Slash Your Utility Bills In Half
Summer is finally here! While we welcome the warm weather and sunshine, we often see our summer utility bills go through the roof. By improving the efficiency of our homes, we can reduce the amount of energy that we use. Even minor changes can have a significant impact on the energy efficiency of our homes. When we focus on the areas that we may be losing energy, this can help us to save money and increase the comfort of our homes. Below are home saving tips that can help to improve the efficiency of your home and save you a little money in the process:
Thermostats - Maintaining control over how a thermostat regulates the temperature in your home will conserve energy. To help control the temperature, consider installing a programmable thermostat in your home. During warmer weather, it can be programmed to raise the temperature when you are at work and lower it while you are home.
Other ways to improve the efficiency of your thermostat include:
- Keep warm objects away from the thermostat. The heat that is given off will signal to the thermostat that the temperature is too warm and will turn it on when it’s not necessary.
- Resist the urge to turn down the AC lower than usual to cool the home. It won’t cool any faster and just makes your AC work harder than it needs to.
Lights – As you change out your lightbulbs, choose those that are energy efficient. They use less energy to produce the same amount of light. You may also consider investing in LED lights. Although they are more expensive, they are energy efficient and can last for several years. In the long run, you’ll save money on bulbs and reduce your energy use. Finally, turn off the lights when you leave a room. If you aren’t there to enjoy the light, they don’t need to be on.
Appliances – Take care of and use your appliances wisely. When they are in good working order, appliances operate more efficiently, saving you tons of money.
- Changing filters in your AC and furnace often will help to keep your appliances from working harder than they should.
- Conduct regularly scheduled maintenance on your air conditioner to keep it operating efficiently.
- When cooking, keep the oven door shut. Opening the door allows heat to escape. Your oven will try to accommodate for the lost heat by working harder. Escaped heat will warm up the room, but not your food.
- Consider replacing older appliances with newer, energy efficient options. This will require an initial investment, but it will save you money and energy in the future.
- Your dryer will work more efficiently when the lint filter is kept clean. In fact, you can skip the dryer altogether and air dry your clothes outside.
- By using your dishwasher at night, you can open up the door and let your dishes air dry instead of using the heated dry setting.
Seal and Insulate – Sealing around doors and windows can help to keep the cool air inside your warm. Consider upgrading to windows and doors that are energy efficient. They can help to keep your home cool comfortable. Insulate ducts to prevent cool or warm air from escaping as it travels through them. If your attic isn’t insulated, it could be costing you money. The heat from an attic can raise a home’s temperature, making your air conditioner work every harder.
Other suggestions – There are many quick and easy ways to make your home more energy efficient. This includes;
- In the summertime, use your curtains and window coverings to keep the interior of your home cooler
- Use timers to automatically turn off lamps and appliances at night when you aren’t using them
- Wash clothes using cold water, instead of hot. Water will not need to be heated, which will help to conserve energy
Conserving energy in your home doesn’t necessarily require you to make a big investment. In many cases, it can be done through small, inexpensive changes. When you use energy efficient lightbulbs and keep your filters clean, you will save money. Appliances that run efficiently will last longer.
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