Is There Really a Payoff for doing Energy Saving tricks?

Yes. And Nikki Blessinger knows it. She is the editor of Xcel Energy's Energy e-Magazine and wrote an article on the benefits of saving energy, and saving money wasn't the only one. Follow the link at the end of the article to see Xcel Energy's energy saving video with other great tips and tricks.

Each month, I have the honor of communicating with nearly a million people served by Xcel Energy. Often I receive thank-you notes on the info, tips, rebates, etc. provided viaYour Energy e-Magazine. Occasionally, I receive some not-so-complimentary emails from readers who are frustrated with rate increases and who dismiss our energy efficiency programs as "smoke and mirrors."

Frustration over price increases is a normal, and I would argue, healthy response. We see prices increasing constantly for gasoline, milk and just about anything that requires energy to produce. I guess the question that remains in some minds, is whether or not the practice of taking energy-saving steps in your home or business really pays off. While it would be great if you took my word for it, I think it would be even better for me to share the experiences some of our readers were kind enough to share .   Letter from the Your Energy Mail Box Hello Xcel Energy....Just wanted to let you know about something we did in our new home that seems to have paid off immediately. Last October, my wife and I moved into a 20-year-old home. We got an idea from the office we work in to install motion-sensor light switches in key areas of the home. We put one in the kitchen, one in the hallway and one in the master bathroom. One of the nice features of these switches is that you can also adjust the daytime light sensitivity so the lights don't come on with motion unless the ambient room light is low (near sundown). After just one month our kilowatt hour usage dropped by 100 kWh. It seems feasible that the motion-sensor switches are the main reason for the reduced electricity use. The switches are also adjustable as to how long they stay on after they stop sensing motion. We paid about $18 for each switch and they are easy to install. Sincerely,  Phil from Colorado Comfort Is a Big Payoff And here's a note from another customer, Roy Schewe, who requested an energy audit and as a result made home improvements through Xcel Energy's Home Perfomance with ENERGY STAR(R) program. Here's the note from Mr. Schewe: Utilizing incentives from the Xcel Energy Home Performance program, we bought an ENERGY STAR thermostat. We did the air sealing and added insulation to the attic and replaced all the light bulbs in the house with CFLs. We also sealed up and insulated the crawlspace. Our house is MUCH more comfortable, both in hot and cold weather. We noticed that we didn't need to run the air conditioner as often and the same goes for the furnace. The kitchen floor no longer requires us to wear slippers in the winter! The Good, the Bad, the Energy Efficient There is good news and bad news on the horizon. The bad news, energy prices will most likely continue to rise. The good news, there are many things we all can do to keep our energy bills as low as possible and help improve the comfort of our homes. Following is a list of websites that can help:  Resource Guide to Energy Efficiency ENERGY STAR Energy Savvy for Minnesotans Recharge Colorado ResponsibleByNature.com Tax Incentives for Energy Efficiency Xcel Energy Rebate Programs Email me with your comments (yes - even the less-than-cheery ones) and stories.    Nikki Blessinger, a.k.a. Nikki B. Energy Vampire Slayer is the editor of Your Energy e-Magazine. Currently in a self-prescribed 10-step program for energy addiction, Nikki is on a personal mission to help people like her change their energy-using ways. Click here to see the article and Xcel Energy video

GES is a trusted Snugg Home Colorado Contractor

Green Energy Solutions is a trusted Snugg Home Contractor. Check out Snugg Home Colorado's website.

Rim Joist and Box Sill Insulation

All buildings are are subject to something called the "stack effect". When a building has openings, cracks, or ventilation at the top of the building, and similar ventilation at the bottom, there can be air movement either up or down, through the building. When the outside air is colder (denser) than the inside air, the flow goes out at the top, and in at the bottom. The reverse is true when the the outside air is warmer than the inside air.


One common area for air to come in is in the basement where your first floor meets the basement foundation walls. When you are in the basement looking up, you can see floor joists running across the basement ceiling. Capping those off around the perimeter of your house are rim joists. The sill plate is what those two pieces sit on. The concrete and wood can't form an airtight seal because wood shrinks over time and concrete is never poured perfectly. This causes gaps to become more substantial over time and allows a constant stream of air into the house. 


These problems can be easily fixed by air sealing and insulating the rim joist and box sills. This is most convenient to perform in unfinished basements/crawl spaces and has the capability of creating a noticeable comfort increase as well as a decrease in utility costs.

Why Add More Insulation?

Adding insulation above the minimum requirements help by:

• Increasing your energy savings (You can save up to 45% on energy costs)
• Providing greater noise control
• controlling moisture which helps your house and roof last longer
• The cost to upgrade insulation is minimal and the benefits are significant