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As the western U.S. suffers through a sweltering heat wave, some parts of Idaho and Washington state are hitting temperatures in the triple digits. Billings, MT is forecast to hit 103, Boise ID 101 and Richland, WA should hit 100. While the weather where you live may not be that extreme right now, chances are you can still save substantial money and feel way more comfortable doing it by doing some basic weather proofing and maintenance to your home. Here are some quick money saving tips for decreasing energy usage around the house.

Money Saving Tip 1
Use some caulk – This stuff's cheap, so you shouldn't be. Go to your local hardware store, and don't forget to bring those coupons you got on Tuesday. Get two kinds of caulk, the expanding foam kind and the white latex kind. Plug every crack or hole in your house you can find where hot or cold air can make you miserable and your HVAC system work harder. When it works harder, you work longer (to pay your utility bill).

Money Saving Tip 2
Change your filters – Just like in your car, a clogged or partially clogged air filter will cut your system efficiency and cost you money. It's amazing so many people will spend extra money buying the most efficient heating and A/C system they can find, then neglect the basic maintenance required to keep those extra efficiency points they paid extra for.

Money Saving Tip 3
Ask around – Check with your utility companies to see if they offer different prices depending on the time of day. Many do, especially in the summer when they are trying to reduce peak demand on their systems due to air conditioning usage. If they offer reduced rates, choose those times to do any activities that consume extra power, like showers and clothes washing.

Money Saving Tip 4
Look at your bill – If you have both gas and electricity, a look at you bills will supply some insight as to where your energy goes. Look at the yearly history. If, for example, your gas bill is far higher in the summer than in the winter, you can be assured that's for keeping your toes warm on those cold, winter nights. Look at the amount of gas you're using in the summer. If you've got gas hot water, that will be the potential for savings that exists by improving the efficiency of your hot water system.

For example, if your gas bill in the winter is $210/ month and $33/ month in the summer (as mine were recently), even if you got a really efficient water heater, there aren't huge money savings to be had. If you got a pretty large, 25% improvement in efficiency from it, you'd only save $8.25 a month. While $8.00 monthly savings add up, you'd be better served by improving the efficiency of your heating system 10%. Bottom line, maybe that $1,800 tankless water heater isn't going to pay for itself in your lifetime, although the endless showers may be a better reason for getting one (there go any savings).

Money Saving Tip 5
Review your insurance – You should do this for both your home owner's and auto insurance. Make sure not only are you getting the best value, but that you have enough coverage to protect you. If your insurance won't pay to rebuild your home, for example, it isn't doing you much good. Make sure it covers what you need, and then raise your deductible. Sadly, with the way insurance companies operate, it's really only disaster insurance. You don't want to actually use it, lest you get dropped, blackballed, or have your rates raised through the roof. So kick that deductible up as high as they'll let you, or at least over $1,000.

Money Saving Tip 6
Maintain everything so you don't get stuck replacing it. Many things around your house require regular maintenance that the majority of homeowners never do. For example one big item (no pun intended) that gets missed regularly is the garage door. If you've ever had to replace one, you know they're really expensive. Take about 10 minutes every month or two and give them some love. It's better than getting the boys at Larry's Overhead Door and Lock out to your house for the day.
 

On a totally nonrelated note -

A recent survey of Toyota Prius owners found that the overwhelming reason most of them gave for purchasing te hybrid Prius was that "It makes a statement about me". You'd think it would be "to help the environent" or "save money on gas", but no, it's all about making a statement about ME!