling you how to rectify it (oops sorry..that word was much too complicated..
      I am continually amazed at the number of idiots these days that have never even read a novel

    • @Daniel-kh8bw
      @Daniel-kh8bw Před 4 lety

      @@PrimateProductions no u

    • @PrimateProductions
      @PrimateProductions Před 4 lety +3

      @@Daniel-kh8bw um nope..not only can I write but I can also read more than 2 sentences in a row...I wasn't the one who said it was too many words!🙄

    • @Daniel-kh8bw
      @Daniel-kh8bw Před 4 lety

      @@PrimateProductions proud of u.

  • @enochpowelghost
    @enochpowelghost Před 10 lety

    hi rob from England here we use heavy curtains in the winter , those on a tight budget can indeed buy from "fleah market" or boot sales as we call it.
    i am a guy and i use my sewing machine to measure and made to fit.
    this saves a lot of energy and it great fun making it too.
    love your video keep up the good work!
    a keen recycler

  • @GGiblet
    @GGiblet Před 7 lety

    your AC has its own ghillie suit! *Thank You* for all these tips

  • @jamesc426
    @jamesc426 Před 10 lety

    Love the simplicity....I live in Arizona and have several windows (in bedrooms) we never use because they get direct sunlight. I bet this would save us a small fortune in the summer! Thanks for the idea...

  • @dawnd.5290
    @dawnd.5290 Před 5 lety

    So helpful. Thanks 👍

  • @ADP26
    @ADP26 Před rokem

    That was a really good video. Very informative and entertaining.

  • @beckip8472
    @beckip8472 Před 9 lety +4

    OMG, you are so funny! Thoroughly enjoyed your video (and your personality). Great tips too. I'm thinking of trying your reflective foam core panels idea on the upper portion of one of my street-facing windows but of course, I don't want it to look like what it actually is from the street view. I have an idea and would like your opinion on whether it would work or not. I have a few leftover white sheer curtain panels that I'm going to pleat and staple onto the foam core panels that face the outdoors, so it will match the sheers I have hanging on that window. Do you think this will work?

  • @wellmixed7269
    @wellmixed7269 Před 5 lety

    Thank you for sharing 😊

  • @Aquahoma
    @Aquahoma Před 9 lety +3

    Thank you so much. I've been using the Alum foil for years and it helps save a lot of money. especially when you have as many windows as we have. The incense trick COOL BEANS I am going to try that one. I have subscribed to your videos and I am so glad I found you. Great movie poster lol

  • @MistyWoman4
    @MistyWoman4 Před 6 lety +1

    Loved this. You have a great personality. Thanks for all the tips. I wish you would show your cover for your outside AC unit. I'm sure no one cares if it's messy. Just would love to see how you did it because we need to also. We live in a single wide Mobile home in Florida. Our electric bill this month was over $300!!!! Granted it's an older unit but I think that's way too high, even for living in FL. Again, thanks so much 🤗

  • @Stringbean
    @Stringbean Před 7 lety

    You are a legend thank you, that looks a lot better than just the foil

  • @visitlynn
    @visitlynn Před 12 lety

    You are just too cool ~ You never cease to amaze me SteelJan! :) :) I think you are simply awesome.

  • @scottnewnham8383
    @scottnewnham8383 Před 6 lety +4

    'and I go around and say a small blessing' hehehehe Awesome video, I live in UK and we are having a 'heatwave', although, I am from Australia so I am used to extreme temperatures. In the UK the temp may be lower, but the air is still and humid. I have aluminium foiled my windows, looks like a crack den from the outside but it's much more bearable. Thank you costco for your industrial rolls of baking foil! Love, love, LOVE your video BTW - OUTSTANDING!

  • @threeque
    @threeque Před 12 lety

    "I also say a small blessing" lol, great video Jan.

  • @VarnHomestead
    @VarnHomestead Před 11 lety +4

    Great idea!

  • @magogon70
    @magogon70 Před 6 lety +2

    Excelent ideas 😄😄😄thankyou

  • @SubcribetoTin
    @SubcribetoTin Před 7 lety +2

    THANK YOU STEELJAN! :^) wish I watched this video sooner.

  • @debymorrow5831
    @debymorrow5831 Před 6 lety

    My kinda girl!!! Duct tape and insulation board . . . exactly what I used! Love it! Yeah it works too - I also put the 8 x 4 insul boards just propped against French doors to the deck outside - reflected all light away from doors and room was cool! Now I'm taping alum foil to windows - another thing was 'Shams' 15x50 wrapped around the porch cutting down 60% UV - worth the investment and allows enough moisture for plants shaded by it. Thanks SteelJan!

