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Rockwall family saves $200 a month in energy bills

Homeowner cuts energy bill in half with simple insulation fixes and maintenance.

ROCKWALL, Texas — Marhsall Harding and his family live in a four bedroom home in Rockwall, Texas. 

He spends about $400 a month to pay off energy bills and managed to cut that number in half with home insulation fixes and maintenance.  

"I'm a family guy and I have three kids,” Harding said. “Any time you can save money here or there to support whatever activities you got going on, it's a good thing."

The annual energy cost for a single family home in the U.S. is more than $2,000, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. 

Bradley Hehn from Baker Brothers Plumbing, Air & Electric states 90 percent of U.S. homes are under-insulated. This means heat leaks out of your house in the winters and seeps in during the summer. 

“I did an insulation job on a home about a few years ago and his bill went from $600 to under $200 a month," Hehn said. “It was a rather large house, too.” 

To save a few bucks, start with the chimney. Make sure the chute is closed to prevent a cold draft from leaking in and causing your heater to work harder. 

“Change your air filter every 30 or 40 days,” Hehn said. “I know some filters say 90 days, but try 30 and you’ll see a difference in your energy bill.” 

A programmable thermostat with an automatic feature can help you out as well. It can help your reduce energy usage while you’re sleeping or away from your home. It can also save a homeowner about 30 percent on their heating and cooling bills. 

But the biggest culprit is the attic. 

“A quick insulation up there can save you the most with energy costs and gets you your return on investment the fastest,” Hehn said. 

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