GREAT
WAYS TO
SAVE
2011
9 9
32 In the doughnut hole. If
you entered the Part D coverage gap this year, you’ll get
a 50 percent discount on all
brand-name and biologic drugs
you buy while you’re in the gap.
Over 10 years, you’ll gradually
receive more discounts on
generics as well as brands until
the gap closes in 2020.
33 Cute choppers. If your
whitening strips are too big
for your teeth, cut them in half
horizontally. Two for the price
of one!
26 aarp.org/bulletin JULY-AUGUST 2011
UTILITIES
34 A blanket solution. By
insulating your electric water
heater and its outgoing pipes,
you can lower the temperature
setting and save up to $200 a
year. Pipe sleeves start at $2
for 12 feet, while heater blankets run about $20. Check with
a plumber for safety.
35 Grill with sun. Investigate
buying a solar cooker, which
works by focusing the rays
of the sun on food. Great for
picnics.
>>
36 Go solar. Advanced systems let you light your home
and sell excess electricity to
your power company. Simpler
ones heat your home and
water. All cut your energy costs
but require major upfront investment with a seven- to 20-
year payback. To reduce that
expense, buy used equipment,
collect tax credits and stick
with simpler systems. Find
more information at dsireusa
.org and energystar.gov.
37 Go out green. Biodegradable coffins and other eco-friendly burial measures can
cost half to two-thirds less
than traditional burials. Get information and provider listings
at greenburialcouncil.org.
38 Auto-temperature. By
installing a programmable
thermostat, homeowners can
save up to $180 a year in heating and cooling bills.
39 Go fluorescent. Replace
those energy-hog incandescent bulbs with compact
fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs.
According to the U. S. Department of Energy, replacing a
60-watt incandescent bulb
with a comparable 15-watt CFL
could save you $69 over the
life of the new bulb—typically
seven years.
40 Stop gushing. Turn the
valves under the kitchen and
bathroom sinks halfway off.
When you open a faucet above,
the water won’t come gushing
out, but there’ll be plenty to
wash dishes or brush teeth.
41 Hang out. Your electric
clothes dryer is the biggest
energy-gobbling appliance in
your home after the refrigerator, costing about $85 a year to
run. So hang clothes outside, or
inside until they’re almost dry,
then pop them into the dryer.
42 A drip in time. Your AC
system and dehumidifier pull
water out of the air that’s perfect for gardening or car wash-ing. Some devices will route the
water to your garden.
43 Banish dust bunnies.
Keeping your refrigerator’s
coils dust-free can save
about 6 percent on its power
consumption. Access varies by
model; check the manual. And,
of course, unplug the fridge
before you do anything.
44 Unplug. Disconnect your
cellphone and other electronic
gadgets when they are fully
charged, or you’re just wasting
energy. They draw power when
they are plugged in, so don’t let
them soak up juice all night.