  • @ByEdi1
    @ByEdi1 Před 8 lety +1

    Loved that! You are fun to watch. Does it help with noise as well? Thank you!

  • @bob75ma
    @bob75ma Před 6 lety

    great video. i live in a trailer home in Massachusetts and i will be utilizing this information to save on my electric bill. thank you

  • @rhinsen
    @rhinsen Před 12 lety +4

    Love the videos Jan........

  • @sandlappersue01
    @sandlappersue01 Před 8 lety +1

    Wow! Thanks so much!

  • @hope2029
    @hope2029 Před 2 lety

    Those are great in winter too.

  • @helenporter9750
    @helenporter9750 Před 2 lety

    Hi Jan thanks for the board idea l put up some a foil bag yesterday l was in a hurry just wanted to cool down the house 90+ for the last few days + more to come l used the big ice cooler bag because you can cut the bottom out and use them over + over l like your idea of making boards good job🤔

  • @AlbertInSanAntonio
    @AlbertInSanAntonio Před 6 lety

    Here in South Texas and it's hot! Ty for the tips

  • @walkinglive9080
    @walkinglive9080 Před 2 lety

    you are so sweet, thank you for the information ❤️ I actually came here (from norway) to learn how to increase heat in my home from the windows 😅. Still, I learned some interesting information for the summer

  • @1972darcymarkwell
    @1972darcymarkwell Před 12 lety +2

    thanks for the tips

  • @Vegetanthony
    @Vegetanthony Před 8 lety +2

    Thanks for this video good stuff

  • @jh58
    @jh58 Před 3 lety

    Great video SteelJan!

  • @bro3162003
    @bro3162003 Před 12 lety +1

    That's was very helpful, thanks

  • @JeffAKASlingertheMan
    @JeffAKASlingertheMan Před 12 lety

    as always great video!

  • @Chris9699
    @Chris9699 Před 11 lety +5

    R mat plus 3 more like GOOD BYE HEAT. Seriously , this helped me a lot. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

  • @vengidajalamlakshmanan2560

    Nice to hear from u

  • @heidis8713
    @heidis8713 Před 5 lety

    Nice! I bought some of this last month for a different project, but I'm looking at my receipt, and was just confirming the price. I got it at Lowe's for $12.98 for the exact same size. 0.5" x 4' x 8'. There is a thinner one for like $9 or $10. Great vid!

  • @XEmeralDQueenX
    @XEmeralDQueenX Před 8 lety +21

    Thanks for the tip great video, you are hilarous :)

  • @karenredding9439
    @karenredding9439 Před 6 lety

    I have one huge south faceing window that heats up my living room. Im going to buy that installation board and cover it in white sheets i already have for the outside appearance, and inside too! I've been foiling it ever summer, it looks awful! Thanks for this awesome video!

  • @johndoe-wb2mv
    @johndoe-wb2mv Před 8 lety

    loved the video your so funny and good tips

  • @nimbleokcn
    @nimbleokcn Před rokem

    Just making it to this video in 2022. Love your vibes ❤️

  • @user-Galow
    @user-Galow Před 6 lety +2

    thank you,. good video

  • @zestafpv427
    @zestafpv427 Před 5 lety

    Great tips 👍

  • @BudgetMadam
    @BudgetMadam Před 9 lety +3

    Great tips

  • @lostindiancamp
    @lostindiancamp Před 8 lety +1

    I live in Southeast Texas. It is 100 degrees out right now. I have reflective window film on all my windows and blackout curtains on most of the windows that face everywhere but the north side of the house. The house is dark, but I have no doubt I am saving energy by not having to run the a/c full blast. I keep my a/c on 80 all summer.

  • @meanttobehere12
    @meanttobehere12 Před 7 lety

    Thank you for the tips. Lucky I'm watching this in Feb. ahead of the heat wave. Going to share it as well. Better than aluminum foil because it looks better and easily removed.

  • @steeljan
    @steeljan  Před 12 lety

    @FredBruyns I use these panels in winter too, like right now. We take out the panels in the daytime where the sun beats in and helps heat the house, but leave the ones in where it's shaded to keep the heat inside. Works great. Glad it's helping you too! Cheers!

  • @XxZeRoMaTrixxX
    @XxZeRoMaTrixxX Před 6 lety +2

    Love this video I'm having this issue here during the summer how our room is getting blasted with heat I'm going to take this idea and let you know the results thanks

    • @XxZeRoMaTrixxX
      @XxZeRoMaTrixxX Před 5 lety +1

      It honestly helped out a lot I kept them on my Windows ever since

  • @steeljan
    @steeljan  Před 12 lety

    You're quite welcome. Many years ago I had a condo with sliding doors that baked in the sun and I used that reflective film on them, the same stuff used to tint car windows. That worked better in that case because I wanted the light but wanted to reflect off the sun's heat. Just another idea for ya. Cheers!

  • @angelgomez2430
    @angelgomez2430 Před 2 lety

    I have never heard of this before glad I watch this hope they have this at home dept

  • @aprilhunter
    @aprilhunter Před 5 lety

    Thank you! #BRILLIANT

  • @steeljan
    @steeljan  Před 12 lety +1

    @truckpipe Sure thing. Thanks for taking time to watch and write.

  • @antoniorivera1646
    @antoniorivera1646 Před 9 lety +2

    you can also use reflective tinted glass and you can still see from inside out.

  • @CrystalReneeMusic
    @CrystalReneeMusic Před 6 lety

    You are so adorable. New subscriber lol :) Thanks for the tips, this is going to help me out a lot.

  • @mandymolina8607
    @mandymolina8607 Před 9 lety +7

    i did this, and i put them in all of our window and doors.. glad I did that... its very effective...

  • @steeljan
    @steeljan  Před 12 lety +2

    @bmeyer44 Great tip, thanks. Of course, adding another air conditioner would raise the electric bill, not lower it. In the summer, I'm always wracking my brain trying to think of more ways to keep the heat out before it ever gets in. Few years back, I contacted every solar company in the area and our electric coop and asked if they would like to build a solar farm on our land and all we'd take from it is free electricity for our home. Alas, no takers.

  • @barpoe1
    @barpoe1 Před 9 lety +13

    lol, you're so cool!

  • @steeljan
    @steeljan  Před 12 lety

    @Cryssichi We also use these panels in winter, like right now. We take out the ones that let in sunlight during the day to help heat the house, but leave the ones in that are on the shaded side of the house, to keep heat in. When the sun starts to go down, we slip all the panels back in for the night, to keep heat in. Hope that helps.

  • @sherylnapier6020
    @sherylnapier6020 Před 5 lety

    Great video!

  • @86sexymomma
    @86sexymomma Před 11 lety +1

    you're awesome!!!

  • @Mygodshestall
    @Mygodshestall Před 10 lety

    lol...love your attitude

  • @ricardomagana7164
    @ricardomagana7164 Před 5 lety

    Thank you Jan. Excellent video and very informative. I'm now going to home depot to buy my insulation sheets for a couple of my windows. When you live in a place with summers of many 117-118 deg days, any energy savings count.

    • @hope2029
      @hope2029 Před 2 lety

      Where does it get 'that' hot!

  • @Katsuya89
    @Katsuya89 Před 12 lety

    Hmm, this seems like a great idea. I have a slide door in my room, that faces directly East, so my room basically gets baked in the South Fla sun during the day. I just measured my door out, and they are exactly 4 ft wide each, so it would fit perfectly. I think I'll go to Home Depot tomorrow, and buy some. Thank for the great tip.

  • @EJCMunyard
    @EJCMunyard Před 9 lety +1

    thanks for this :)

  • @DickyBenfield
    @DickyBenfield Před 12 lety +1

    lol, great video, great tips... so true about the tax deductions... drives me crazy that we can't itemize, but so goes life... anyway, again, great tips. i think i will do that with our windows, every little bit helps.. Thanks...

  • @targetbuttmonkey
    @targetbuttmonkey Před 12 lety

    Was wondering if the foam with reflective surface would help with keeping radiant light and heat out of southwest facing rooms. Will give it a try now after hearing it does work. Thanks for the tip!

  • @Anthony_Spilotro
    @Anthony_Spilotro Před 6 lety +1

    Hello Jan form Nova Scotia ,Canada. Any vids on saving heat in winter?

  • @threeque
    @threeque Před 12 lety

    @steeljan I'm in Canada, and yep, we have had a few hot days here. And my a/c unit is in full afternoon sun. I will have to think about that!!

  • @daryldettmer9160
    @daryldettmer9160 Před 8 lety

    Hi Steeljan, what about for the winter months, i have single pane windows . would i put the aluminum facing the inside then ?